Gradebook Musical Chairs....another round

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I asked this before, but did the new re-take policy make things worse for teachers? If so, why not go back to you can only retake if below80% and you can only get up to an 80%? That way, students are pushed to study hard the first time and not rely on retakes and those with a 78% or close to 80 will be less likely to retake.

I know that is only a small piece and the issue is large classes, no subs, no free time, demanding parents and more, but that retake policy seems insane to me.

Yes, it made it worse for teachers. In one of my honors classes, students are retaking tests because they got a 94% (and even contemplating it at 97%) to attempt ensure their grade has enough padding to overcome a low test score.

About half of my retakes all year scored higher than the original, half scored lower. That's a lot of extra time that I'm spending grading retakes that may or may not help student's grades.

50% scoring higher is wonderful though!

DP.

I just gave a retake. Here are the scores of the last 12 retakes I graded:

1. First score= 22/25. Retake= 22/25
2. First score= 16/25. Retake= 17/25.
3. First score= 24/25. Retake= 15/25.
4. First score= 23/25. Retake= 23/25.
5. First score= 20/25. Retake= 21/25.
6. First score= 24/25. Retake= 25/25.
7. First score= 15/25. Retake= 16/25.
8. First score= 13/25. Retake= 8/25.
9. First score= 21/25. Retake= 18/25.
10. First score= 23/25. Retake= 24/25.
11. First score= 21/25. Retake= 20/25.
12. First score= 23/25. Retake= 20/25.

It took approximately two hours to grade those 12 retakes.
- 2/12 got the same score
- 5/12 got a lower score
- 5/12 earned ONE extra point

We had five summatives this quarter, with a total point value of 150 points. To earn ONE extra point on a retake has a negligible impact on the overall grade.

Every retake is similar. Between 12 and 50 students request a retake, I spend hours grading the retakes, and the overall grade usually barely budges. The students refuse to do any additional work or studying before attempting the retake, so it isn't even as though much learning is occurring before they try the assessment again.

That is insane. They really need to curb this. a 23/25should not even be allowed a retake. Was it less chaotic with the old policy?

It was much less chaotic with the old policy, and students actually studied the first time. Now they think of assessments as practice because they know there will be a second chance no matter what.

[Anonymous]

My child is a very slow worker so really doesn’t have time for retakes and the remediation to do before they can retake it. They make sure to do well the first time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I asked this before, but did the new re-take policy make things worse for teachers? If so, why not go back to you can only retake if below80% and you can only get up to an 80%? That way, students are pushed to study hard the first time and not rely on retakes and those with a 78% or close to 80 will be less likely to retake.

I know that is only a small piece and the issue is large classes, no subs, no free time, demanding parents and more, but that retake policy seems insane to me.

Yes, it made it worse for teachers. In one of my honors classes, students are retaking tests because they got a 94% (and even contemplating it at 97%) to attempt ensure their grade has enough padding to overcome a low test score.

About half of my retakes all year scored higher than the original, half scored lower. That's a lot of extra time that I'm spending grading retakes that may or may not help student's grades.

50% scoring higher is wonderful though!

DP. I don’t read it that way. The other half scored lower, which suggests the retake policy doesn’t have a great success rate. How many students are just doing retakes without bothering to learn the material? That’s a TON of extra work placed on already overworked teachers, and it doesn’t seem to have a great success rate for all of that effort.

+1 to all of this. I fully support the idea behind the retake policy— I want my students to understand the material and have an additional opportunity to show understanding, BUT our class sizes and course load make the retake policy unsustainable for teachers. All of the professional literature on retakes discusses how teachers should be working with students to re-teach the concepts they didn’t understand. I would love to do that, and “back in the day” I would actually get to do that sometimes when I’d give a quiz on material and would pull small groups based on what they showed they didn’t understand. In theory, that’s what we are supposed to be doing during the intervention/study hall block, but now I spend that block giving retakes to the masses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I asked this before, but did the new re-take policy make things worse for teachers? If so, why not go back to you can only retake if below80% and you can only get up to an 80%? That way, students are pushed to study hard the first time and not rely on retakes and those with a 78% or close to 80 will be less likely to retake.

I know that is only a small piece and the issue is large classes, no subs, no free time, demanding parents and more, but that retake policy seems insane to me.

Yes, it made it worse for teachers. In one of my honors classes, students are retaking tests because they got a 94% (and even contemplating it at 97%) to attempt ensure their grade has enough padding to overcome a low test score.

About half of my retakes all year scored higher than the original, half scored lower. That's a lot of extra time that I'm spending grading retakes that may or may not help student's grades.

50% scoring higher is wonderful though!

DP.

I just gave a retake. Here are the scores of the last 12 retakes I graded:

1. First score= 22/25. Retake= 22/25
2. First score= 16/25. Retake= 17/25.
3. First score= 24/25. Retake= 15/25.
4. First score= 23/25. Retake= 23/25.
5. First score= 20/25. Retake= 21/25.
6. First score= 24/25. Retake= 25/25.
7. First score= 15/25. Retake= 16/25.
8. First score= 13/25. Retake= 8/25.
9. First score= 21/25. Retake= 18/25.
10. First score= 23/25. Retake= 24/25.
11. First score= 21/25. Retake= 20/25.
12. First score= 23/25. Retake= 20/25.

It took approximately two hours to grade those 12 retakes.
- 2/12 got the same score
- 5/12 got a lower score
- 5/12 earned ONE extra point

We had five summatives this quarter, with a total point value of 150 points. To earn ONE extra point on a retake has a negligible impact on the overall grade.

Every retake is similar. Between 12 and 50 students request a retake, I spend hours grading the retakes, and the overall grade usually barely budges. The students refuse to do any additional work or studying before attempting the retake, so it isn't even as though much learning is occurring before they try the assessment again.

That is insane. They really need to curb this. a 23/25should not even be allowed a retake. Was it less chaotic with the old policy?

It was much less chaotic with the old policy, and students actually studied the first time. Now they think of assessments as practice because they know there will be a second chance no matter what.

So how do we get it changed back? Also, who changed it in the first place? I wasn't hearing complaints about the old policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I asked this before, but did the new re-take policy make things worse for teachers? If so, why not go back to you can only retake if below80% and you can only get up to an 80%? That way, students are pushed to study hard the first time and not rely on retakes and those with a 78% or close to 80 will be less likely to retake.

I know that is only a small piece and the issue is large classes, no subs, no free time, demanding parents and more, but that retake policy seems insane to me.

Yes, it made it worse for teachers. In one of my honors classes, students are retaking tests because they got a 94% (and even contemplating it at 97%) to attempt ensure their grade has enough padding to overcome a low test score.

About half of my retakes all year scored higher than the original, half scored lower. That's a lot of extra time that I'm spending grading retakes that may or may not help student's grades.

50% scoring higher is wonderful though!

DP.

I just gave a retake. Here are the scores of the last 12 retakes I graded:

1. First score= 22/25. Retake= 22/25
2. First score= 16/25. Retake= 17/25.
3. First score= 24/25. Retake= 15/25.
4. First score= 23/25. Retake= 23/25.
5. First score= 20/25. Retake= 21/25.
6. First score= 24/25. Retake= 25/25.
7. First score= 15/25. Retake= 16/25.
8. First score= 13/25. Retake= 8/25.
9. First score= 21/25. Retake= 18/25.
10. First score= 23/25. Retake= 24/25.
11. First score= 21/25. Retake= 20/25.
12. First score= 23/25. Retake= 20/25.

It took approximately two hours to grade those 12 retakes.
- 2/12 got the same score
- 5/12 got a lower score
- 5/12 earned ONE extra point

We had five summatives this quarter, with a total point value of 150 points. To earn ONE extra point on a retake has a negligible impact on the overall grade.

Every retake is similar. Between 12 and 50 students request a retake, I spend hours grading the retakes, and the overall grade usually barely budges. The students refuse to do any additional work or studying before attempting the retake, so it isn't even as though much learning is occurring before they try the assessment again.

That is insane. They really need to curb this. a 23/25should not even be allowed a retake. Was it less chaotic with the old policy?

It was much less chaotic with the old policy, and students actually studied the first time. Now they think of assessments as practice because they know there will be a second chance no matter what.

So how do we get it changed back? Also, who changed it in the first place? I wasn't hearing complaints about the old policy.

There was a lot of complaining from parents about the lack of consistency in grading across FCPS so FCPS said they’d have 1 consistent policy and surveyed parents and students then came up with this but then exempted Madison from the consistent policy but never told parents or students at the school.

[Anonymous]

I think retakes in high school do not prepare kids for college however if everyone else gets them, JMHS students should too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think retakes in high school do not prepare kids for college however if everyone else gets them, JMHS students should too.

Agree and agree. Really though, go back to the old system for all and give the teachers a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I asked this before, but did the new re-take policy make things worse for teachers? If so, why not go back to you can only retake if below80% and you can only get up to an 80%? That way, students are pushed to study hard the first time and not rely on retakes and those with a 78% or close to 80 will be less likely to retake.

I know that is only a small piece and the issue is large classes, no subs, no free time, demanding parents and more, but that retake policy seems insane to me.

Yes, it made it worse for teachers. In one of my honors classes, students are retaking tests because they got a 94% (and even contemplating it at 97%) to attempt ensure their grade has enough padding to overcome a low test score.

About half of my retakes all year scored higher than the original, half scored lower. That's a lot of extra time that I'm spending grading retakes that may or may not help student's grades.

50% scoring higher is wonderful though!

DP.

I just gave a retake. Here are the scores of the last 12 retakes I graded:

1. First score= 22/25. Retake= 22/25
2. First score= 16/25. Retake= 17/25.
3. First score= 24/25. Retake= 15/25.
4. First score= 23/25. Retake= 23/25.
5. First score= 20/25. Retake= 21/25.
6. First score= 24/25. Retake= 25/25.
7. First score= 15/25. Retake= 16/25.
8. First score= 13/25. Retake= 8/25.
9. First score= 21/25. Retake= 18/25.
10. First score= 23/25. Retake= 24/25.
11. First score= 21/25. Retake= 20/25.
12. First score= 23/25. Retake= 20/25.

It took approximately two hours to grade those 12 retakes.
- 2/12 got the same score
- 5/12 got a lower score
- 5/12 earned ONE extra point

We had five summatives this quarter, with a total point value of 150 points. To earn ONE extra point on a retake has a negligible impact on the overall grade.

Every retake is similar. Between 12 and 50 students request a retake, I spend hours grading the retakes, and the overall grade usually barely budges. The students refuse to do any additional work or studying before attempting the retake, so it isn't even as though much learning is occurring before they try the assessment again.

PP with the 50% higher - this is what I'm seeing as well.

Scoring higher for many is only a few points higher. I would fully support going back to a 80% maximum for retakes or even 90% (for those chasing As, they can still blow one test).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still waiting on one teacher to put any grades in for the quarter. There are so few. Why is this an issue?

Maybe because they are going to take the next two days when kids are out to update their grade book? Isn't that what the teacher workday is for?

[Anonymous]

Wow to PP teacher that posted scores, what a royal waste of your time!! It’s like they are trying to get teachers to quit. I don’t understand why anyone with higher than a 85% should be allowed a retake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow to PP teacher that posted scores, what a royal waste of your time!! It’s like they are trying to get teachers to quit. I don’t understand why anyone with higher than a 85% should be allowed a retake.

To be fair, that’s why. The retake policy is for everyone but nobody thought about who would take advantage of it. It’s not the kids with low grades. Nobody considered the teachers and the workload the policy would involve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow to PP teacher that posted scores, what a royal waste of your time!! It’s like they are trying to get teachers to quit. I don’t understand why anyone with higher than a 85% should be allowed a retake.

It is a massive pain for teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I asked this before, but did the new re-take policy make things worse for teachers? If so, why not go back to you can only retake if below80% and you can only get up to an 80%? That way, students are pushed to study hard the first time and not rely on retakes and those with a 78% or close to 80 will be less likely to retake.

I know that is only a small piece and the issue is large classes, no subs, no free time, demanding parents and more, but that retake policy seems insane to me.

Yes, it made it worse for teachers. In one of my honors classes, students are retaking tests because they got a 94% (and even contemplating it at 97%) to attempt ensure their grade has enough padding to overcome a low test score.

About half of my retakes all year scored higher than the original, half scored lower. That's a lot of extra time that I'm spending grading retakes that may or may not help student's grades.

50% scoring higher is wonderful though!

DP. I don’t read it that way. The other half scored lower, which suggests the retake policy doesn’t have a great success rate. How many students are just doing retakes without bothering to learn the material? That’s a TON of extra work placed on already overworked teachers, and it doesn’t seem to have a great success rate for all of that effort.

+1 to all of this. I fully support the idea behind the retake policy— I want my students to understand the material and have an additional opportunity to show understanding, BUT our class sizes and course load make the retake policy unsustainable for teachers. All of the professional literature on retakes discusses how teachers should be working with students to re-teach the concepts they didn’t understand. I would love to do that, and “back in the day” I would actually get to do that sometimes when I’d give a quiz on material and would pull small groups based on what they showed they didn’t understand. In theory, that’s what we are supposed to be doing during the intervention/study hall block, but now I spend that block giving retakes to the masses.

what school are you at? Our school gives retakes after school in a ‘testing center’. So, the teacher doesn’t even have to be there. Plus, each subject generally only has 2 unit tests over 9 weeks, so retakes are not always going on.

[Anonymous]

Retakes have been great at our school. Students retake the test only after performing corrections, re-doing study guides, and doing more problems. After this students retake the computerized test and some will see their grade jump by letters.

[Anonymous]

Most all of the tests are computerized at our school.