Asking how your kid compares to classmates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our Kindergarten teacher showed us bar charts to show exactly where our child stood in relation to the whole class!

Wow. As a teacher I’d never do this.

At the schools with the Flamboyan grants for parent engagement this is standard.

The chart is anonymous so you only know which is your child. And they tend to include 1-2 extra examples.

I find it comforting but not helpful. I can’t really do anything with the information but it does remind me that my kid is normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Apparently it's not done, because it inflames competition and risks lowering self-esteem or might put undue pressure on some students... blah blah blah, all rubbish.

I remember one of my high school biology teachers handing out exam papers IN ORDER OF GRADE, calling out each student's name out loud to distribute the papers... and while I don't wish that kind of experience on anyone, I would find it extremely useful to know where my child stands among his grade or class level, in various skills (for primary school), or subject (starting in middle school).

What is the actual utility in this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why do parents want to know this kind of information?

The important thing is for your child to be learning. Why so much interest in how other kids are doing? In what way does the rate at which other kids are learning affect your child?



Duh, you want to make sure your kid is doing OK. Not a big deal.


So that their child will have a peer reading group and generally peers on their level, or at least grade level. So that they know the teacher is not overburdened trying to catch up a ton of below-grade kids and no time for the kids who are above grade. That is our situation and it sucks.


Every school has kids below level, on level and above level. I taught in one of the wealthiest schools in the country and I had two groups of below grade level students in guided reading. I still did guided reading with my on level and above level groups and had extension centers for those above.

So I'm really trying to understand the point of showing every parent the chart of the class. Unless it's trying to create competition. Or trying to "motivate" lower students?

Agree with others that this class-specific bar chart is a terrible idea. It would be much better to know how your child was faring compared to peers on a national basis, such as with standardized tests, than with the class they are in, which could be a very skewed group.

Exactly! Especially at our under-enrolled school where there are only 15 kids in her first grade class. That's the saving grace that allows her enough one-on-one instruction even though the teacher has to work really hard to bring the other kids up to grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do parents want to know this kind of information?

The important thing is for your child to be learning. Why so much interest in how other kids are doing? In what way does the rate at which other kids are learning affect your child?

Duh, you want to make sure your kid is doing OK. Not a big deal.

So that their child will have a peer reading group and generally peers on their level, or at least grade level. So that they know the teacher is not overburdened trying to catch up a ton of below-grade kids and no time for the kids who are above grade. That is our situation and it sucks.

Every school has kids below level, on level and above level. I taught in one of the wealthiest schools in the country and I had two groups of below grade level students in guided reading. I still did guided reading with my on level and above level groups and had extension centers for those above.

So I'm really trying to understand the point of showing every parent the chart of the class. Unless it's trying to create competition. Or trying to "motivate" lower students?

I think it's to spare the teachers the work of making a chart for every student. But I think it's a privacy violation still, and the high-performing kids' parents always get distressed when they realize that the bulk of the class is below grade level and therefore the group lessons are too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do parents want to know this kind of information?

The important thing is for your child to be learning. Why so much interest in how other kids are doing? In what way does the rate at which other kids are learning affect your child?

Duh, you want to make sure your kid is doing OK. Not a big deal.

So that their child will have a peer reading group and generally peers on their level, or at least grade level. So that they know the teacher is not overburdened trying to catch up a ton of below-grade kids and no time for the kids who are above grade. That is our situation and it sucks.

Every school has kids below level, on level and above level. I taught in one of the wealthiest schools in the country and I had two groups of below grade level students in guided reading. I still did guided reading with my on level and above level groups and had extension centers for those above.

So I'm really trying to understand the point of showing every parent the chart of the class. Unless it's trying to create competition. Or trying to "motivate" lower students?

I think it's to spare the teachers the work of making a chart for every student. But I think it's a privacy violation still, and the high-performing kids' parents always get distressed when they realize that the bulk of the class is below grade level and therefore the group lessons are too.

I'm a parent of high performing kids in a school where many are not above grade level. There is a good set of differentiated learning combined with a small class size.

The charts tell me that my kid isn't alone as high performing, and instead there's a small but big enough cohort to support differentiated groups. Out of a class of 15, about a quarter is doing much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do parents want to know this kind of information?

The important thing is for your child to be learning. Why so much interest in how other kids are doing? In what way does the rate at which other kids are learning affect your child?

Duh, you want to make sure your kid is doing OK. Not a big deal.

So that their child will have a peer reading group and generally peers on their level, or at least grade level. So that they know the teacher is not overburdened trying to catch up a ton of below-grade kids and no time for the kids who are above grade. That is our situation and it sucks.

Every school has kids below level, on level and above level. I taught in one of the wealthiest schools in the country and I had two groups of below grade level students in guided reading. I still did guided reading with my on level and above level groups and had extension centers for those above.

So I'm really trying to understand the point of showing every parent the chart of the class. Unless it's trying to create competition. Or trying to "motivate" lower students?

I think it's to spare the teachers the work of making a chart for every student. But I think it's a privacy violation still, and the high-performing kids' parents always get distressed when they realize that the bulk of the class is below grade level and therefore the group lessons are too.

I'm a parent of high performing kids in a school where many are not above grade level. There is a good set of differentiated learning combined with a small class size.

The charts tell me that my kid isn't alone as high performing, and instead there's a small but big enough cohort to support differentiated groups. Out of a class of 15, about a quarter is doing much better.

I wish we had that. In our classroom it's my DD and one other kid, and they don't really mesh that well as friends. I hope they mix up the rooms next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our Kindergarten teacher showed us bar charts to show exactly where our child stood in relation to the whole class!

Wow. As a teacher I’d never do this.

At the schools with the Flamboyan grants for parent engagement this is standard.

The chart is anonymous so you only know which is your child. And they tend to include 1-2 extra examples.

I find it comforting but not helpful. I can’t really do anything with the information but it does remind me that my kid is normal.

1) Would you find it comforting if you're child was at the bottom?

2) What the hell does "my kid is normal" mean. That students below the average aren't normal? That students who need extra supports aren't normal? That students who fall below a certain line aren't normal?

[Anonymous]

The "the teacher doesn't have to create a chart for every student" is ridiculous. It's so easy to filter information these days. A click of the button and I can pull up each of my students data individually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The "the teacher doesn't have to create a chart for every student" is ridiculous. It's so easy to filter information these days. A click of the button and I can pull up each of my students data individually.

Well then I have no idea, it was just a guess. I really can't figure out why they think this is a good idea. Personally I thought it was socially awkward and waste of time. It was nice to meet the other parents but I didn't get much out of it and felt bad that the teacher spent time creating a take-home activity that we both knew DD was far beyond. I'm happy to play along if it helps other parents, but I'm not sure it does, especially with the loss of the individual conferences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "the teacher doesn't have to create a chart for every student" is ridiculous. It's so easy to filter information these days. A click of the button and I can pull up each of my students data individually.

Well then I have no idea, it was just a guess. I really can't figure out why they think this is a good idea. Personally I thought it was socially awkward and waste of time. It was nice to meet the other parents but I didn't get much out of it and felt bad that the teacher spent time creating a take-home activity that we both knew DD was far beyond. I'm happy to play along if it helps other parents, but I'm not sure it does, especially with the loss of the individual conferences.

Can you ask the teacher or admin why this is beneficial?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "the teacher doesn't have to create a chart for every student" is ridiculous. It's so easy to filter information these days. A click of the button and I can pull up each of my students data individually.

Well then I have no idea, it was just a guess. I really can't figure out why they think this is a good idea. Personally I thought it was socially awkward and waste of time. It was nice to meet the other parents but I didn't get much out of it and felt bad that the teacher spent time creating a take-home activity that we both knew DD was far beyond. I'm happy to play along if it helps other parents, but I'm not sure it does, especially with the loss of the individual conferences.

Can you ask the teacher or admin why this is beneficial?

I did, and they basically told me to f*ck off-- actually they were quite rude about it. I'm a PTA board member and it really bothered me that we could not have a civil conversation about parent-teacher conferences. I think they have to do it to get the Flamboyan funding. But maybe after the feedback this year they will reconsider sharing so much information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our Kindergarten teacher showed us bar charts to show exactly where our child stood in relation to the whole class!

Wow. As a teacher I’d never do this.

There is a dark competitive side of me (who got a 173 on the LSAT.) who craves this kind of bar chart.

I got a 178.

And I got a 180.

And know someone who has more than one 180.

Which is why these charts and comparisons are at best ridiculous and at worst toxic.

I agree. But I’m not the PP who said she was competitive and wanted to see such charts.
(Why did someone with a 180 take the LSAT again??)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "the teacher doesn't have to create a chart for every student" is ridiculous. It's so easy to filter information these days. A click of the button and I can pull up each of my students data individually.

Well then I have no idea, it was just a guess. I really can't figure out why they think this is a good idea. Personally I thought it was socially awkward and waste of time. It was nice to meet the other parents but I didn't get much out of it and felt bad that the teacher spent time creating a take-home activity that we both knew DD was far beyond. I'm happy to play along if it helps other parents, but I'm not sure it does, especially with the loss of the individual conferences.

Can you ask the teacher or admin why this is beneficial?

I did, and they basically told me to f*ck off-- actually they were quite rude about it. I'm a PTA board member and it really bothered me that we could not have a civil conversation about parent-teacher conferences. I think they have to do it to get the Flamboyan funding. But maybe after the feedback this year they will reconsider sharing so much information.

Interesting! As a teacher that shows, to me, that they don’t know what the benefit is and it’s a huge waste of time for all involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "the teacher doesn't have to create a chart for every student" is ridiculous. It's so easy to filter information these days. A click of the button and I can pull up each of my students data individually.

Well then I have no idea, it was just a guess. I really can't figure out why they think this is a good idea. Personally I thought it was socially awkward and waste of time. It was nice to meet the other parents but I didn't get much out of it and felt bad that the teacher spent time creating a take-home activity that we both knew DD was far beyond. I'm happy to play along if it helps other parents, but I'm not sure it does, especially with the loss of the individual conferences.

Can you ask the teacher or admin why this is beneficial?

I did, and they basically told me to f*ck off-- actually they were quite rude about it. I'm a PTA board member and it really bothered me that we could not have a civil conversation about parent-teacher conferences. I think they have to do it to get the Flamboyan funding. But maybe after the feedback this year they will reconsider sharing so much information.

Interesting! As a teacher that shows, to me, that they don’t know what the benefit is and it’s a huge waste of time for all involved.

What do you think the benefit is, really? Parents meeting each other?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The "the teacher doesn't have to create a chart for every student" is ridiculous. It's so easy to filter information these days. A click of the button and I can pull up each of my students data individually.

Well then I have no idea, it was just a guess. I really can't figure out why they think this is a good idea. Personally I thought it was socially awkward and waste of time. It was nice to meet the other parents but I didn't get much out of it and felt bad that the teacher spent time creating a take-home activity that we both knew DD was far beyond. I'm happy to play along if it helps other parents, but I'm not sure it does, especially with the loss of the individual conferences.

Can you ask the teacher or admin why this is beneficial?

I did, and they basically told me to f*ck off-- actually they were quite rude about it. I'm a PTA board member and it really bothered me that we could not have a civil conversation about parent-teacher conferences. I think they have to do it to get the Flamboyan funding. But maybe after the feedback this year they will reconsider sharing so much information.

Yes this is a requirement to get the Flamboyan grant. The grant also supports home visits at the start of the school year.

The data shows that at schools where this is happening the weaker students parents are more engaged and support reading and homework out of school more than where the program isn’t in place. And some modest improvement in PARCC for those students as well.