Are HS teachers required to allow 1 retake?

[Anonymous]

The county missive on the retake policy specifically says “unit” assessments can be excluded from retakes. I allow retakes on every other assessment except tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grading becomes completely unmanageable for core classes if you allow retakes

We’re talking about teachers who do not allow even one retake.
—MCPS teacher who allows 2-3 a marking period.

We have several teachers who are not allowing any retakes and many kids are failing the class. They give a quiz every week, with only a few questions on the test (often just two), so if you get one wrong or even partially wrong you fail and the entire test.

This is what I have noticed that is really poorly designed. If you give a quiz with four questions the only opportunities for grades are a perfect score or a C or F. I feel like graded assessments should have an opportunity for a B grade too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I offer retakes and I can't even tell you how many students don't take me up on it.

Then, you have nothing to offer on this issue, which is teachers refusing to follow the policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grading becomes completely unmanageable for core classes if you allow retakes

We’re talking about teachers who do not allow even one retake.
—MCPS teacher who allows 2-3 a marking period.

We have several teachers who are not allowing any retakes and many kids are failing the class. They give a quiz every week, with only a few questions on the test (often just two), so if you get one wrong or even partially wrong you fail and the entire test.

This is what I have noticed that is really poorly designed. If you give a quiz with four questions the only opportunities for grades are a perfect score or a C or F. I feel like graded assessments should have an opportunity for a B grade too.

Agree. I don’t expect it brought up to an A but these kids who are trying are failing when they get a two question quiz.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grading becomes completely unmanageable for core classes if you allow retakes

We’re talking about teachers who do not allow even one retake.
—MCPS teacher who allows 2-3 a marking period.

We have several teachers who are not allowing any retakes and many kids are failing the class. They give a quiz every week, with only a few questions on the test (often just two), so if you get one wrong or even partially wrong you fail and the entire test.

This is what I have noticed that is really poorly designed. If you give a quiz with four questions the only opportunities for grades are a perfect score or a C or F. I feel like graded assessments should have an opportunity for a B grade too.

Agree. I don’t expect it brought up to an A but these kids who are trying are failing when they get a two question quiz.

And one class the quizzes and tests are worth 90% and class work and homework is only worth 10%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a requirement to offer one per marking period. However, even as a fellow teacher, I was unable to get one particular English teacher to comply. I documented her refusal. Sent it to the department head and grade level administrator. Nothing ever happened.

Maybe focus your efforts on getting your kid to study the first time. No wonder there’s a teacher shortage.

Again, I myself is a teacher. Providing one retakable assessment a marking period —as required by MCPS— is not causing anyone to exit teaching who shouldn’t leave anyway. In my child’s case, she was a straight A student overall. It was excessively stressful to have a teacher refuse any makeups all year. The result was a ninth grader petrified to miss even a few days of instruction for death of her grandfather and Lyme disease.

The obsession with being a straight A student is part of the problem. Kids need to realize that 1 or a few Bs is not the end of the world. And is your child freaking out about quarter 1? She can get her A for the semester by getting an A in quarter 2. Be a parent and encourage your child to relax a little

My kid is failing a class and the counselor and teacher will not let them drop it. They have been studying and trying and really discouraged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grading becomes completely unmanageable for core classes if you allow retakes

We’re talking about teachers who do not allow even one retake.
—MCPS teacher who allows 2-3 a marking period.

How many students do you have?
I have a total of 152.

151 as of last week. However, based on recent past rosters of as many as 157, I don’t think one more kid would put me over the age when it comes to reassessment. They relearn the skill and make fewer errors of the same time next time so you spend less time writing feedback overall. My course is heavy on writing so strategic reassessment helps me in the long run.

I wouldn’t be surprised to learn many teachers who don’t offer retakes don’t provide written feedback either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grading becomes completely unmanageable for core classes if you allow retakes

We’re talking about teachers who do not allow even one retake.
—MCPS teacher who allows 2-3 a marking period.

We have several teachers who are not allowing any retakes and many kids are failing the class. They give a quiz every week, with only a few questions on the test (often just two), so if you get one wrong or even partially wrong you fail and the entire test.

This is what I have noticed that is really poorly designed. If you give a quiz with four questions the only opportunities for grades are a perfect score or a C or F. I feel like graded assessments should have an opportunity for a B grade too.

You can give a 4 question quiz as long as you allow partial credit and the quizzes are worth at least 8 points.

We had identifications when I was in prep school that were 3 points each if perfect, but at least 1- 2 points for an answer with some accuracy and evidence of critical thinking. You learned how to write a logical answer even if you forgot a few details. I remember earning a point for being able to explain why I knew a person was not a leader of a specific political party although I couldn’t recall what he did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I myself is a teacher"
OMG go back to school and learn basic grammar!

New to reading comments that people have typed quickly on a small screen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"I myself is a teacher"
OMG go back to school and learn basic grammar!

New to reading comments that people have typed quickly on a small screen?

Yeah let's blame an actual teacher having ZERO grasp of basic grammar on their technology. Perfect response. Well done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grading becomes completely unmanageable for core classes if you allow retakes

We’re talking about teachers who do not allow even one retake.
—MCPS teacher who allows 2-3 a marking period.

We have several teachers who are not allowing any retakes and many kids are failing the class. They give a quiz every week, with only a few questions on the test (often just two), so if you get one wrong or even partially wrong you fail and the entire test.

This is what I have noticed that is really poorly designed. If you give a quiz with four questions the only opportunities for grades are a perfect score or a C or F. I feel like graded assessments should have an opportunity for a B grade too.

You can give a 4 question quiz as long as you allow partial credit and the quizzes are worth at least 8 points.

We had identifications when I was in prep school that were 3 points each if perfect, but at least 1- 2 points for an answer with some accuracy and evidence of critical thinking. You learned how to write a logical answer even if you forgot a few details. I remember earning a point for being able to explain why I knew a person was not a leader of a specific political party although I couldn’t recall what he did.

That sounds fair but this isn’t what is being done in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grading becomes completely unmanageable for core classes if you allow retakes

We’re talking about teachers who do not allow even one retake.
—MCPS teacher who allows 2-3 a marking period.

We have several teachers who are not allowing any retakes and many kids are failing the class. They give a quiz every week, with only a few questions on the test (often just two), so if you get one wrong or even partially wrong you fail and the entire test.

This is what I have noticed that is really poorly designed. If you give a quiz with four questions the only opportunities for grades are a perfect score or a C or F. I feel like graded assessments should have an opportunity for a B grade too.

You can give a 4 question quiz as long as you allow partial credit and the quizzes are worth at least 8 points.

We had identifications when I was in prep school that were 3 points each if perfect, but at least 1- 2 points for an answer with some accuracy and evidence of critical thinking. You learned how to write a logical answer even if you forgot a few details. I remember earning a point for being able to explain why I knew a person was not a leader of a specific political party although I couldn’t recall what he did.

Our quizzes are 10-20 points and often two questions. No partial credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I offer retakes and I can't even tell you how many students don't take me up on it.

Then, you have nothing to offer on this issue, which is teachers refusing to follow the policy.

Actually, this poster does have something to add. PP- what class or subject matter do you allow retakes?

[Anonymous]

Kids learn more when they have a chance to relearn and retake. I know that there’s a belief it leads to grade inflation but the point is for kids to learn. We’ve had a few teachers in MCPS allow it over the years but first the teachers required students to participate in a reteaching activity. I thought this was sensible.

One of my 3 kids attended a private school where they could retake to earn back 50%. It was a real motivator for him to keep at difficult concepts.

Ask yourself what’s the goal?

[Anonymous]

How/how much this is implemented depends on the school. Some principals enforce this (or a similar) policy and others don't.