rules about group work?

[Anonymous]

My MS kid had to do a classroom assignment with a partner--it was not a written one, it was to do an oral presentation. I saw my kid practice-his content was polished and seemed fine to me. But my kid said that the other kid refused to practice and learn any of their part of the presentation that my kid developed, and danced around during the presentation, saying nothing but making all the kids laugh.

My kid did the presentation, but ended up with a C...by far the worst grade they've gotten all year. It was enough to knock their MP4 grade down from A to B. However, with the MCPS generous grading, my kid still gets an A for the semester since the MP3 grade was an A.

I'm familiar with the perils of group work, and having to cover for slacker team members, and know it's part of having kids "navigate social dynamics" to finish work that others don't do. But this time, my kid couldn't have covered for a half of live presentation.

Any words of wisdom or suggestions? Unfortunately it just happened last week, I know grades were probably due on Friday, and I don't want to be "that parent" who complains about something that in the end will not be changed, so assume I should should just let it go. But my kid was pretty discouraged, and to me, it doesn't sound fair. You have to be pretty bad in MCPS to get a C from what I've seen, and my kid doesn't have the ability to control another student who doesn't want to participate in the way the grading rubric requires.

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. I usually structure group projects in such a manner that at least part, if not most, of the grade is individual assessment. For example, there may be 3 parts on a presentation project- accuracy of content, quality of slides, and oral presentation. Students would have subdivided the research part and each be responsible for some of the content and slides. But from a grading standpoint they are each being assessed on the part they were responsible for.

In this case, I would let it go, since there is no impact to the semester grade. But for the future, have your child ask the teacher in advance about how the grades will happen, if it isn’t clear on the rubric. If this actually affected the semester grade , I would have your child reach out to the teacher and advocate that their grade on the presentation part should reflect their own performance only, and not that of the partner.

[Anonymous]

I hated group work as a student, and I hate it even now as an adult. So much time and energy wasted on negotiating and free-associating thst could be spent just getting the project done. I'm fine collaborating with others on large-scale things like events. But proposals, reports, documents and similar deliverables? Heck no.

DC had a big class project this year that could be done solo or in pairs. DC chose to have a partner (which I had strongly recommended against) and did a mediocre job on something that could have been a really incredible learning experience.

[Anonymous]

If you know the other kid isn’t doing it, you have your kid do their share.

[Anonymous]

Fight it, not just for your kid, but for all the kids.

This is illegal in MCPS. Your student is not allowed to be graded for a different student's work.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/ika-ra%20master.pdf.

Grades must be based on individual demonstration of skill and understanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I usually structure group projects in such a manner that at least part, if not most, of the grade is individual assessment. For example, there may be 3 parts on a presentation project- accuracy of content, quality of slides, and oral presentation. Students would have subdivided the research part and each be responsible for some of the content and slides. But from a grading standpoint they are each being assessed on the part they were responsible for.

In this case, I would let it go, since there is no impact to the semester grade. But for the future, have your child ask the teacher in advance about how the grades will happen, if it isn’t clear on the rubric. If this actually affected the semester grade , I would have your child reach out to the teacher and advocate that their grade on the presentation part should reflect their own performance only, and not that of the partner.

If more than 0 of the grade is based on non-indiviual work, you should be ashamed of yourself and disciplined by your principal. You are breaking the law.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/ika-ra%20master.pdf

[Anonymous]

OP, what was the score against the element of the rubric?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you know the other kid isn’t doing it, you have your kid do their share.

Her kid, to the extent physically possible. He couldn’t force the other kid to cooperate during the oral presentation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you know the other kid isn’t doing it, you have your kid do their share.

Her kid, to the extent physically possible. He couldn’t force the other kid to cooperate during the oral presentation.

+1. Did the PP even read the OP before spouting off canned advice? You can’t stop a kid who is determined to goof around in front of a class. Or maybe a teacher can, but a fellow student can’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I usually structure group projects in such a manner that at least part, if not most, of the grade is individual assessment. For example, there may be 3 parts on a presentation project- accuracy of content, quality of slides, and oral presentation. Students would have subdivided the research part and each be responsible for some of the content and slides. But from a grading standpoint they are each being assessed on the part they were responsible for.

In this case, I would let it go, since there is no impact to the semester grade. But for the future, have your child ask the teacher in advance about how the grades will happen, if it isn’t clear on the rubric. If this actually affected the semester grade , I would have your child reach out to the teacher and advocate that their grade on the presentation part should reflect their own performance only, and not that of the partner.

If more than 0 of the grade is based on non-indiviual work, you should be ashamed of yourself and disciplined by your principal. You are breaking the law.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/ika-ra%20master.pdf

How about you learn the difference between a grading regulation and a law before you write ridiculous statements

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teacher here. I usually structure group projects in such a manner that at least part, if not most, of the grade is individual assessment. For example, there may be 3 parts on a presentation project- accuracy of content, quality of slides, and oral presentation. Students would have subdivided the research part and each be responsible for some of the content and slides. But from a grading standpoint they are each being assessed on the part they were responsible for.

In this case, I would let it go, since there is no impact to the semester grade. But for the future, have your child ask the teacher in advance about how the grades will happen, if it isn’t clear on the rubric. If this actually affected the semester grade , I would have your child reach out to the teacher and advocate that their grade on the presentation part should reflect their own performance only, and not that of the partner.

If more than 0 of the grade is based on non-indiviual work, you should be ashamed of yourself and disciplined by your principal. You are breaking the law.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments /policy/pdf/ika-ra%20master.pdf

Wow. Unnecessarily harsh?

I just looked at that document. What an absurd amount of policies for teachers to follow. Clear and concise is always the better path. Pages and pages and pages of rules are only going to create confusion and frustration, which isn’t good for students or teachers.

[Anonymous]

Middle school teacher here. Students are required to work in groups but their entire grade is based off of individual work/presentations. Considering it does not affect the overall grade, I would let it go. However, encourage your child to advocate for themselves next time. The other child is not practicing? Document through email to the teacher or pull the teacher aside and ask for their help. If the rubric is unclear on how they will be graded, then have your child ask ahead of time. Life lesson but not a huge deal that it warrants reaching out.