DD grade pulled down by a grade that was entered last day of the marking period!

[Anonymous]

My middle schooler has a teacher who does not grade anything on time. Last quarter, my DD had pretty much full marks in all of her tasks except 1 that was showing as 'missing', although she had submitted and followed up twice about it. There were about 4-5 other tasks not graded in the last week and a big project that was not graded as well. With so few graded work and 1 of them missing her grade was High B . I was assuming it would turn to A when the other things get graded. This is an easy subject for her but my DD followed up with the teacher and asked for feedback for the big project and was told that she had only 50% and was given some pointers to improve her project (again grading rubric wasn't clear), so she reworked it and submitted again. The teacher ignores the rework she re-did and gives her a original 50% grade on the very last day of the quarter which pulled her grade to a very low B . My all-A student has never gotten a B so far and this is her very first B and is quite upset. I have emailed the teacher to get some feedback on what she should have done better and after 2 follow ups , there is no response to my emails. I am not sure how this teacher can do that. No idea how their grade will be even during last week of quarter, no opportunity for kids to make up anything, no credit for re-do work. The teacher does not seem strict but just lazy. I am at loss how to deal with the teacher!

[Anonymous]

Your student did a poor job the first time and got a lower grade. It's not the end of the world. Middle school is the time for your student to learn how to learn and it's your job to help her learn how she will do better next time, not join her in her freak out over grades.

[Anonymous]

Good time to learn to deal with this disappointment. I'd focus on that lesson for your child instead of going all Mama Bear on the teacher, TBH.

[Anonymous]

The teacher graded your child's work. Obviously there is no requirement to re-grade a second attempt. Did the teacher ask your child to re-submit the assignment? If not, why would you assume the teacher would mark it again?

Your kid received the mark they earned. There is nothing unfair about that. There is nothing for you to deal with as far as the teacher goes.

Did your child ask for clarification on the grading rubric before submitting the assignment?

[Anonymous]

May be I should ask these questions in a forum where parents do care about their kid and kid's grade and can help with useful suggestions rather than try to establish they are somehow better parents for not caring about grades! There are already plenty of other disappointments that my DD deals with, grades shouldn't have to be one when she doesn't actually deserves it.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes unfortunately you get those types of teachers. It sounds like she's already doing this, but maybe encourage your DD to advocate for herself even more so? Because your DD probably sees that teacher most days of the week, it'd be easier for her to say something.

[Anonymous]

Well the thing your daughter can control is the work she submits. She got an F on a major project. Was that deserved? If she submitted an F project, she needs to stop whining about not getting an A and figure out how she’s going to do a better job.

The teacher sounds kind of flaky, but, you’re blaming her for the bad grade. Sounds like your daughter deserved the bad grade, maybe blame your daughter so she can learn how to be responsible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:May be I should ask these questions in a forum where parents do care about their kid and kid's grade and can help with useful suggestions rather than try to establish they are somehow better parents for not caring about grades! There are already plenty of other disappointments that my DD deals with, grades shouldn't have to be one when she doesn't actually deserves it.

But it sounds like she does deserve it. She got the grade she earned but she just doesn’t like it.

[Anonymous]

I would ask for a meeting to discuss the project, ask why she got a 50 percent on the original project, and ask why her re-submit was still a fifty percent. Phrase it as wanting to make sure how your daughter does better in the future. If she does not respond, I would cc the counselor or principal.

I find it really hard to believe that an all A student turned in fifty percent level work. Have you seen the project as well as the assignment instructions?

[Anonymous]

Why are you telling us this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:May be I should ask these questions in a forum where parents do care about their kid and kid's grade and can help with useful suggestions rather than try to establish they are somehow better parents for not caring about grades! There are already plenty of other disappointments that my DD deals with, grades shouldn't have to be one when she doesn't actually deserves it.

We do care about our children's grades, but that includes caring that our children are learning so that they can earn higher grades in the future. High school grades matter more than middle school grades -- what approach will give your child the tools to earn the highest possible grades when it matters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My middle schooler has a teacher who does not grade anything on time. Last quarter, my DD had pretty much full marks in all of her tasks except 1 that was showing as 'missing', although she had submitted and followed up twice about it. There were about 4-5 other tasks not graded in the last week and a big project that was not graded as well. With so few graded work and 1 of them missing her grade was High B . I was assuming it would turn to A when the other things get graded. This is an easy subject for her but my DD followed up with the teacher and asked for feedback for the big project and was told that she had only 50% and was given some pointers to improve her project (again grading rubric wasn't clear), so she reworked it and submitted again. The teacher ignores the rework she re-did and gives her a original 50% grade on the very last day of the quarter which pulled her grade to a very low B . My all-A student has never gotten a B so far and this is her very first B and is quite upset. I have emailed the teacher to get some feedback on what she should have done better and after 2 follow ups , there is no response to my emails. I am not sure how this teacher can do that. No idea how their grade will be even during last week of quarter, no opportunity for kids to make up anything, no credit for re-do work. The teacher does not seem strict but just lazy. I am at loss how to deal with the teacher!

Did the teacher say she could redo the project? I realize that is a thing now, but its not always the rule. Sometimes the first thing you turn in is the thing you turn in. The best thing you can do is help your daughter figure out how to handle this next time -- what to do if the rubric wasn't clear, for example -- rather than freaking out over this one grade. Kids need to learn how to deal with different kinds of teachers and also with making mistakes and moving on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:May be I should ask these questions in a forum where parents do care about their kid and kid's grade and can help with useful suggestions rather than try to establish they are somehow better parents for not caring about grades! There are already plenty of other disappointments that my DD deals with, grades shouldn't have to be one when she doesn't actually deserves it.

Why did you post it here, then? I guess you're not getting the responses you were expecting: Teacher/MCPS bashing.
LOL

[Anonymous]

This thread is evidence piece number 23432 why I feel for teachers. Imagine having to deal with parents like this, who deeply in their bones believe students should not have consequences for poor work.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s definitely fair to ask for feedback. A 50 percent can be given for basically attempting the assignment, if she disk anything more than that she should have earned higher than 50.
The point about several items not being graded until after the quarter ends- yep, welcome to the club. The AP at the middle school told me the grades should be no surprise if you check ParentVUE. I told them the grades are often a surprise bc teachers don’t upload in a timely fashion.