Class Average on Exam 40% - WWYD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teacher in a public high school is not going to fail everyone. There's a thing called a grading curve you use when this happens.

Formally, MCPS specifically and vehemently forbids grade curving. So no, that can't be done in MCPS, for better or worse.

Now what can happen is that suddenly the teacher remembers that the 50 point test was supposed to be worth 90 points, and that those additional 40 points were for spelling your name correctly at the top of the page. That happens; and sadly, there are also always a few students who miss those extra points as well.

[Anonymous]

While I agree that it’s probably not the teacher’s fault and that kids need to study more, some of these comments are just ableist. To tell parents that their kids need to just “deal with it” and teach themselves the material online is ridiculous. What about kids with learning disabilities? What about kids who don’t have access to the internet or stable internet at home or don’t have the resources to teach themselves? Needing extra help doesn’t mean a student is being “spoon fed.” Some students study a lot but still need the extra support.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I agree that it’s probably not the teacher’s fault and that kids need to study more, some of these comments are just ableist. To tell parents that their kids need to just “deal with it” and teach themselves the material online is ridiculous. What about kids with learning disabilities? What about kids who don’t have access to the internet or stable internet at home or don’t have the resources to teach themselves? Needing extra help doesn’t mean a student is being “spoon fed.” Some students study a lot but still need the extra support.

I'm sorry to say this... but if a student has learning disabilities and with accommodations is still scoring low, they don't need "extra support." They are in the wrong class. There does come a time when results matter. As to kids not having Internet? That is why there are: school libraries; public libraries; and welfare programs providing both phones and Wifi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a science class in a W high school where the average on the last test was 40%. The teacher allows corrections to raise the grades, but the most the average kid in the class will get is a C on this test.

There is a method to the teacher's approach, but it is clear that simply attending class and doing the assigned work does not prepare the students for the test. Would you approach the teacher about this situation?

Some HS teachers treat the kids like college students, where there's a lot of self-learning and professors don't always test on what they teach. Unfortunately, MCPS isn't very good about teaching study skills or repeating the students for this type of learning.

I'd let your child try first to work this out. This could include visiting the teacher at lunch or after school for more help and taking all reassessments.

If this happens with several tests after your child has tried to figure this out, I don't think it's out of line to write to the teacher, but you shouldn't write to criticize the teaching or testing. The only reason you should write is to ask what support the teacher recommends that you provide so your child can be successful in the class. The teachers usually won't tell you to hire a tutor, but that's always an option. If the goal is for the student to learn the material and a tutor accomplishes that, I see no problem with it, assuming it doesn't break the bank.

Keep in mind all you're hearing is coming from your child or perhaps from other parents who heard from their children. The teacher's perspective might be very different.

[Anonymous]

Study more?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Study more?

Agreed that that's the answer, but I dont' think that's all of it.

I think one issue is that MCPS doesn't teach study skills in ES or MS. Students enter HS expecting teachers to teach them everything that will be on the test and don't expect to have to do any self-directed learning. Teachers are trying to prepare the students for college, where they may need to teach themselves material because they will encounter that in college.

The issue is that the HS teachers are expecting skills the students do not have because the students weren't taught them in previous school years.