I teach in FCPS and it’s not normal there so I guess that’s why it’s been a shock to me. I get that it helps prepare them, but for someone who’s struggling it can be pretty demoralizing. Especially after a year of virtual algebra last year. |
I listened to a great This American Life about a first gen student struggling with college math (I believe she was at UT Austin) and she was in a class where if she did better on the final than on the midterms, her final exam grade was her grade for the class. I think that is not a bad policy for a year like this given how much schools failed kids last year. It's math -- as long as they eventually learn the concepts, it really doesn't matter if they were confused at the beginning. and since math is about understanding and not memorizing, this policy does not harm the kids who have been doing well all along. |
Some APS teachers do this. The test grade replaces the quiz grades. It definitely incentivizes growth and mastery. |