Reply to New FCPS report cards - no letter grades?!?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]First: kindergarten, first and second have always had this kind of report (although first and second have used Outstanding, good, satisfactory and needs improvement).  It makes sense in the lower grades where they don't have tests and therefore, they don't have numeric scores to compare to benchmarks.

However, once kids start taking quizzes and tests, IMO, they should be given actual grades.  I really hate the "always shows this skill," "sometimes shows this skill," etc. for the mid/upper elementary grades.  Kids need to know that getting a "C" is not acceptable (in my house it isn't ) and they should know where they stand compared the the amount of material they were taught and expected to learn.  When parents see "sometimes shows this skill" it sounds like == eh, it's probably good enough.  Parents don't have a good idea of whether they need to help/push their kids more or if they are doing ok.

I've seen this even in first grade.  The reports/comments are written with such positive language, that it doesn't really tell parents where their child is falling behind.  I have seen kids whose reading skills were way behind.  The parents probably don't know that the child is behind b/c the comments are something like "is working toward full comprehension of passages" == which sounds ok.  Except, in real life, that kid is not keeping up with the benchmarks in first grade.

They take away all the worksheet and work products -- so parents don't get regular feedback on the child's work.  Then they put in these fuzzy, feel-good comments that make it sound like everyone is successful, and THEN, they wonder why parents aren't helping their kids more and why the kids are behind!  There is a connection.

Bring back the letter grades for the middle/upper elementary kids! [/quote]

You sound like one of those hyper-competitive parents who is never satisfied and is always pushing, pushing, pushing.  I really don't care what grades my kids get. Grades don't tell me how well my child has mastered the material or if he's doing his best work, giving school his best effort.  You have no idea what other parents know or don't know about their kids.  It's also none of your business.  You should focus more on your own child and if you don't understand where your child is in terms of his learning, feel free to ask for a conference.

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Whatever.  I'm the one helping the kids who are FAR behind where they should be.  My kid is the one who only gets to have a small group session with the teacher once a week b/c she's too busy meeting with the kids who are behind.  So, it kind of IS my business if you "don't care what grades my kids get" b/c your failure to care and help YOUR child is taking instructional time away from MY child (and the other children) who are on target and whose parents must be helping them at home to get on (or above target).  It's hard to be motivated to offer my time to help children who are behind when their own parents don't put in a similar effort.  I'm assuming that it is not for lack of interest (on the part of the parent), but simply a lack of understanding of what they should be doing and lack of understanding that their child is behind.  Frankly, I was shocked to find out how little teacher-to-student time was actually happening in the class.  When I finally got my head around the reality that that's how it is in public school, then I personally took more responsibility for ensuring that my child met the benchmarks (and actually exceeded them).  I believe a lot of parents haven't made that connection yet b/c they aren't in the classroom to see how little time their child actually gets in a small group with a teacher.

As for letter grades... why shouldn't a third, fourth, fifth or sixth grader be rewarded with an A if they are doing very well.  I think letter grades can motivate students and can give students pride.  It has nothing to do with bragging about my kid.  Grades are the reward for good work.

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Please DON'T help my child!  I HATE that they allow other parents to "volunteer" in the classroom.  I would gladly pay double the taxes to get paid more professionals in the classroom rather than having catty, nosey parents working with my child (who isn't behind, btw).  Why do they allow that?  I can see volunteers working in the "stations, " the computer lab, supervising recess and helping get things ready.  But other parents should not know which children are "behind," which are "advanced," etc.

I'd love to hear a teacher's perspective on this.  Why does FCPS allow other parents to have access to this sort of information?[/quote]

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