online gradebook for MCPS elementary school

[Anonymous]

Parents have access to their child's grades in elementary school now in Baltimore County schools. It was new this year. I'm sure it's just a matter of time before all MD public ES have this.

[Anonymous]

RedTailHawk wrote:

MCPS feels out who they can bully

This has been our experience as well. Unfortunately it's too easy to make DD uncomfortable while still technically not violating any policy/rule. e.g. a teacher can express sentiments with tone of voice, facial expressions etc that make DD feel singled out out or otherwise uncomfortable.

If it was just between adults, I could just lawyer up to get what the law says I should have. When my child is involved I have to prioritize and with the teacher last year that meant minimizing any requests from parents.

I know another parent who is a very well spoken attorney and she doesn't get pushed around nearly as much. Of course it helps that her child is much less sensitive too.

If you want access throughout the school year, then you do run the risk of teacher retaliation. Plus, the teacher knows you are watching the grades and is motivated just to give passing marks instead of having you see bad grades and then complain.

IMO, the best time to do this is near the end of the school year, but before the year officially ends. You get all the grades at once, plus they can't claim to have thrown anything away yet. It doesn't help you with monitoring ongoing performance, but it can help demonstrate problems over the course of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course you can see the grades. Make an appointment for a conference with the teacher after school, and you can see it.

If you're looking for real-time updates and unrestricted at home access to the teacher's grade book, that doesn't happen with the elementary school grade book system.

I am really getting sick of parents coming here and saying "just go make a conference with a teacher." Parents should NOT have to leave work early or get childcare to see their kids grades and actually get some info on their kids. There needs to be better communication and it shouldn't only be at a parent's request.

[Anonymous]

PP- There is this wonderful invention called email. You email the teacher and they email you back. Ask them for the child's current grade and they will check the online grade book and let you know that it is. It takes 5 minutes. It took longer than that to post here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP- There is this wonderful invention called email. You email the teacher and they email you back. Ask them for the child's current grade and they will check the online grade book and let you know that it is. It takes 5 minutes. It took longer than that to post here.

An elementary school teacher will not report on your child via email or post grades via email. At least that is how it is in my school. The principal said at Back to School that email is only to set up meetings/volunteer/birthdays/supplies and not to talk about students or their grades. Conferences need to be in person or on the phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course you can see the grades. Make an appointment for a conference with the teacher after school, and you can see it.

If you're looking for real-time updates and unrestricted at home access to the teacher's grade book, that doesn't happen with the elementary school grade book system.

I am really getting sick of parents coming here and saying "just go make a conference with a teacher." Parents should NOT have to leave work early or get childcare to see their kids grades and actually get some info on their kids. There needs to be better communication and it shouldn't only be at a parent's request.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP- There is this wonderful invention called email. You email the teacher and they email you back. Ask them for the child's current grade and they will check the online grade book and let you know that it is. It takes 5 minutes. It took longer than that to post here.

An elementary school teacher will not report on your child via email or post grades via email. At least that is how it is in my school. The principal said at Back to School that email is only to set up meetings/volunteer/birthdays/supplies and not to talk about students or their grades. Conferences need to be in person or on the phone.

OK, so use e-mail to set up a phone conference with the teacher.

[Anonymous]

But this poster has already made it clear that she doesn't want to be inconvenienced with a conference. He/she just wants what he/she wants without having to put any actual effort into it. Nice lesson to teach your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course you can see the grades. Make an appointment for a conference with the teacher after school, and you can see it.

If you're looking for real-time updates and unrestricted at home access to the teacher's grade book, that doesn't happen with the elementary school grade book system.

I am really getting sick of parents coming here and saying "just go make a conference with a teacher." Parents should NOT have to leave work early or get childcare to see their kids grades and actually get some info on their kids. There needs to be better communication and it shouldn't only be at a parent's request.

I made the post you're quoting and I'm a parent AND a teacher. There is no on line gradebook that allows a remote user like a parent to log in and solely see their child's grades in elementary school. So, for a parent who wants this access, the option is to come to the school and see it there. That is the current available solution. If you are advocating for something else, then by all means go for it, but the option you want (remote access to the gradebook with only your child's grades visible) is not available right now in elementary school.

I'm sorry a parent might have to leave work early. That's life. I would have to do the same to meet with my child's teachers. I am getting really sick of parents complaining that teachers don't bend over backwards to communicate, yet are unwilling themselves to do any more than pop on DCUM and complain. Teachers can't read your mind. If you want something, ask for it. What you think is obvious is not necessarily obvious to everyone else.