Grading
Grades in choir classes are divided into 2 main categories: daily work such as participation in class activities and short assignments, and concert/test grades. “Daily work” grades will make up 40% of the overall grade, concert and test grades will be 60%. Weekly Grades will make up the bulk of the daily work category, and these grades are based on participation in the activities of singing, learning rhythms and melodies, and developing choral techniques.
Full points in each weekly assignment are based on a student being present to participate for the full class period and doing it correctly.
Students will not receive full credit if they are engaging in activities that distract themselves or others from the activity of the day.
A student who misses several minutes of singing (because of talking, writing notes, daydreaming, etc.) is similar to a student who skips several problems in math class, therefore the grade won’t be 100%.
A student who is absent from school may request an alternate assignment to make up the points missed on the day they were gone.
Each day of class is counted as 20 points, and these points are entered as weekly grades (20 points per day = 100 points for a typical week) in the gradebook.
Due to the large number of points accumulated throughout a nine week period, make-up work is usually only necessary if there have been numerous absences, and work will not be given unless the student (or parent) requests it.
Concert Attendance
Choir is considered a performance class, and grades are based on performance both in and out of class. Concerts will be graded as tests. Full credit for the concert will be given if the student is there for the entire concert, sings with his/her group, demonstrates proper stage and audience behavior, and is dressed appropriately. Students not in attendance at concerts will receive no credit. If the absence is unavoidable (illness or family emergency) the grade may be excused, but please make sure to notify me prior to the concert. If it is an emergency/illness, and a phone call is made the day of the concert, the grade will be excused. If a student misses the concert for something NOT considered an emergency, or if I am not notified of the reason for their absence, an alternate assignment is available.
MusicSongs for concerts and contests are chosen weeks in advance, and cover a wide variety of themes that may include holiday and sacred texts.
If you have questions about the content of any songs please contact me early so that I may discuss this with you.
If you choose not to allow your child to sing a particular song, an alternate written assignment will be given so that your child will have work to do during rehearsal time. Please let me know as soon as possible if this is an issue so that your child does not spend time working on a song that he or she will not be able to perform with us.
UniformsThe uniform for the 6
th grade choir will be blue jeans and a choir t-shirt.
This will be worn for the
Festival rehearsal and for the
winter performance.
The dress for the 6
th grade Festival, which is an evening performance, is
dressy (think picture day or Sunday dress).
Seventh and eighth graders are welcome to also purchase the shirts, but it is not required.
Dress for the evening concerts will be black dress pants/skirts with white or black dress shirts/blouses.
Dresses and skirts should be longer than knee length, due to modesty issues with sitting and standing on risers up on a stage.