Performance Standards:
Proficient: you understand the concepts we have discussed and have mastered the skills we have studied well enough to complete all tasks without additional help and on time.

• when we ask you to explain concepts you respond with appropriate examples, definitions, or explanations drawn from class work or assignments.
• when we ask you complete a familiar task, you are able to do it in a reasonable time and without help.
• you work well with others to solve problems and complete tasks.
• you compete (or at least attempt) all major assignments and projects
• your attendance pattern shows a commitment to doing your best.

Distinguished: you understand the concepts and have mastered the skills we have studied so well that they have become part of you. The concepts have become part of your working understanding of the world around you. The skills have become valued tools for expanding your knowledge and understanding, and for solving the practical problems of life. Tasks are completed in good time, often before due dates, and you are always willing to use the extra time to improve the product.

• you carry the concepts into areas of your life and studies beyond those in which you learned them. You are able to predict how the concepts would work in imagined or unfamiliar situations.
• you often use examples from your own life and experience to explain concepts.
• you make connections between new concepts and those you already hold.
• you are eager to share your understanding with others, and offer good explanations and practical help.
• you independently apply the skills you have learned to solve problems and complete tasks, even when the particular problems and tasks are new to you.
• you combine new skills with old to form more powerful tools for solving problems.
• you are eager to demonstrate skills to others, and are able to give practical help in solving problems and completing tasks.
• you do your very best on every assignment or project because you care about the quality of your work
• your attendance pattern allows you to make the most of your educational opportunities.

Advanced: you understand the all of the concepts and have mastered all of the skills we have studied at the Proficient level, and you show Distinguished Performance in some areas.
OR
you have carried individual concepts or skills beyond the Proficient level in one or more ways, but not in all ways.
Novice: while you have some understanding of the concepts and ability with the skills we have studied, you are frequently unable to explain concepts or complete familiar tasks without reinforcement and reteaching. Your work is often not completed on time, or handed in an incomplete form.

• when asked to explain or show an understanding of concepts you respond with at least one appropriate example or definition drawn from class work but you are often unable to relate that example to others studied.
• when asked to complete a thoroughly familiar task, you know how to begin, but are generally unable to complete the task without help, or in a reasonable time.
• you make only occasional contributions to a group effort.
• you fail to complete (or attempt) one or more major class assignments or project
• your attendance pattern prevents you from doing as well as you might.

No Credit: you are unable explain or show an understanding of the concepts we have studied, and you can not complete tasks without continual guidance and reinforcement.
OR
you have failed to demonstrate at least a novice understanding of more than 50% of the concepts presented and ability with more than 50% of the skills.
OR
you have failed to complete several major components of the course work
OR
you make no contribution to the groups’ efforts to solve problems and complete tasks.

Any student who is doing consistant Distinguished work is eligable for the Honors component. Please talk to us before the end of the first quarter each semester if you are interested in pursuing the Honors designation.