How does new semester grading work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high school currently has 1,000 E grades with 50% or lower.

We are hoping this is a wake up call / FAFO moment for the students. We’ll see. So many students just put the bare minimum in and it has been a lifelong habit enabled by MCPS and parents.

My HS is probably in that same boat. Last I heard like 500-600 were below a 20% which means they might as well not show up until 2nd semester.

This is where I wish schools would be proactive and put students in credit recovery for second quarter. Kids below 20% typically failed previously because the issue is most likely attendance. Yet the teacher was expects to jump through hoops to try to get them to pass because “there was a chance”. Maybe now there could be acknowledgment to kids and parents sooner that the student needs to get it together and redo that quarter.

In defense of our school, the Asst. Principal sent letters and emails to every student that was in that scenario at Interims time and informed them of the consequences. It wasn't like we waited until report cards were due to tell kids they had 0 chance at passing.

Credit recovery would be nice but the way it's set up, I fear kids would fail on purpose just to do the credit recovery during quarter 2 because it's typically a much easier and less involved process.

Seems like there needs to be a new 'system' for credit recovery, at least at schools where there are a lot of kids in this boat. Such as selecting a few of the courses with a lot of Q1 failures (probably math and english) and starting the kids back at the beginning of Q1-- i.e., redoing the full Q1 course concurrently with the Q2 course. (Could be a double-period class that teaches both Q1 and Q2 content or just an add-on Q1 course). Though the devil is in the details-- impossible in terms of teaching loads this year. Though in the future they could anticipate such a thing and arrange teaching schedules in a way that could have someone move into teaching this course at the beginning of Q2.

+1. Start over at the beginning and let them know they will already likely be enrolled for summer school unless they can give-up an elective so they can catch up and keep up.

[Anonymous]

Here's a thought- take a page from private schools. All higher level classes (honors and AP level) require students to earn an A in the previous level course. That way, there wouldn't be as many struggling students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a HS teacher the only thing i am concerned with and have not recieved guidance on is how we handle the kids who mathematically cannot pass. There are apparently as many as 500 kids in our school in that situation. How do you manage and control that many lids who have no real reason to follow the program for 9 weeks?

Do you mean that some kids have so few points from q1, there is no way they can pass the semester?

Yes they have below a 20% meaning they would need over 100% in MP2 to earn a 60% average and pass

There is a grading calculator kids can use to determine their semester grade with hypothetical q2 grades . Teachers are sharing at our HS. Yes some would need over 100% in q2 to pass. I heard they are now allowing for credit recovery because of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high school currently has 1,000 E grades with 50% or lower.

We are hoping this is a wake up call / FAFO moment for the students. We’ll see. So many students just put the bare minimum in and it has been a lifelong habit enabled by MCPS and parents.

My HS is probably in that same boat. Last I heard like 500-600 were below a 20% which means they might as well not show up until 2nd semester.

This is where I wish schools would be proactive and put students in credit recovery for second quarter. Kids below 20% typically failed previously because the issue is most likely attendance. Yet the teacher was expects to jump through hoops to try to get them to pass because “there was a chance”. Maybe now there could be acknowledgment to kids and parents sooner that the student needs to get it together and redo that quarter.

In defense of our school, the Asst. Principal sent letters and emails to every student that was in that scenario at Interims time and informed them of the consequences. It wasn't like we waited until report cards were due to tell kids they had 0 chance at passing.

Credit recovery would be nice but the way it's set up, I fear kids would fail on purpose just to do the credit recovery during quarter 2 because it's typically a much easier and less involved process.

Seems like there needs to be a new 'system' for credit recovery, at least at schools where there are a lot of kids in this boat. Such as selecting a few of the courses with a lot of Q1 failures (probably math and english) and starting the kids back at the beginning of Q1-- i.e., redoing the full Q1 course concurrently with the Q2 course. (Could be a double-period class that teaches both Q1 and Q2 content or just an add-on Q1 course). Though the devil is in the details-- impossible in terms of teaching loads this year. Though in the future they could anticipate such a thing and arrange teaching schedules in a way that could have someone move into teaching this course at the beginning of Q2.

Or — here’s a crazy idea — kids could be put into different class levels based on ability and interest at the start of the semester.

Stop making so much sense! This is he MCPS forum, after all.

[Anonymous]

Or maybe we can just let the kids FAFO. If they are earning less than a 20%, it's not like they are showing up now. We shouldn't make-up a new system to let them make it up in an easier way like Edmentum.

ALL 14-year-olds can understand that if they don't show up or complete work, then they won't pass. I would feel differently for students who show up and complete the work, but it is not passing work. Those kids should receive remedial instruction and help. But not showing up or completing work? Nope! They don't need a special class for that! They chose not to show up, now they will have to give up their summer. In addition, there needs to be consequences for the parents if a child doesn't show up a certain amount of days.

If they don't attend summer school, then they don't graduate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high school currently has 1,000 E grades with 50% or lower.

We are hoping this is a wake up call / FAFO moment for the students. We’ll see. So many students just put the bare minimum in and it has been a lifelong habit enabled by MCPS and parents.

Students may have a poor work ethic, but to the best of my knowledge MCPS has never provided direct instruction on study/executive functioning skills.

Why doesn’t MCPS offer a study skills/exec functioning class? Even as an elective or after school or summer school or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high school currently has 1,000 E grades with 50% or lower.

We are hoping this is a wake up call / FAFO moment for the students. We’ll see. So many students just put the bare minimum in and it has been a lifelong habit enabled by MCPS and parents.

Students may have a poor work ethic, but to the best of my knowledge MCPS has never provided direct instruction on study/executive functioning skills.

Why doesn’t MCPS offer a study skills/exec functioning class? Even as an elective or after school or summer school or something?

Question for high school teachers: Is it a study skills issue or a lack of effort and/or interest? Would an EF class help the kids who are failing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high school currently has 1,000 E grades with 50% or lower.

We are hoping this is a wake up call / FAFO moment for the students. We’ll see. So many students just put the bare minimum in and it has been a lifelong habit enabled by MCPS and parents.

Students may have a poor work ethic, but to the best of my knowledge MCPS has never provided direct instruction on study/executive functioning skills.

Why doesn’t MCPS offer a study skills/exec functioning class? Even as an elective or after school or summer school or something?

+1 this should be a semester long required class freshman year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a thought- take a page from private schools. All higher level classes (honors and AP level) require students to earn an A in the previous level course. That way, there wouldn't be as many struggling students.

There are actually plenty of people in private schools who hate that this occurs, so maybe it's not the best idea. Productive struggle can be good particularly in an area of interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high school currently has 1,000 E grades with 50% or lower.

We are hoping this is a wake up call / FAFO moment for the students. We’ll see. So many students just put the bare minimum in and it has been a lifelong habit enabled by MCPS and parents.

Students may have a poor work ethic, but to the best of my knowledge MCPS has never provided direct instruction on study/executive functioning skills.

Why doesn’t MCPS offer a study skills/exec functioning class? Even as an elective or after school or summer school or something?

Question for high school teachers: Is it a study skills issue or a lack of effort and/or interest? Would an EF class help the kids who are failing?

Some of both. Some are just not trying. Some are frustrated and don't have the necessary pre-requiste skills including study skills needed to be successful. Some are kids who are trying and failing because they need better study skills/EF. Some of these might actually have undiagnosed ADHD that they've been able to sustain until they hit HS classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's a thought- take a page from private schools. All higher level classes (honors and AP level) require students to earn an A in the previous level course. That way, there wouldn't be as many struggling students.

There are actually plenty of people in private schools who hate that this occurs, so maybe it's not the best idea. Productive struggle can be good particularly in an area of interest.

+1 It's kind of awful that parents pay $50k a year for private school and can't get their kids into an AP course. Yeah, if the kid is struggling in a subject sure, but to say that if a kid got an 89 and can't enroll in an AP is pretty harsh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high school currently has 1,000 E grades with 50% or lower.

We are hoping this is a wake up call / FAFO moment for the students. We’ll see. So many students just put the bare minimum in and it has been a lifelong habit enabled by MCPS and parents.

Students may have a poor work ethic, but to the best of my knowledge MCPS has never provided direct instruction on study/executive functioning skills.

Why doesn’t MCPS offer a study skills/exec functioning class? Even as an elective or after school or summer school or something?

+1 this should be a semester long required class freshman year.

They did used to have a class like this for freshmen called Connections. This was 5-10 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high school currently has 1,000 E grades with 50% or lower.

We are hoping this is a wake up call / FAFO moment for the students. We’ll see. So many students just put the bare minimum in and it has been a lifelong habit enabled by MCPS and parents.

Students may have a poor work ethic, but to the best of my knowledge MCPS has never provided direct instruction on study/executive functioning skills.

Why doesn’t MCPS offer a study skills/exec functioning class? Even as an elective or after school or summer school or something?

+1 this should be a semester long required class freshman year.

They did used to have a class like this for freshmen called Connections. This was 5-10 years ago.

We still offer that at my HS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high school currently has 1,000 E grades with 50% or lower.

We are hoping this is a wake up call / FAFO moment for the students. We’ll see. So many students just put the bare minimum in and it has been a lifelong habit enabled by MCPS and parents.

Students may have a poor work ethic, but to the best of my knowledge MCPS has never provided direct instruction on study/executive functioning skills.

Why doesn’t MCPS offer a study skills/exec functioning class? Even as an elective or after school or summer school or something?

+1 this should be a semester long required class freshman year.

They did used to have a class like this for freshmen called Connections. This was 5-10 years ago.

We still offer that at my HS

Have you seen positive results from the students enrolled?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or maybe we can just let the kids FAFO. If they are earning less than a 20%, it's not like they are showing up now. We shouldn't make-up a new system to let them make it up in an easier way like Edmentum.

ALL 14-year-olds can understand that if they don't show up or complete work, then they won't pass. I would feel differently for students who show up and complete the work, but it is not passing work. Those kids should receive remedial instruction and help. But not showing up or completing work? Nope! They don't need a special class for that! They chose not to show up, now they will have to give up their summer. In addition, there needs to be consequences for the parents if a child doesn't show up a certain amount of days.

If they don't attend summer school, then they don't graduate.

I agree with the idea that it's good for these kids to finally be seeing consequences.

But ALSO, I think they need to be placed at the correct level at the outset. A huge share of MCPS students aren't reading proficiently, and putting them all into Honors English 9 is setting them up to fail.