Another change to the grading policy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have one in MS and one in HS, and between the two there are several teachers who have retake policies really focused on learning. So, you can retake the test, but only if you turn in complete corrections on the original test. For at least one, you even have to explain your mistakes (not just give the correct answer) before you can retake. To me, this is a great way to reduce student stress while making sure the kids really know the content. This doesn’t seem to be true in every class, but the teachers with this policy teach different subjects - math, Spanish, and history.

This sounds great. In the end everyone learns the material and gets more from the course. There's nothing to dislike about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have one in MS and one in HS, and between the two there are several teachers who have retake policies really focused on learning. So, you can retake the test, but only if you turn in complete corrections on the original test. For at least one, you even have to explain your mistakes (not just give the correct answer) before you can retake. To me, this is a great way to reduce student stress while making sure the kids really know the content. This doesn’t seem to be true in every class, but the teachers with this policy teach different subjects - math, Spanish, and history.

This sounds great. In the end everyone learns the material and gets more from the course. There's nothing to dislike about this.

I also require corrections to do the retake and some parents have fought me tooth and nail over it. They argue that it’s setting up a roadblock. Luckily, the grading policy supports teachers setting conditions for reassessment. I’m worried that provision will vanish with a revised grading policy.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Is grading policy on the next BOE meeting agenda? Wouldn't the members need to vote on this?

When did the BOE vote that the retake grade didn’t replace the original grade if the original grade was higher? Because that is a new policy this year and I don’t remember the BOE ever discussing it.

OP has a misleading title. There is no proposed change to grading Policies, which would go through an entire committee review and public comment period, before the BOE votes on it.

What OP is sharing is a rumor that the guidance for implementing the policies may change. This has nitty gritty details that are intended to ensure uniform practices across MCPS and became necessary to describe in detail during the pandemic. You can find the guidance here:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/grading/report-cards-secondary.aspx

Thanks, PP. I'm so tired of these fictions from crazy right-wing MCPS board trolls just sowing public resentment and mistrust.

This is clearly just a troll since there's no such item on the board's agenda next month.

Agree but the funny part is I think the changes are reasonable. Basically giving students a practice test so they know what to expect and setting an upper boundary on assignments that results in no more than one assignment per day over a quarter seems great. Still sure this is all fiction so it doesn't matter.

Isn’t that what quizzes were for? A practice before the test.

Unless the assessment is returned to the student, no matter what title you give the assessment, the student is not receiving feedback necessary on the practice. Students need an opportunity to learn from their mistakes.

This may make sense for classes like math or chem where applying formulas takes rote practice and seeing the error of your ways is very beneficial and should be mastered for progression. But for art or english or history or sociology...you either showed up and read and engaged or you didn't. (Yes, sometimes we have quizzes and tests, too.) I am not writing two tests to pander to people who didn't study. Especially when I provide a study guide. Especially[i] when my tests are open note/book.

Are the retakes new tests or are students given the original one again? Or does it vary by teacher?

You people are so dumb. This is fiction made up to get you worked into a lather. THERE IS NO SUCH POLICY.

Retakes are already occurring.

This! People are quick to call troll, but they have no clue how their child is graded. Last year, the rule was still that a student could retake something once and the second attempt was the final grade. This year, a student can take something multiple times and the grade that “sticks” is whatever is highest.

What teacher is offering multiple retakes in HS?

Me, but only on 2 different skills that I "require" my kids to retake the assessments until they get 90% or higher. The reason is that these skills are bedrock concepts that they need to be successful with other things. But other than that, more than one retake is just grade grubbing.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Is grading policy on the next BOE meeting agenda? Wouldn't the members need to vote on this?

When did the BOE vote that the retake grade didn’t replace the original grade if the original grade was higher? Because that is a new policy this year and I don’t remember the BOE ever discussing it.

OP has a misleading title. There is no proposed change to grading Policies, which would go through an entire committee review and public comment period, before the BOE votes on it.

What OP is sharing is a rumor that the guidance for implementing the policies may change. This has nitty gritty details that are intended to ensure uniform practices across MCPS and became necessary to describe in detail during the pandemic. You can find the guidance here:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/grading/report-cards-secondary.aspx

Thanks, PP. I'm so tired of these fictions from crazy right-wing MCPS board trolls just sowing public resentment and mistrust.

This is clearly just a troll since there's no such item on the board's agenda next month.

Agree but the funny part is I think the changes are reasonable. Basically giving students a practice test so they know what to expect and setting an upper boundary on assignments that results in no more than one assignment per day over a quarter seems great. Still sure this is all fiction so it doesn't matter.

Isn’t that what quizzes were for? A practice before the test.

Unless the assessment is returned to the student, no matter what title you give the assessment, the student is not receiving feedback necessary on the practice. Students need an opportunity to learn from their mistakes.

This may make sense for classes like math or chem where applying formulas takes rote practice and seeing the error of your ways is very beneficial and should be mastered for progression. But for art or english or history or sociology...you either showed up and read and engaged or you didn't. (Yes, sometimes we have quizzes and tests, too.) I am not writing two tests to pander to people who didn't study. Especially when I provide a study guide. Especially[i] when my tests are open note/book.

Are the retakes new tests or are students given the original one again? Or does it vary by teacher?

You people are so dumb. This is fiction made up to get you worked into a lather. THERE IS NO SUCH POLICY.

Retakes are already occurring.

This! People are quick to call troll, but they have no clue how their child is graded. Last year, the rule was still that a student could retake something once and the second attempt was the final grade. This year, a student can take something multiple times and the grade that “sticks” is whatever is highest.

What teacher is offering multiple retakes in HS?

Me, but only on 2 different skills that I "require" my kids to retake the assessments until they get 90% or higher. The reason is that these skills are bedrock concepts that they need to be successful with other things. But other than that, more than one retake is just grade grubbing.

I wish more teachers put that kind of emphasis on learning. It seems like some misguided parents think school should be retribution or a form of punishment. I wish more teachers saw the big picture like you. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have one in MS and one in HS, and between the two there are several teachers who have retake policies really focused on learning. So, you can retake the test, but only if you turn in complete corrections on the original test. For at least one, you even have to explain your mistakes (not just give the correct answer) before you can retake. To me, this is a great way to reduce student stress while making sure the kids really know the content. This doesn’t seem to be true in every class, but the teachers with this policy teach different subjects - math, Spanish, and history.

This sounds great. In the end everyone learns the material and gets more from the course. There's nothing to dislike about this.

I also require corrections to do the retake and some parents have fought me tooth and nail over it. They argue that it’s setting up a roadblock. Luckily, the grading policy supports teachers setting conditions for reassessment. I’m worried that provision will vanish with a revised grading policy.

The "revised grading policy" seems to be a red herring. I wouldn't give it much thought. If this were happening there would be far more public comment and discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have one in MS and one in HS, and between the two there are several teachers who have retake policies really focused on learning. So, you can retake the test, but only if you turn in complete corrections on the original test. For at least one, you even have to explain your mistakes (not just give the correct answer) before you can retake. To me, this is a great way to reduce student stress while making sure the kids really know the content. This doesn’t seem to be true in every class, but the teachers with this policy teach different subjects - math, Spanish, and history.

This sounds great. In the end everyone learns the material and gets more from the course. There's nothing to dislike about this.

I also require corrections to do the retake and some parents have fought me tooth and nail over it. They argue that it’s setting up a roadblock. Luckily, the grading policy supports teachers setting conditions for reassessment. I’m worried that provision will vanish with a revised grading policy.

The "revised grading policy" seems to be a red herring. I wouldn't give it much thought. If this were happening there would be far more public comment and discussion.

A red herring is something that misleads or distracts from a relevant or important question. What do you think is the important question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m hearing rumors that the second marking period will bring substantial and worrisome changes to the grading policy for secondary schools. Normally, I ignore rumors until I see the memo, but several reputable sources at school and county levels independently tell me and other teachers the same things:
Starting 11/9, the maximum number of assignments will be 12 for the entire marking period.
No more than 8 assignments can be in the 90% category.
All assignments in the 90% category can be redone multiple times.
This change is in response to parent complaints about student stress.

I’m very sensitive to student stress, but if this is true, I think it is alarming.

If you as a parent have complained about student stress, is this what you wanted?

So don't let your kid retake things and see what you can do to increase their stress levels. I'm sure that will be great for their education, emotional health and your relationship!

My 10th grader seems to be eligibe to retake very few things. He has one teacher who change the goal posts constantly (test will be on chapters 1-5, then changes to 1-10 the night before the test. If one kid makes a mistake in class, there is a pop quiz that they all fail because she is mentally unstable and can't test on what they've been taught.)

My child with serious ADHD and 3 hours of sports 5-6 days a week is doing his best and the stress level is off the charts. Making sure he learns it in the end is the goal. Making sure he's not penalized too much for disorganized teachers with bad grades is a big help.
(MCPS has very few bad teachers but one per year impacts the GPA quite a bit. These days I find the teachers are mostly angels who go above and beyond and there are one or two who aren't that bright, hate kids and their job but stick around because they can do whatever they want and not be fired. When your kid has those teachers - you need all the resources you can get to help minimize the impact)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What are 90% grades and 10% grades?

The overall weight of those graded assignments on the final grade.

For example, in my child's math class, all the homework grades count towards 10% of the overall grade. Quizzes and test count toward 90% of the overall grade.

So if a child scored 100% average on all homework assignments, and 80% average on all quizzes/tests, then they end up with an 82 in the class because the homework grades can't really pull up bad quiz/test score.

Yeah so? Some colleges have the same- more weight on assignments or tests. Up to the professor and likely determinant in the materials and subject matter too. But tests should be 60-70% if total grades, not less. Unless really grading and providing real feedback on the homework writing or lab work.