Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With no scores below 50% (eg no 0s for missing assignments), mandatory retakes for anything under a B, how is anyone failing?

Retakes are mandatory in that we have to allow them. But a bunch of kids won’t bother doing the retake. They do not care. I will give an assignment and they say “what will my grade be if I don’t do this?” I tell them I don’t play number games like that. Do it or don’t and then deal with what the result is. You cannot imagine the amount of support we have to give to some kids to even pick up a pencil and LOOK like they’re attempting something. The kids who are gonna do it will do it and do fine but the ones who are failing even with all the buffers and protections we have in the policy to prevent failing are TRULY doing absolutely nothing despite reminders, redirects, help from teacher, retakes, etc. It’s wild. I don’t call anymore. It has never once resulted in the kid changing their behaviors. It just becomes me having to explain what I have done to justify why the kid won’t write down two sentences for an exit ticket.

I would want to know if my kid were behaving this way, what the actual heck, sorry you deal with this. It must be frustrating on so many levels.
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You might but the main thing I am told when I call home to inform them is “they said they did their work” or “I can’t do anything while they’re at school.” It is what it is.

The online grade book is your notice. I have over 100 students (some years it has been close to 150), and I just don't have time to contact home for everyone who is doing poorly. And as the other teachers have pointed out, the phone call or email rarely makes a difference. The kids and parents who care are checking the grades regularly and will immediately follow up with me about how to bring their grade up. A lot of the other kids will do absolutely nothing to help themselves, despite support being available, and often their parents will not push them to do better.

To all middle-school parents, I would say make a habit of checking the grades with your child once a week at a regular time, like Sunday night. If you notice your kid has bad grades, check to see if any assignments are missing. Then check to see if there are low scores on particular assignments or assessments. Did the teacher leave any comments? Can any of the assignments be completed online? Then have your kid email the teacher: "Dear Ms. So-and-so, I just wanted to let you know that I made up the assignment that I missed and submitted it online. Please grade it when you can." Or, "I noticed I missed this assignment the day I was absent and I don't understand how to do it. Can I come get help during lunch?" Or, "I did badly on the test and was wondering if I could do a retake. Are you available after school one day this week?" Then remind the student to follow up with the teacher during class. If the student gets no response or still seems confused, then you as the parent can step in and contact the teacher, but you want to help your kid learn to self-advocate.

+ 1 million

Anonymous wrote:


Retakes are mandatory in that we have to allow them. But a bunch of kids won’t bother doing the retake. They do not care. I will give an assignment and they say “what will my grade be if I don’t do this?” I tell them I don’t play number games like that. Do it or don’t and then deal with what the result is. You cannot imagine the amount of support we have to give to some kids to even pick up a pencil and LOOK like they’re attempting something. The kids who are gonna do it will do it and do fine but the ones who are failing even with all the buffers and protections we have in the policy to prevent failing are TRULY doing absolutely nothing despite reminders, redirects, help from teacher, retakes, etc. It’s wild. I don’t call anymore. It has never once resulted in the kid changing their behaviors. It just becomes me having to explain what I have done to justify why the kid won’t write down two sentences for an exit ticket.



+1000. All of this. I also offer extra help during my planning time and afterschool 1-2 days a week and I make this widely known to students and parents. The only people who take me up on it are the kids already doing pretty well and looking to get their B to an A.

+1 million

The online grade book is your notice. I have over 100 students (some years it has been close to 150), and I just don't have time to contact home for everyone who is doing poorly. And as the other teachers have pointed out, the phone call or email rarely makes a difference. The kids and parents who care are checking the grades regularly and will immediately follow up with me about how to bring their grade up. A lot of the other kids will do absolutely nothing to help themselves, despite support being available, and often their parents will not push them to do better.

To all middle-school parents, I would say make a habit of checking the grades with your child once a week at a regular time, like Sunday night. If you notice your kid has bad grades, check to see if any assignments are missing. Then check to see if there are low scores on particular assignments or assessments. Did the teacher leave any comments? Can any of the assignments be completed online? Then have your kid email the teacher: "Dear Ms. So-and-so, I just wanted to let you know that I made up the assignment that I missed and submitted it online. Please grade it when you can." Or, "I noticed I missed this assignment the day I was absent and I don't understand how to do it. Can I come get help during lunch?" Or, "I did badly on the test and was wondering if I could do a retake. Are you available after school one day this week?" Then remind the student to follow up with the teacher during class. If the student gets no response or still seems confused, then you as the parent can step in and contact the teacher, but you want to help your kid learn to self-advocate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With no scores below 50% (eg no 0s for missing assignments), mandatory retakes for anything under a B, how is anyone failing?

Retakes are mandatory in that we have to allow them. But a bunch of kids won’t bother doing the retake. They do not care. I will give an assignment and they say “what will my grade be if I don’t do this?” I tell them I don’t play number games like that. Do it or don’t and then deal with what the result is. You cannot imagine the amount of support we have to give to some kids to even pick up a pencil and LOOK like they’re attempting something. The kids who are gonna do it will do it and do fine but the ones who are failing even with all the buffers and protections we have in the policy to prevent failing are TRULY doing absolutely nothing despite reminders, redirects, help from teacher, retakes, etc. It’s wild. I don’t call anymore. It has never once resulted in the kid changing their behaviors. It just becomes me having to explain what I have done to justify why the kid won’t write down two sentences for an exit ticket.

+1000. All of this. I also offer extra help during my planning time and afterschool 1-2 days a week and I make this widely known to students and parents. The only people who take me up on it are the kids already doing pretty well and looking to get their B to an A.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With no scores below 50% (eg no 0s for missing assignments), mandatory retakes for anything under a B, how is anyone failing?

Retakes are mandatory in that we have to allow them. But a bunch of kids won’t bother doing the retake. They do not care. I will give an assignment and they say “what will my grade be if I don’t do this?” I tell them I don’t play number games like that. Do it or don’t and then deal with what the result is. You cannot imagine the amount of support we have to give to some kids to even pick up a pencil and LOOK like they’re attempting something. The kids who are gonna do it will do it and do fine but the ones who are failing even with all the buffers and protections we have in the policy to prevent failing are TRULY doing absolutely nothing despite reminders, redirects, help from teacher, retakes, etc. It’s wild. I don’t call anymore. It has never once resulted in the kid changing their behaviors. It just becomes me having to explain what I have done to justify why the kid won’t write down two sentences for an exit ticket.

I would want to know if my kid were behaving this way, what the actual heck, sorry you deal with this. It must be frustrating on so many levels.
\

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With no scores below 50% (eg no 0s for missing assignments), mandatory retakes for anything under a B, how is anyone failing?

Retakes are mandatory in that we have to allow them. But a bunch of kids won’t bother doing the retake. They do not care. I will give an assignment and they say “what will my grade be if I don’t do this?” I tell them I don’t play number games like that. Do it or don’t and then deal with what the result is. You cannot imagine the amount of support we have to give to some kids to even pick up a pencil and LOOK like they’re attempting something. The kids who are gonna do it will do it and do fine but the ones who are failing even with all the buffers and protections we have in the policy to prevent failing are TRULY doing absolutely nothing despite reminders, redirects, help from teacher, retakes, etc. It’s wild. I don’t call anymore. It has never once resulted in the kid changing their behaviors. It just becomes me having to explain what I have done to justify why the kid won’t write down two sentences for an exit ticket.

So basically OP has a child who is willfully failing? Not turning in assignments or retaking tests that do well.

Honestly, the school will only care if their performance drops in the SOLs. Then you would get notice from the school

Anonymous wrote:With no scores below 50% (eg no 0s for missing assignments), mandatory retakes for anything under a B, how is anyone failing?

Retakes are mandatory in that we have to allow them. But a bunch of kids won’t bother doing the retake. They do not care. I will give an assignment and they say “what will my grade be if I don’t do this?” I tell them I don’t play number games like that. Do it or don’t and then deal with what the result is. You cannot imagine the amount of support we have to give to some kids to even pick up a pencil and LOOK like they’re attempting something. The kids who are gonna do it will do it and do fine but the ones who are failing even with all the buffers and protections we have in the policy to prevent failing are TRULY doing absolutely nothing despite reminders, redirects, help from teacher, retakes, etc. It’s wild. I don’t call anymore. It has never once resulted in the kid changing their behaviors. It just becomes me having to explain what I have done to justify why the kid won’t write down two sentences for an exit ticket.

Anonymous wrote:With no scores below 50% (eg no 0s for missing assignments), mandatory retakes for anything under a B, how is anyone failing?

Retakes are not mandatory and if they were you can still never do well on the test.

With no scores below 50% (eg no 0s for missing assignments), mandatory retakes for anything under a B, how is anyone failing?

Anonymous wrote:I have a APS middle schooler failing multiple classes. The school has not reached out once to discuss. I guess I’m surprised but maybe should not be? I would have thought an individual teacher would email the parents to discuss or a grade level principal or counselor would do so. Nothing.

No, they don't reach out. You and your child are supposed to monitor grades and missing assignments, and take retakes within the stated timeline.

Sit down with your kid and his ipad and go through it together.

1) Go through studentvue/parentvue looking at the details for each assignment where he got a bad grade. Some teachers put in missing work as getting 50% of the points, so take that into account. Make a list of all assignments that are missing or need to be redone.

2) Go through Canvas and go through each classes page as well as the to do list, announcements, and mail. Make a list of all past assignments that are missing or need to be redone as well as upcoming work and tests.

3) For all assignments that your kid claims to have turned in that are marked as missing, sit there as your kid sends a message to the teacher asking about it. (You might need to dictate).

4) For all tests and quizzes that need retakes, similarly have your kid write to the teacher in canvas asking about it.

5) For unfinished work and upcoming tests, look at the list and prioritize how work will get done. You might need to help them study if they haven't had to study for tests before. Teach them how.

6) Check in daily with kid/ipad until grades improve. Slowly back off and let them take over, but continue to check parentvue frequently. Yes, middle school students should be able to do this on their own. But many need help, and this is the time to teach them how.

7) Consider if there are any underlying issues. If he's having issues with one or two classes, you might want to arrange a call with the teachers. If you suspect ADHD or learning differences, you could ask the school to assess him for special ed or get him assessed privately. If there are one or two areas that he needs help in, think about hiring a tutor.

Your child knows why he's failing. Either he is trying and doesn't get the material or he's not trying. Very different problems with different solutions. There are several more steps before reaching out to the teacher and they involve your child. Also, in middle school you should be helping your child reach out to the teacher as a first step. Not doing it for them.

Different scenario with my DS but may apply to your situation. As the material got harder, DS couldn't get by with just listening in class and doing homework... he had to actually STUDY for a test. He did poorly on a few tests (didn't have time to finish, made careless mistakes or did not read questions carefully) and the low grade brought his average down significantly. With few tests, no graded projects and teacher not grading homework, he could not recover from one poor test score in several subjects.

I do review assignments daily and note upcoming tests but as a parent, I take his word that he knows material sufficiently to do well on a test (my bad).

Anonymous wrote:You reach out and contact them. Be your child’s number one advocate and contact them to get help for your child and to find out why they are failing.

I disagree. Your kid is in middle school now. You know about the grades because they are posted. You have been notified.

You go through each class with your kid and help them compose an email with a proposed plan to get back on track. State the plan for making up missing work and which days they plan to see the teacher for extra help. Do they have a time build into the school day for remediation? Make a schedule. The email comes from your kid, not you, but it’s okay to copy you.