Would this comment bother you?

[Anonymous]

My kid brought home a math worksheet with the following comment from the teacher written at the top:

Finally...followed by what looks like a cross between an exclamation point and a question mark.

I asked her what it meant, and she said she didn't know...she guessed that maybe it's because she usually misses a question or two. This is bothering me. I might feel better if "Finally" had been followed by a smiley face. Fwiw, she's in 4th grade.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Um, you didn't tell us her grade on the worksheet. I am guessing it's a good grade?

I'm also guessing you don't have enough to do, if you are worried about this.

[Anonymous]

No grade, but she got all the answers correct. It just seems like an odd comment...very negative IMHO.

[Anonymous]

My third-grader recently got a "Finally!" comment on a math worksheet, when she got all of the answers correct after missing one or two due to careless mistakes for several weeks in a row. It did not bother me. In fact, I completely agreed with the teacher's comment.

[Anonymous]

It was a compliment and encouragement. Take it as that. It means the teacher knew the child had it in them all along.

[Anonymous]

I think it's negative. It makes a kid wonder why she had made mistakes before and perhaps make her feel insecure. Why not say Great Job instead?

Might as well have said, "Finally did it right, Moron!"

So not cool IMHO.

[Anonymous]

Sounds sarcastic to me.

Finally!

[Anonymous]

Really? People do not have anything better to worry about?

I am completely missing the Ebola hysteria on DCUM right now!

[Anonymous]

I get sarcasm...because I'm an adult. Not sure sarcasm is appropriate for a kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was a compliment and encouragement. Take it as that. It means the teacher knew the child had it in them all along.

+ 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My third-grader recently got a "Finally!" comment on a math worksheet, when she got all of the answers correct after missing one or two due to careless mistakes for several weeks in a row. It did not bother me. In fact, I completely agreed with the teacher's comment.

Exactly!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was a compliment and encouragement. Take it as that. It means the teacher knew the child had it in them all along.

Anonymous wrote:My third-grader recently got a "Finally!" comment on a math worksheet, when she got all of the answers correct after missing one or two due to careless mistakes for several weeks in a row. It did not bother me. In fact, I completely agreed with the teacher's comment.

I would also feel very good that the teacher actually is paying attention to the child's progress to have made this comment. If she did not care or remember, she would not have written this.

[Anonymous]

When I was in high school, a million years ago, I got an AP US History test back that said "Much better! Glad to finally see an A!" At the time I was somewhat struggling, getting pretty much all Bs on the tests.

So, no, OP, that comment would not bother me.

[Anonymous]

what did your child say about it? If it bothered my child it would bother me. If not I would maybe ask about it at the teacher conference

[Anonymous]

Pp: that comment is much different than "Finally!"