When are grades due?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our 5th grader has only had four assignments graded all quarter (except in Math, which is a different teacher). There have been over 40 assignments given. The kids joke that turning in assignments is like submitting to a black hole because they disappear and are never heard from again. It isn't good motivation for the kids or a chance to reflect on their work.

Not all assignments are graded. Is it possible they have online assignments that are graded online?

These were the online assignments. But as of tonight there are now almost 30 assignments with grades in the system verses the 4 earlier today. Granted there is still no feedback for the students and no chance to ask questions about what they did well or need help on. But at least there are grades now? There are no grades in canvas either - just in synergy. I just heard from a friend because their kid has 10 missing assignments, but the parent had no idea because they weren’t graded or listed as missing until now. Their kid’s excuse was that the assignments never seem to get graded, so he didn’t think it mattered. I get that teachers are busy teaching, but I think kids deserve feedback as they do the work. Not a whole cascade of grades the last day. This is the first year we have experienced this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a 5th grade teacher, I’ve never given official make-ups. Elementary schools use standards based grading so grades are very different than middle and high. There are no percentages, just level of proficiency.

Also, our grades are ridiculous. If I enter 10 grades for a topic- for example 5 A’s, 1 B’s, and 4 D’s that would average to a B which is not at all representative of what’s going on.

All this to say, don’t worry about elementary grades. Make sure you request that work is getting sent home so that you can see if your child is understanding the work.

You say don’t worry about elementary grades but a single B in a single marking period can eliminate students from magnet lotteries and access to enriched instruction. The way it’s set up now, the grade can have outsized impact on placement.

This is not true at all. Grades have a very minor impact on who makes it into the lottery and/or receives advanced instruction. Many people make it into the lottery, but only so many get the advanced instruction.

It is true. You needed As in MP1 for 5th grade to unlock access to the humanities enriched course for 6th grade. You needed As for MP2 in 3rd grade this year to unlock access to ELC for 4th. If your child happened to get As in those marking periods then you may not know this.

Anonymous wrote:Our 5th grader has only had four assignments graded all quarter (except in Math, which is a different teacher). There have been over 40 assignments given. The kids joke that turning in assignments is like submitting to a black hole because they disappear and are never heard from again. It isn't good motivation for the kids or a chance to reflect on their work.

Not all assignments are graded. Is it possible they have online assignments that are graded online?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a 5th grade teacher, I’ve never given official make-ups. Elementary schools use standards based grading so grades are very different than middle and high. There are no percentages, just level of proficiency.

Also, our grades are ridiculous. If I enter 10 grades for a topic- for example 5 A’s, 1 B’s, and 4 D’s that would average to a B which is not at all representative of what’s going on.

All this to say, don’t worry about elementary grades. Make sure you request that work is getting sent home so that you can see if your child is understanding the work.

You say don’t worry about elementary grades but a single B in a single marking period can eliminate students from magnet lotteries and access to enriched instruction. The way it’s set up now, the grade can have outsized impact on placement.

This is not true at all. Grades have a very minor impact on who makes it into the lottery and/or receives advanced instruction. Many people make it into the lottery, but only so many get the advanced instruction.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a 5th grade teacher, I’ve never given official make-ups. Elementary schools use standards based grading so grades are very different than middle and high. There are no percentages, just level of proficiency.

Also, our grades are ridiculous. If I enter 10 grades for a topic- for example 5 A’s, 1 B’s, and 4 D’s that would average to a B which is not at all representative of what’s going on.

All this to say, don’t worry about elementary grades. Make sure you request that work is getting sent home so that you can see if your child is understanding the work.

This is OP. I don’t care about grades at all. My child does. She is anxious and very concerned about poor grades which her teacher issues arbitrarily. She mostly gets As but her teacher always gives out a handful of Cs or even Ds which have dropped her overall sub grade in places to a B in the past (eg 10 As, 2 Cs and 1 D send to average to a B and the Cs and D would be the same assignment where she made some minor error that’s may have not been outlined in the instructions). Given that these are always issues that could easily be rectified it causes much more upset and pressure on my kid than necessary.

If the grades are arbitrary why does your child need to learn from her mistakes?

Our 5th grader has only had four assignments graded all quarter (except in Math, which is a different teacher). There have been over 40 assignments given. The kids joke that turning in assignments is like submitting to a black hole because they disappear and are never heard from again. It isn't good motivation for the kids or a chance to reflect on their work.

Anonymous wrote:As a 5th grade teacher, I’ve never given official make-ups. Elementary schools use standards based grading so grades are very different than middle and high. There are no percentages, just level of proficiency.

Also, our grades are ridiculous. If I enter 10 grades for a topic- for example 5 A’s, 1 B’s, and 4 D’s that would average to a B which is not at all representative of what’s going on.

All this to say, don’t worry about elementary grades. Make sure you request that work is getting sent home so that you can see if your child is understanding the work.

You say don’t worry about elementary grades but a single B in a single marking period can eliminate students from magnet lotteries and access to enriched instruction. The way it’s set up now, the grade can have outsized impact on placement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Email teacher and ask what’s up. Cc principal.

I did, at the end of last quarter when the same thing happened. They blew me off. It causes a lot of stress for my daughter as she only gets feedback when it’s too late. The teacher is a tough grader too. Not sure what else to do.

If they both blew you off go higher. Reference your previous letter where they blew you off. Cite the school system regulations regarding grading. Not sure about MCpS, but I think it’s required to be updated by PGCPS weekly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a 5th grade teacher, I’ve never given official make-ups. Elementary schools use standards based grading so grades are very different than middle and high. There are no percentages, just level of proficiency.

Also, our grades are ridiculous. If I enter 10 grades for a topic- for example 5 A’s, 1 B’s, and 4 D’s that would average to a B which is not at all representative of what’s going on.

All this to say, don’t worry about elementary grades. Make sure you request that work is getting sent home so that you can see if your child is understanding the work.

This is OP. I don’t care about grades at all. My child does. She is anxious and very concerned about poor grades which her teacher issues arbitrarily. She mostly gets As but her teacher always gives out a handful of Cs or even Ds which have dropped her overall sub grade in places to a B in the past (eg 10 As, 2 Cs and 1 D send to average to a B and the Cs and D would be the same assignment where she made some minor error that’s may have not been outlined in the instructions). Given that these are always issues that could easily be rectified it causes much more upset and pressure on my kid than necessary.

I get it OP. The standards based grading can lead to ridiculous results. My kid has received Ds for getting the correct answer on a math problem but not using the proscribed Eureka method. (Also says phrase Eureka! has been permanently spoiled as a result.) I don't think we need misery olympics Elementary vs. Secondary. It is fun in high school when a pep rally schedule forces 4 major tests onto the same day and then they all come back 2 weeks later in the last days of the quarter when nothing can be done to make any course correction.

Anonymous wrote:As a 5th grade teacher, I’ve never given official make-ups. Elementary schools use standards based grading so grades are very different than middle and high. There are no percentages, just level of proficiency.

Also, our grades are ridiculous. If I enter 10 grades for a topic- for example 5 A’s, 1 B’s, and 4 D’s that would average to a B which is not at all representative of what’s going on.

All this to say, don’t worry about elementary grades. Make sure you request that work is getting sent home so that you can see if your child is understanding the work.

This is OP. I don’t care about grades at all. My child does. She is anxious and very concerned about poor grades which her teacher issues arbitrarily. She mostly gets As but her teacher always gives out a handful of Cs or even Ds which have dropped her overall sub grade in places to a B in the past (eg 10 As, 2 Cs and 1 D send to average to a B and the Cs and D would be the same assignment where she made some minor error that’s may have not been outlined in the instructions). Given that these are always issues that could easily be rectified it causes much more upset and pressure on my kid than necessary.

It is not unusual. It continues through high school where the consequences are more serious. It is infuriating.

As a 5th grade teacher, I’ve never given official make-ups. Elementary schools use standards based grading so grades are very different than middle and high. There are no percentages, just level of proficiency.

Also, our grades are ridiculous. If I enter 10 grades for a topic- for example 5 A’s, 1 B’s, and 4 D’s that would average to a B which is not at all representative of what’s going on.

All this to say, don’t worry about elementary grades. Make sure you request that work is getting sent home so that you can see if your child is understanding the work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are ES kids supposed to be able to make up any work for a higher grade? I have never heard of that policy. Is that written anywhere?

I don’t know about make up work but my experience is that they can revise and resubmit assignments. This may be a Covid rule but when the teacher is very tough at grading this can be helpful to help the kids learn and react to feedback.

I can see why it's a concern for HS, but 5th grade? Why worry so much?

It’s called feedback so the child can learn from mistakes.

This problem is multiplied by seven classes in middle school and high school. The problem with most of my child’s teachers is that Synergy is not synced with Canvas. My child’s grades are consistent as reported in Synergy till the last week and then it’s a roller coaster ride with updates. This morning, Synergy is showing a two grade drop in a class and there’s nothing that can be done to help fill in gaps and for my child to bring up his grade.

Seriously, if this is your biggest concern then you are doing well.