Reply to Let’s update gradebook

Forum Index » Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)

Reply to "Let’s update gradebook"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It’s less about not putting the grades into SIS than not grading the work at all. When teachers don’t grade and return assignments, how are kids supposed to learn and do better the next time?[/quote]

This is my main concern. I know how overworked teachers are (I teach ES). Actually, I can't even imagine MS teachers that have to grade assignments from 4-5 sections of 25+ students each. BUT, I do think my kid needs more than a grade in a computer system, particularly for non-math subjects. In all of 7th grade and so far in 8th my kid has not receive a single word of feedback on any writing assignment, be it for History, Science, or English. Only the number/letter grade and sometimes circled items on a rubric. No redline markups, not even form comments like "needs more evidence, watch your grammar, source?", etc. Even for assignments that hit the mark, some positive words would go a long way to boost confidence and enthusiasm for the topics.

I don't know what the answer is, because truly a dedicated MS teacher is already doing more (unpaid!) overtime than we can probably imagine. But I do know that this inadequate level of feedback is a disservice to my kid who could be using that feedback to improve. [/quote]

Yes, it is a disservice. It absolutely is. Is the solution 15 hours of middle school and high school grading each weekend? That’s how comments on papers happen. That’s what I’ll be doing again this weekend. That’s what I did for 3 hours last night.

I have to sacrifice my own family for those comments. I grade before dinner. I grade after dinner. I grade at my kids’ sporting events. I grade in the car if someone else is driving. I miss family events. I missed a family outing to PA last weekend so I could stay home and work.

Is this acceptable to you? I hear that kids need comments. What I don’t hear is an acknowledgment that those comments take major sacrifice. [/quote]

Listen, I have no issue with respecting family time, in theory. But, if you're not giving the comments and feedback, you are NOT doing your job and teaching the kids. You're not. So, maybe teaching isn't for you. Leave it to the ones who are able to do both. And by our gradebooks over the years, there are those that seem to be able to do that, and those that cannot.

And, BTW, do you think you're the only profession or person who has work eat into their personal time? You're not. [/quote]

It seems you don’t need a teacher. You need a martyr. You have no problem when a teacher says they are in front of students 35 hours a week and still have 30 hours of work to do. “Get it done.”

Hence… a teacher shortage. People aren’t willing to work 65 hour weeks for $75K and a ton of disrespect. [/quote]

Are you always this obtuse? Because nothing in my post was "martyr" like. I do what I need to do to get my kid the education needed. The point is, parents are doing the job that some teachers aren't. And using OUR personal time to do so. But you don't seem to care about that. Funny how that works. [/quote]

I think you were too quick to label me as obtuse. I get it. I’m a parent, too. When I’m not spending 65 hours a week working hard for YOUR child, I am filling in the gaps for my own. I’m aware there are gaps in my own children’s education. The difference between us is I don’t assume it’s because of their teachers.

I know and accept what you clearly refuse to acknowledge. Teachers are burned out and quitting. They are covering for their colleagues who have already left for higher-paying and easier jobs.

I also understand that they, like me, are expected to be directly in front of students for 33-35 hours a week, actively teaching. That leaves them a mere 5 hours (if they are lucky and not covering other classes) to do all the planning, all the grading, all the email responses, all the report writing, etc. I know that those teachers, like me, give up Saturday and Sunday to try their best to catch up. I appreciate their sacrifice. I know they are being asked to do the work of 2-3 (quite literally). I understand that my kid’s essay is just one of 150, and while it may only take 15 minutes to comment on his essay, the teacher won’t finish the pile for another 25-27 hours… which is done in the evening and on weekends since there’s no time at school. Under these conditions, I can respect the teacher and be patient.

Your other argument seems to be that you have to help your children at home on your personal time. So? Shouldn’t you be? You are a partner in your child’s education. [/quote]

Where did I say teachers aren't burned out and quitting? If htey cannot do the job, they should quit. That would at least let me know where things stand and I can make other choices. Instead, they're not doing what they're fully responsible for and expect people to be ok with it. No, sorry. Finding out what my all A kid DIDN't know by the end of MS was a real eye opener. I appreciate that teaching sucks these days. What I don't appreciate that what seems to be the "give" in this is my child not actually being taught by some teachers. That is not the answer.

And your last point is just silly. I will always help my child. I put in the extra time on my personal time to uphold my responsibilities and I and others always have. And so should teachers. That's the gig. Further, while I am absolutely a partner in their education, so are teachers. It's a 3 person partnership here. But what I -shouldn't- be doing imo is teaching basic things like grammar and writing. And providing the feedback teachers have traditionally done but can't seem to be able to do (at least consistently). Sorry, that's not ok. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics