APS BTS Night - Shocked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well our kid will have homework, but it does vary by school. My kids had HW starting in second grade (aside from random projects here and there in K and first).

I really don't think standards-based grading is that weird /horrible or complicated. First, anyone who has gotten APS elementary school report cards know that they are generally meaningless even with grades. But that is beside the point. First if your kid meets standards then you know that they fully and consistently understand the material and don't need support (congrats your kid is doing really well!).

Developing and approaching standard? Your kid needs a bit of help. But guess what! Because (in theory) the standards now break things down by topic you now that your kid is struggling in multiplication but doing really well in addition. Prior to this my kid gets a B or a C and I had zero idea why and had to email the teacher and ask them what they could do to improve. I mean even the yearly assessments don't tell me how my kid is doing by topic/subject.

Furthermore, by the time my kid was in 5th and now is in 6th. They get their individual assignment and tests graded. So, you can look at those and say okay every assignment and test my kid got an A so now that he gets meets standards, I know that this is an A.

Anyway, I basically had no homework all the way through college (outside papers in college, which were once a semester). Somehow, I became a lawyer and successful adult. My kid is in school for a lot of hours a day? Why do they need to do MORE work at home (just so I feel better about what they are learning?). I hate working outside my workday too.

Except, you can't really. Everything is digital and often you (even the students) don't get to see specifically what questions they missed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well our kid will have homework, but it does vary by school. My kids had HW starting in second grade (aside from random projects here and there in K and first).

I really don't think standards-based grading is that weird /horrible or complicated. First, anyone who has gotten APS elementary school report cards know that they are generally meaningless even with grades. But that is beside the point. First if your kid meets standards then you know that they fully and consistently understand the material and don't need support (congrats your kid is doing really well!).

Developing and approaching standard? Your kid needs a bit of help. But guess what! Because (in theory) the standards now break things down by topic you now that your kid is struggling in multiplication but doing really well in addition. Prior to this my kid gets a B or a C and I had zero idea why and had to email the teacher and ask them what they could do to improve. I mean even the yearly assessments don't tell me how my kid is doing by topic/subject.

Furthermore, by the time my kid was in 5th and now is in 6th. They get their individual assignment and tests graded. So, you can look at those and say okay every assignment and test my kid got an A so now that he gets meets standards, I know that this is an A.

Anyway, I basically had no homework all the way through college (outside papers in college, which were once a semester). Somehow, I became a lawyer and successful adult. My kid is in school for a lot of hours a day? Why do they need to do MORE work at home (just so I feel better about what they are learning?). I hate working outside my workday too.

Except, you can't really. Everything is digital and often you (even the students) don't get to see specifically what questions they missed.

Nothing was Digitial for my kid in 5th grade. It was all handwritten assignments and came with a rubric with individual grades for each section (kids had access to the rubric before the assignment so they knew what they had to do).

For 6th, I assumed we could log into canvas. I know when my kid did tests in 5th on the ipad we could see what questions were missing in canvas. So I haven't experienced this. We are new into 6th grade but were given a syllabus that contained grade expectations and what amounted to an A or B. We were told we could see progress in canvas and to sign up so that we can see what our kid is doing. I guess I will see how it goes. I do find that the laptop website version of canvas provides more information than the app. So I suggest using that if possible.

Honest question though. Growing up there was no email or canvas or parent square. Did folks show their parents their assignments or grades? I don't think I ever did beyond ES. Sure my parents got my report card but it provided no deep insight that kids are somehow missing today. I think my parents likely knew less about my education than I do now because there wasn't an easy way for teachers to communicate.

[Anonymous]

There is no virtue in elementary kids doing homework. I have no idea why this myth persists. Research is clear on the matter: reading & studying math facts helps. Nothing else does. I have two kids in APS— one in HS & one in ES. Some years that had homework ok ES, other years they didn’t (except for reading); it just depended on the teacher.

I agree that standards based grading is dumb, but I don’t think letter grades matter in elementary school anyway.
Fairfax has used SBG for elementary school for years, from what I understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no virtue in elementary kids doing homework. I have no idea why this myth persists. Research is clear on the matter: reading & studying math facts helps. Nothing else does. I have two kids in APS— one in HS & one in ES. Some years that had homework ok ES, other years they didn’t (except for reading); it just depended on the teacher.

I agree that standards based grading is dumb, but I don’t think letter grades matter in elementary school anyway.
Fairfax has used SBG for elementary school for years, from what I understand.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well our kid will have homework, but it does vary by school. My kids had HW starting in second grade (aside from random projects here and there in K and first).

I really don't think standards-based grading is that weird /horrible or complicated. First, anyone who has gotten APS elementary school report cards know that they are generally meaningless even with grades. But that is beside the point. First if your kid meets standards then you know that they fully and consistently understand the material and don't need support (congrats your kid is doing really well!).

Developing and approaching standard? Your kid needs a bit of help. But guess what! Because (in theory) the standards now break things down by topic you now that your kid is struggling in multiplication but doing really well in addition. Prior to this my kid gets a B or a C and I had zero idea why and had to email the teacher and ask them what they could do to improve. I mean even the yearly assessments don't tell me how my kid is doing by topic/subject.

Furthermore, by the time my kid was in 5th and now is in 6th. They get their individual assignment and tests graded. So, you can look at those and say okay every assignment and test my kid got an A so now that he gets meets standards, I know that this is an A.

Anyway, I basically had no homework all the way through college (outside papers in college, which were once a semester). Somehow, I became a lawyer and successful adult. My kid is in school for a lot of hours a day? Why do they need to do MORE work at home (just so I feel better about what they are learning?). I hate working outside my workday too.

Also, I would hope that if my kid got a bad grade on a test or assignment but couldn't see what they did wrong they would contact the teacher. Especially since APS now permits retakes. This is a great opportunity for my kid to meet with the teacher, discuss how they can improved, study that specific area and improve their great and knowledge of the issues.



Except, you can't really. Everything is digital and often you (even the students) don't get to see specifically what questions they missed.

Nothing was Digitial for my kid in 5th grade. It was all handwritten assignments and came with a rubric with individual grades for each section (kids had access to the rubric before the assignment so they knew what they had to do).

For 6th, I assumed we could log into canvas. I know when my kid did tests in 5th on the ipad we could see what questions were missing in canvas. So I haven't experienced this. We are new into 6th grade but were given a syllabus that contained grade expectations and what amounted to an A or B. We were told we could see progress in canvas and to sign up so that we can see what our kid is doing. I guess I will see how it goes. I do find that the laptop website version of canvas provides more information than the app. So I suggest using that if possible.

Honest question though. Growing up there was no email or canvas or parent square. Did folks show their parents their assignments or grades? I don't think I ever did beyond ES. Sure my parents got my report card but it provided no deep insight that kids are somehow missing today. I think my parents likely knew less about my education than I do now because there wasn't an easy way for teachers to communicate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well our kid will have homework, but it does vary by school. My kids had HW starting in second grade (aside from random projects here and there in K and first).

I really don't think standards-based grading is that weird /horrible or complicated. First, anyone who has gotten APS elementary school report cards know that they are generally meaningless even with grades. But that is beside the point. First if your kid meets standards then you know that they fully and consistently understand the material and don't need support (congrats your kid is doing really well!).

Developing and approaching standard? Your kid needs a bit of help. But guess what! Because (in theory) the standards now break things down by topic you now that your kid is struggling in multiplication but doing really well in addition. Prior to this my kid gets a B or a C and I had zero idea why and had to email the teacher and ask them what they could do to improve. I mean even the yearly assessments don't tell me how my kid is doing by topic/subject.

Furthermore, by the time my kid was in 5th and now is in 6th. They get their individual assignment and tests graded. So, you can look at those and say okay every assignment and test my kid got an A so now that he gets meets standards, I know that this is an A.

Anyway, I basically had no homework all the way through college (outside papers in college, which were once a semester). Somehow, I became a lawyer and successful adult. My kid is in school for a lot of hours a day? Why do they need to do MORE work at home (just so I feel better about what they are learning?). I hate working outside my workday too.

Except, you can't really. Everything is digital and often you (even the students) don't get to see specifically what questions they missed.

If kids don't do well on a test and they can't see what specific question they missed, I would image that they could contact their teacher and discuss this. I know for our school if a kid does poorly on a test they can have a conference with a teacher to learn where they are struggling, how to improve and how to retake the test (if they wish).

[Anonymous]

I was prepared to be upset by Standards Based Grading, because of comments I'd seen here or there. To me, it actually seems like it will be an improvement. Instead of seeing "Math: B" I will see exactly which skills my kid has mastered, and which ones are still being worked on. I think it sounds like a LOT more work for teachers, but maybe it's just spelling out all the work they already do to evaluate kids.

Nightly reading homework gives my kid much needed structure, because my child is much more interested in doing what their teacher says than what I say. Math sheets are similar, it helps me realize what concepts are still being worked on or what needs more support. Other homework does not improve academic outcomes (yes there is lots of data on this) so I don't understand doing busy work outside of school.

The assigned homework started in 3rd grade at our school.

[Anonymous]

Our ES doesn't have HW at all.

ABCDE grades start in MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our ES doesn't have HW at all.

ABCDE grades start in MS.

They have started eliminating homework in college and law school too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well our kid will have homework, but it does vary by school. My kids had HW starting in second grade (aside from random projects here and there in K and first).

I really don't think standards-based grading is that weird /horrible or complicated. First, anyone who has gotten APS elementary school report cards know that they are generally meaningless even with grades. But that is beside the point. First if your kid meets standards then you know that they fully and consistently understand the material and don't need support (congrats your kid is doing really well!).

Developing and approaching standard? Your kid needs a bit of help. But guess what! Because (in theory) the standards now break things down by topic you now that your kid is struggling in multiplication but doing really well in addition. Prior to this my kid gets a B or a C and I had zero idea why and had to email the teacher and ask them what they could do to improve. I mean even the yearly assessments don't tell me how my kid is doing by topic/subject.

Furthermore, by the time my kid was in 5th and now is in 6th. They get their individual assignment and tests graded. So, you can look at those and say okay every assignment and test my kid got an A so now that he gets meets standards, I know that this is an A.

Anyway, I basically had no homework all the way through college (outside papers in college, which were once a semester). Somehow, I became a lawyer and successful adult. My kid is in school for a lot of hours a day? Why do they need to do MORE work at home (just so I feel better about what they are learning?). I hate working outside my workday too.

Except, you can't really. Everything is digital and often you (even the students) don't get to see specifically what questions they missed.

If kids don't do well on a test and they can't see what specific question they missed, I would image that they could contact their teacher and discuss this. I know for our school if a kid does poorly on a test they can have a conference with a teacher to learn where they are struggling, how to improve and how to retake the test (if they wish).

You shouldn't have to go to a teacher to find out which question you got wrong. It isn't about doing poorly and needing to re-take. It's about knowing what you got right and what you got wrong, even if you got an A or a B, and learning. And I'm sure teachers don't want to take the time to figure this out for every student (not that every student is going to ask....but they should.)

Besides, sometimes the digital tests are designed in a way that the question just isn't accessible anymore. It doesn't provide helpful feedback if you can't see or determine what you got/did wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well our kid will have homework, but it does vary by school. My kids had HW starting in second grade (aside from random projects here and there in K and first).

I really don't think standards-based grading is that weird /horrible or complicated. First, anyone who has gotten APS elementary school report cards know that they are generally meaningless even with grades. But that is beside the point. First if your kid meets standards then you know that they fully and consistently understand the material and don't need support (congrats your kid is doing really well!).

Developing and approaching standard? Your kid needs a bit of help. But guess what! Because (in theory) the standards now break things down by topic you now that your kid is struggling in multiplication but doing really well in addition. Prior to this my kid gets a B or a C and I had zero idea why and had to email the teacher and ask them what they could do to improve. I mean even the yearly assessments don't tell me how my kid is doing by topic/subject.

Furthermore, by the time my kid was in 5th and now is in 6th. They get their individual assignment and tests graded. So, you can look at those and say okay every assignment and test my kid got an A so now that he gets meets standards, I know that this is an A.

Anyway, I basically had no homework all the way through college (outside papers in college, which were once a semester). Somehow, I became a lawyer and successful adult. My kid is in school for a lot of hours a day? Why do they need to do MORE work at home (just so I feel better about what they are learning?). I hate working outside my workday too.

Except, you can't really. Everything is digital and often you (even the students) don't get to see specifically what questions they missed.

If kids don't do well on a test and they can't see what specific question they missed, I would image that they could contact their teacher and discuss this. I know for our school if a kid does poorly on a test they can have a conference with a teacher to learn where they are struggling, how to improve and how to retake the test (if they wish).

You shouldn't have to go to a teacher to find out which question you got wrong. It isn't about doing poorly and needing to re-take. It's about knowing what you got right and what you got wrong, even if you got an A or a B, and learning. And I'm sure teachers don't want to take the time to figure this out for every student (not that every student is going to ask....but they should.)

Besides, sometimes the digital tests are designed in a way that the question just isn't accessible anymore. It doesn't provide helpful feedback if you can't see or determine what you got/did wrong.

I haven't had this kind of expereince. So I am not really sure how that works. I agree that isn't right. I would reach out to the teacher and school regarding this issue. Maybe they are unware? But yes, kids should obviosuly know what they did wrong.

[Anonymous]

Guess OP doesn't go to ATS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guess OP doesn't go to ATS.

Ya think?

[Anonymous]

What the AAC teacher does may vary by grade and/or school. At our BTSN the lower ES grade teachers said the AAC instructor would provide in depth lessons to the whole class. The upper ES grade teachers said the AAC instructor would do that AND some pull out groups.

[Anonymous]

A 2nd grader doesn't need homework. Limit their electronics, let them run around outside with friends, and make sure they read, read, read.