Child upset about never getting an ES

[Anonymous]

Definitely a problem with the teacher, but the bigger problem here is that teachers are all using different standards on when to give an ES. I will say that at many schools, and even on MCPS posters about the new grading system, it tells kids to strive for a P. What kind of message are you sending kids when you tell them it's good enough to just be proficient, and you shouldn't aim for the top?? The criteria for an ES differs from teacher to teacher within the same school, and varies widely between schools. And in my sons's class, there are rare opportunities to even get an ES…very frutrating for the kids! And the other thing that makes absolutely NO sense is that an ES stands for "Exceptional at the Grade-Level Standard" and a child can be doing a great job above grade level and still not get an ES.

[Anonymous]

is this true?

[Anonymous]

If I were you, I would e-mail principal, superintendent, and even the secretary of education about this conversation. Defining a grade, and then hardly giving it to young students is already a huge confidence killer. And then suggesting to stop trying is beyond words.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure why it's necessary for a kid in early elementary years to even know that they're being graded. My kid is only in K, but I didn't share his evaluation with him, I just told him that I met with his teacher and she told me that she really likes having him in her class and that we're all proud of how well he listens and behaves. I think I'm going to continue to withhold grade information from him for at least a few more years.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, this is one of the main reasons I'm struggling with sending our DC to our MCPS public next year. I think it's freaking ridiculous. There is no logical reason whatsoever to restrict the highest grade to just a couple of kids. That WOULD make sense if you had a bell curve and needed to distinguish kids for some reason, but you DO NOT have a bell curve (I say as a statistician) at your MCPS elementary school. Telling a second grader that she's just not ever going to be exceptional? That's irresponsible to the point of abusive. Has this imbecile of a teacher ever heard of a late bloomer? Not even the best teacher (and this one sure isn't that) can say what a child's potential is. She has no clue. None of my teachers until at least 4th grad would have predicted my acadmic trajectory. None. They would have all predicted far lower than what I achieved.
To the OP, I'm so sorry you are stuck with this horrible teacher. Don't believe her. Treat your kid like she's brilliant, because in SOME way, she can be -- whatever her particular interest or talent may be. Tell her this teacher isn't smart enough to do the ES designation right. That's the truth.

[Anonymous]

The grade is on their worksheets so you can't hide it from them. I have never heard that they limit the number of ESs that they can give. Honestly, I would most likely ask for a different teacher if this is her philosophy. No sense in killing a kids moral at 7.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, this is one of the main reasons I'm struggling with sending our DC to our MCPS public next year. I think it's freaking ridiculous. There is no logical reason whatsoever to restrict the highest grade to just a couple of kids. That WOULD make sense if you had a bell curve and needed to distinguish kids for some reason, but you DO NOT have a bell curve (I say as a statistician) at your MCPS elementary school. Telling a second grader that she's just not ever going to be exceptional? That's irresponsible to the point of abusive. Has this imbecile of a teacher ever heard of a late bloomer? Not even the best teacher (and this one sure isn't that) can say what a child's potential is. She has no clue. None of my teachers until at least 4th grad would have predicted my acadmic trajectory. None. They would have all predicted far lower than what I achieved.
To the OP, I'm so sorry you are stuck with this horrible teacher. Don't believe her. Treat your kid like she's brilliant, because in SOME way, she can be -- whatever her particular interest or talent may be. Tell her this teacher isn't smart enough to do the ES designation right. That's the truth.

Because there is one teacher in MCPS who (according to the OP) has the odd idea that ESs are given on a curve?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, this is one of the main reasons I'm struggling with sending our DC to our MCPS public next year. I think it's freaking ridiculous. There is no logical reason whatsoever to restrict the highest grade to just a couple of kids. That WOULD make sense if you had a bell curve and needed to distinguish kids for some reason, but you DO NOT have a bell curve (I say as a statistician) at your MCPS elementary school. Telling a second grader that she's just not ever going to be exceptional? That's irresponsible to the point of abusive. Has this imbecile of a teacher ever heard of a late bloomer? Not even the best teacher (and this one sure isn't that) can say what a child's potential is. She has no clue. None of my teachers until at least 4th grad would have predicted my acadmic trajectory. None. They would have all predicted far lower than what I achieved.
To the OP, I'm so sorry you are stuck with this horrible teacher. Don't believe her. Treat your kid like she's brilliant, because in SOME way, she can be -- whatever her particular interest or talent may be. Tell her this teacher isn't smart enough to do the ES designation right. That's the truth.

Because there is one teacher in MCPS who (according to the OP) has the odd idea that ESs are given on a curve?

PP here, obviously not the only reason. I said "one" of the main reasons. And this isn't the first time I've heard this type of story. I'd be very happy to hear that this is rare, but that's not what I'm hearing.

[Anonymous]

Which elementary school, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why it's necessary for a kid in early elementary years to even know that they're being graded. My kid is only in K, but I didn't share his evaluation with him, I just told him that I met with his teacher and she told me that she really likes having him in her class and that we're all proud of how well he listens and behaves. I think I'm going to continue to withhold grade information from him for at least a few more years.

Your kid is going to start receiving graded work directly from the teacher. I think that is what we are talking about here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, this is one of the main reasons I'm struggling with sending our DC to our MCPS public next year. I think it's freaking ridiculous. There is no logical reason whatsoever to restrict the highest grade to just a couple of kids. That WOULD make sense if you had a bell curve and needed to distinguish kids for some reason, but you DO NOT have a bell curve (I say as a statistician) at your MCPS elementary school. Telling a second grader that she's just not ever going to be exceptional? That's irresponsible to the point of abusive. Has this imbecile of a teacher ever heard of a late bloomer? Not even the best teacher (and this one sure isn't that) can say what a child's potential is. She has no clue. None of my teachers until at least 4th grad would have predicted my acadmic trajectory. None. They would have all predicted far lower than what I achieved.
To the OP, I'm so sorry you are stuck with this horrible teacher. Don't believe her. Treat your kid like she's brilliant, because in SOME way, she can be -- whatever her particular interest or talent may be. Tell her this teacher isn't smart enough to do the ES designation right. That's the truth.

While I think the teacher is way off the mark, might I ask do you think MCPS is the only place a bad teacher might be employed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not sure why it's necessary for a kid in early elementary years to even know that they're being graded. My kid is only in K, but I didn't share his evaluation with him, I just told him that I met with his teacher and she told me that she really likes having him in her class and that we're all proud of how well he listens and behaves. I think I'm going to continue to withhold grade information from him for at least a few more years.

Your kid is going to start receiving graded work directly from the teacher. I think that is what we are talking about here.

But how will he know what ES or P means? If he never gets an ES, how would he know that it's even possible? I don't mean to sound snarky at all - just wondering. I wouldn't want him to know.

[Anonymous]

Defining ES grade, and making it almost impossible to achieve (I don't know why), is an MCPS policy.

[Anonymous]

I've never seen a paper at my kid's school that defines how you get an ES. You school is one step ahead of mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Defining ES grade, and making it almost impossible to achieve (I don't know why), is an MCPS policy.

Absolutely!!!!
We are supposed to give ES when the student goes way beyond the obvious correct answers. However, a student with prior knowledge on the subject cannot be a candidate for ES because students are graded only on what is taught in the classroom.
Very very confusing indeed.
We were told however to give more ES's.