WWYD: math teacher with strange grading policies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Email the teacher to clarify then follow up with administrator. If this is true, it’s insane

+1

ASAP!

[Anonymous]

OP here (again) - I talked to several other students and parents this weekend and everyone verified the partner grading for quizzes (it is not done for tests - that was my error). Everyone seems to hate the system but as far as I can tell, no one has complained about it. I do worry that if I talk to a school administrator and they get the teacher to stop this practice, the teacher will take it out on the students in some other way by making tests harder or no longer giving partial credit (the tests/quizzes are really hard - teacher will include problems unlike those done in class/homework - but the teacher is typically generous with partial credit). I should still talk to someone at the school, right?

[Anonymous]

With this new information, I'd want to know a little more before I'd complain. Or, at least approach the teacher in the spirit of inquiry. How much do quizzes really count? In any math class my kid had in school, you'd have to have low failing quiz average to move the needle from a low A to a C. You said the tests are really rapid, but are the quizzes? Or is there actually time to be collaborative. With high stakes, rapid assessment, this partner scheme makes no sense, but if it's actually set up to encourage collaboration and learning with lower stakes on the final grade, it sounds like it could be a positive. It's also really normal for difficultly in math to ramp up around this time. Make sure this isn't what's going on and your kid needs an excuse!

[Anonymous]

If parents complained in a timely and thoughtful way that teacher would not be around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With this new information, I'd want to know a little more before I'd complain. Or, at least approach the teacher in the spirit of inquiry. How much do quizzes really count? In any math class my kid had in school, you'd have to have low failing quiz average to move the needle from a low A to a C. You said the tests are really rapid, but are the quizzes? Or is there actually time to be collaborative. With high stakes, rapid assessment, this partner scheme makes no sense, but if it's actually set up to encourage collaboration and learning with lower stakes on the final grade, it sounds like it could be a positive. It's also really normal for difficultly in math to ramp up around this time. Make sure this isn't what's going on and your kid needs an excuse!

OP here - thanks for this. According to my kid and his friend, there is not time on the quizzes to collaborate. Currently my kid's entire grade is made up by 2 quizzes, which is what made me ask the questions that led me to understand this entire partner quiz situation.

This was not part of your question but for additional context, the teacher does not grade the quiz that is not counted towards a grade. So this partner quiz situation also cuts the teachers grading in half. I obviously do not know if that is a motivating factor for the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With this new information, I'd want to know a little more before I'd complain. Or, at least approach the teacher in the spirit of inquiry. How much do quizzes really count? In any math class my kid had in school, you'd have to have low failing quiz average to move the needle from a low A to a C. You said the tests are really rapid, but are the quizzes? Or is there actually time to be collaborative. With high stakes, rapid assessment, this partner scheme makes no sense, but if it's actually set up to encourage collaboration and learning with lower stakes on the final grade, it sounds like it could be a positive. It's also really normal for difficultly in math to ramp up around this time. Make sure this isn't what's going on and your kid needs an excuse!

OP here - thanks for this. According to my kid and his friend, there is not time on the quizzes to collaborate. Currently my kid's entire grade is made up by 2 quizzes, which is what made me ask the questions that led me to understand this entire partner quiz situation.

This was not part of your question but for additional context, the teacher does not grade the quiz that is not counted towards a grade. So this partner quiz situation also cuts the teachers grading in half. I obviously do not know if that is a motivating factor for the teacher.

He doesn’t count the quizzes so I don’t get the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With this new information, I'd want to know a little more before I'd complain. Or, at least approach the teacher in the spirit of inquiry. How much do quizzes really count? In any math class my kid had in school, you'd have to have low failing quiz average to move the needle from a low A to a C. You said the tests are really rapid, but are the quizzes? Or is there actually time to be collaborative. With high stakes, rapid assessment, this partner scheme makes no sense, but if it's actually set up to encourage collaboration and learning with lower stakes on the final grade, it sounds like it could be a positive. It's also really normal for difficultly in math to ramp up around this time. Make sure this isn't what's going on and your kid needs an excuse!

OP here - thanks for this. According to my kid and his friend, there is not time on the quizzes to collaborate. Currently my kid's entire grade is made up by 2 quizzes, which is what made me ask the questions that led me to understand this entire partner quiz situation.

This was not part of your question but for additional context, the teacher does not grade the quiz that is not counted towards a grade. So this partner quiz situation also cuts the teachers grading in half. I obviously do not know if that is a motivating factor for the teacher.

He doesn’t count the quizzes so I don’t get the problem.

The quizzes do count towards grades (in total they are approx 15-20% of the grade). for a partner quiz, the teacher pairs students A and B. They each take a different quiz and are allowed to collaborate (but there is typically not time for that), The teacher then only grades one of the two quizzes (for example only student A's quiz is graded) and both students are assigned student A's grade on the quiz.

[Anonymous]

It’s standard to award partial credit in math. If that stopped then I’d complain about that too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With this new information, I'd want to know a little more before I'd complain. Or, at least approach the teacher in the spirit of inquiry. How much do quizzes really count? In any math class my kid had in school, you'd have to have low failing quiz average to move the needle from a low A to a C. You said the tests are really rapid, but are the quizzes? Or is there actually time to be collaborative. With high stakes, rapid assessment, this partner scheme makes no sense, but if it's actually set up to encourage collaboration and learning with lower stakes on the final grade, it sounds like it could be a positive. It's also really normal for difficultly in math to ramp up around this time. Make sure this isn't what's going on and your kid needs an excuse!

OP here - thanks for this. According to my kid and his friend, there is not time on the quizzes to collaborate. Currently my kid's entire grade is made up by 2 quizzes, which is what made me ask the questions that led me to understand this entire partner quiz situation.

This was not part of your question but for additional context, the teacher does not grade the quiz that is not counted towards a grade. So this partner quiz situation also cuts the teachers grading in half. I obviously do not know if that is a motivating factor for the teacher.

He doesn’t count the quizzes so I don’t get the problem.

The quizzes do count towards grades (in total they are approx 15-20% of the grade). for a partner quiz, the teacher pairs students A and B. They each take a different quiz and are allowed to collaborate (but there is typically not time for that), The teacher then only grades one of the two quizzes (for example only student A's quiz is graded) and both students are assigned student A's grade on the quiz.

Yeah, no, if this count towards the grade, he should not be grading them for someone else's work, that's not the same as doing group work. I would complain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here (again) - I talked to several other students and parents this weekend and everyone verified the partner grading for quizzes (it is not done for tests - that was my error). Everyone seems to hate the system but as far as I can tell, no one has complained about it. I do worry that if I talk to a school administrator and they get the teacher to stop this practice, the teacher will take it out on the students in some other way by making tests harder or no longer giving partial credit (the tests/quizzes are really hard - teacher will include problems unlike those done in class/homework - but the teacher is typically generous with partial credit). I should still talk to someone at the school, right?

The person who is insane is YOU. There will not be retaliation. Stop thinking that way. You are actively hurting your child. Don't teach him this either.

[Anonymous]

I suggest speaking with the teacher in person to express concern and to ask about your son’s performance. It’s understandable for you to do so given your DC has a C grade currently. It’s easier to express concern about your DC’s performance without sounding “complainy” when you are actually speaking in person or over zoom/phone as opposed to writing an email. If the teacher still comes across as dismissive about your concerns, then that is the time to complain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s standard to award partial credit in math. If that stopped then I’d complain about that too.

+1

Conceptual right gets more points at our school than math fact errors.

Same in college, they follow the error to see if you apply their concepts right

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If parents complained in a timely and thoughtful way that teacher would not be around.

Who is going to replace the teacher? There’s not a line of applicants anymore and administrators know that.

A math teacher with unusual grading policies is better than no math teacher at all. Then you’ll get a rotating door of English and Social Studies teachers covering the class during their planning periods.

[Anonymous]

I know the teacher and school, I think. As you said, it’s only quizzes done this way; not tests. I believe the idea is that you are supposed to collaborate with your partner; at least that’s what my kid describes. Maybe there isn’t always time.

At least in the past, this teacher is not the only one teaching both pre-calc and calc, and I wouldn’t guess he’s the type to retaliate (but no personal experience there). I suggest emailing him if you’re concerned (at least as a place to start).

[Anonymous]

It's very common in high school to have some work graded for a group. The group part is supposed to be a small enough % that it doesn't change a grade from an A to a C. I think you don't really know what's going on or your kid is not telling you everything. From what you said, your kid is not doing well on the TESTS that make up the majority of the grade.