Mentee Info
Keeping Track of Low-Performing Students
Why?
With 3-4 sections, it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of students that aren't doing well in your class. Have you called them this month? Is their grade improving? Dropping?
Canvas Resources
We have a variety of resources embedded in Canvas that give us insight into how our students are performing. The part of this that I use most frequently is:
- Login History - In this area you can see the last time the student logged on. You can also look at a history of their logins and look for gaps in their logins. For example, if you are checking on a Thursday and they logged on that day or the day before, you can look a little closer and if it was a few days since their last login, that could explain why they have so much late work. When you email or talk with parents you could bring up that they need to be logging into their course every day.You can find their login history by clicking on the student's name and when the "drawer" opens, clicking on "New Analytics"
What I do....
The information above gives us good data about the student's activity, but doesn't really help us "keep track" of these students.
In the same spreadsheet I sent you earlier (attached below), I have a tab for failures. If they are failing after the first due date, I put their name/phone number(s), parent email, grade, what they are missing (if anything), and a place for making notes of contact. I like to color the cell that has their grade red for failing, yellow for 70s, green for 80s, and blue for 90s. After a few weeks, I can see if the student's grade is generally improving by scrolling through the colors.
First, if they are missing something, I email them through the grade book that they are missing the assignment and record that in the spreadsheet.
Then, after I've graded everything, I email the parent if the grade is below 70. If they are new to this category, they get added to the spreadsheet. Regardless, I record this email in the spreadsheet.
If the parent emails me back fairly quickly, I don't call because I feel like it would be overkill and the parent would probably say something like, "I emailed you back, did you not get it?!" If they don't email me back, and the kid doesn't turn in their late work in a timely manner (bringing their grade above 70), I call home. I record the call home AND/OR the parent response in the spreadsheet. THEN, I make a note in the spreadsheet (and in the gradebook) for a month from now to call the parent back if the kid's grade hasn't improved. If something warrants a call in the meantime, I'll call back before then, but this makes sure I don't forget to call back next month (the weeks seem to fly by during the semester and before I know it, a month has gone by!)
If they bring their grade above 70, I try to send the student and parent an email letting them know the grade has improved and to keep up the good work and don't forget this week's due date.
Gradebook Notes Column
Some Sample Failing Emails....
FIRST Missing Work Email
Hello.
______'s grade in her AP Environmental Science course has fallen below 70%. This is largely due to the fact that the students have only had 6 assignments so far and she is missing two of them. I fully expect that once she has more assignments under her belt, submits the 4 missing assignments from this week, AND starts turning in ALL of her assignments ON TIME, her grade will improve rapidly.
We also have another option for __________. I can make a one-time adjustment to her schedule, creating new due dates for these missing assignments. Please let me know if you would like to switch. You cannot resubmit any course work and no grades will be changed for course work that is already graded. Course work that was submitted late but not yet graded, will not incur late penalties. Her course will still ends on the same day, December 11th. She will need to complete the same assignments, but condensed into a shorter time frame, allowing her some time to catch up.
If she chooses to stay on her current schedule, her missing assignments from this week will be subject to the following GAVS late policy: 10% off per day.
Parents, please reply if you would like me to make a one-time adjustment to her schedule. I will send you another email to confirm once the changes have been made.
Weekly Missing Work Emails Sent Through Canvas Gradebook
Hi,
I just wanted to send you a message letting you know that you are missing this lab that was due yesterday. I know things can come up and you can lose track of time, but we do have to take 10% off per day the assignments are late, so the sooner you can turn in this lab, the better!
This video can help you locate your schedule so you can write down when your assignments are due: https://youtu.be/xRmngcr7Zek
I look forward to seeing your lab!
-Mrs. Kroutil
Grade Below 70 (no missing work)
Hello.
My name is Emily Kroutil and I am ______'s AP Environmental Science instructor with Georgia Virtual School. I wanted to send you a note letting you know that grades have been updated and ______ has a grade below 70, primarily due to low grades on his FRQ assignments and the test he took this week.
I encourage him to follow the strategies for success below:
- attend the weekly synchronous sessions or watch the recordings
- take detailed notes when reading through the content
- spend time studying his notes before attempting quizzes or tests
- turn in assignments EARLY so I can grade the assignments and he can resubmit before the due date for a better grade
- complete test corrections for +5 points back on his test. The procedures for test corrections can be found here: How to Do Test Corrections
- read the Module Resource newsletters (found in the User Links section of the course) AND assignment rubrics so he knows EXACTLY what is expected of him for EACH assignment. The newsletter for Science, Matter, Energy, and Systems can be found here: https://www.smore.com/sxv2g
There is still time to bring up his grade, as this week was only the second due date. It is on the syllabus, but for quick reference, his next assignment due date is _______.
If ______ has any questions about the content or assignments, I encourage him to email, call, or text me (__________) and attend the weekly synchronous sessions (or watch the recordings).
Thank you very much for your time and help.
Pace Plan Adjustment Completed for Students that Have Fallen Behind
Hello _____,
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me on the phone today. I've adjusted your schedule so your missing assignment is not due until _____. I went ahead and made a calendar for you for your assignments. You can print off this calendar and use it as a checklist. Once you complete an assignment, cross it off of the calendar. Please know that these due dates are just that - the last date that you can turn in the assignments and earn full credit. On the days that are blank on your calendar, you should be working through the module and completing assignments so when your due date comes around, you only have maybe 1 assignment to do that day. Working some every day will help keep the assignments from piling up.
- You can also watch this video to see how to view your schedule on the computer: How to Find Your Due Dates
- This video will also show you how to work through the modules in your course: How to Approach Your GAVS Course
If you need anything from me, please do not hesitate to reach out via email or phone. I look forward to seeing your progress in _____!