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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I don’t remember being able to retake tests and quizzes in middle school; is this normal?[/quote]

This is normal.  I think it is good because then the kid learns the material.  Which is the whole point of tests.[/quote]

+1
I know a lot of people don't think kids should be able to retake tests/quizzes, but the whole point is mastery of material.  If you do poorly on a test, you need to show that you [b]can [/b]master the material, and if that includes a retake, so be it.[/quote]

Being able to retake tests is a fairly new thing in the schooling system within the last 10-12 years.

I've not been a teacher that long, but from what I hear from my fellow teachers who have taught that long (and longer), it stems from lazy elementary school years.  Kids coast through the ES years with parents who allow them to not do homework if it's seen as a waste of time/busy work or just too difficult (causes lots of drama at home in the evenings).  They write notes to the teacher that their kid won't be doing this packet or that packet, this nightly reading, etc. in favor of other enrichment activities and family time and they still receive A's on their report cards (or numbers, if that's the system your school uses).

Then came middle school when those notes from mom & dad would no longer fly.  Sure, notes were sent in, but instead of getting an A, kids got zeros, which translated into D's and F's on report cards, which upset the parents.  Upset parents = complaining to the administration.  Upset administration = telling the teachers to make contingency plans for under-performing kids.

I hate giving retests as I see them as unfair, but I have to do them for two reasons: one, it's part of my job now and two, because I don't want my email inbox filled with angry parent emails the week before a semester ends or right after report cards are issued.  Teachers are, however, allowed to form their own rules for retests.  You don't have to offer the same version of the test to those taking the retest.  You can even make it longer or a different form of test (essay/short answer vs. multiple choice, paper vs. online, etc).  Anyone who scores a 77 or below (C+) has the opportunity to retake the test (school rule).  To retake the test you must get a form signed by a parent and it must be completed within one week of the original test date either before or after school.  If your retest score is lower than the original, the original is counted instead.  The highest score you can earn on a retest is a 90 (A-) as each retest automatically gets -10 deducted.

If a student who received a B on a tests asks me to retest, I'll allow it so that they can try for the A-.  Many teachers don't allow this.  I do because as I said above, I see retests as being unfair.  If we're going to allow them, everyone who wants to do it should be allowed, regardless of the grade received.      [/quote]

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