Anonymous wrote:OP here. I guess I assumed that the purpose of tests in 6th grade (elementary school) is to assess what content the student has actually learned.

By translating the Spanish words into English, he showed that he knows quite a bit (and what he did was harder than what she was asking for).

But he got 0 credit at all, as if she thinks that he doesn't know what those words mean. Which, after all, is supposedly the purpose of the class??

OP, you really don't get it. Your kid is already at a disadvantage because of this.

I can't wait to read your posts when he is taking APs.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I guess I assumed that the purpose of tests in 6th grade (elementary school) is to assess what content the student has actually learned.

By translating the Spanish words into English, he showed that he knows quite a bit (and what he did was harder than what she was asking for).

But he got 0 credit at all, as if she thinks that he doesn't know what those words mean. Which, after all, is supposedly the purpose of the class??

My kid has dyslexia and attention issues and is in a mainstream private school. I think he would have gotten partial credit in each of the situations you mention - and that would be routine practice, not special for him. The reason is the one you give: the point of a test is to assess learning, and also to reinforce learning. Aside from the unit, he showed he does know content but he also showed he can’t follow directions, which is equally important. That combo would probably rate a low grade (but not failing) in my kid’s school.

Anonymous wrote:I think you are being unreasonable and are doing your son no good here. I'm sure your attitude about these issues is apparent to him, and that isn't helping anything.

Yes, a completely wrong answer should be marked "completely wrong" in sixth grade. Your kid needs to pay attention, and learning to stop and read the instructions is part of the task.

Have your kid practice reading instructions to you and then explaining each part of what he is being asked to do to you.

New Poster.

Well come on, I get what she's saying.

Has following "the rules" like a good little girl ever gotten you anywhere in life?

It certainly hasn't for me. As an adult, I've learned that I have to be super aggressive and basically take what I want.

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

I mentioned this in the OP but he does have an ADHD-I diagnosis and part of his 504 plan requires teachers to make sure he understands the directions to tests.

I know she didn't do that. He had been doing well enough in school that we hadn't been making an issue of his 504.

But now I think we should bring it up??

Yes, it is time to bring it up.

But OP, you need to be less sympathetic towards your DS and more strict about him answering questions properly, not just demonstrating learning. None of your examples were teachers who are nit picky or incorrect, they are just doing regular grading.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Poster.

In OP's defense, I would be upset if my sixth grader was being graded on coloring too. That's bullshit.

Clearly it's part of the assignment though. If that's the assignment, then that's what you are graded on. OP's kid forgot to do part of the assignment. Period.

Why should sixth graders be graded on their coloring though? What a waste of time.

OP I would complain to the principal about that.

It's called following directions.

OP here.

I mentioned this in the OP but he does have an ADHD-I diagnosis and part of his 504 plan requires teachers to make sure he understands the directions to tests.

I know she didn't do that. He had been doing well enough in school that we hadn't been making an issue of his 504.

But now I think we should bring it up??

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I guess I assumed that the purpose of tests in 6th grade (elementary school) is to assess what content the student has actually learned.

By translating the Spanish words into English, he showed that he knows quite a bit (and what he did was harder than what she was asking for).

But he got 0 credit at all, as if she thinks that he doesn't know what those words mean. Which, after all, is supposedly the purpose of the class??

15:53 again.

By all means, encourage him to speak to his Spanish teacher about it and argue for some points back, since he clearly knew the subject matter. Self-advocacy is an important tool. But don't consider this teacher unfair. He did not answer the question, so it's up to the teacher to decide if she wants to be nice and add a little something to his grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm not saying he shouldn't get points taken off for these things.

But rather, his teachers are marking them totally wrong and giving no points at all even though he did demonstrate learning.

You are describing your kid writing answers that are "totally wrong." In that case, he gets no points.

You don't appear to grasp the concept that following instructions is part of the task. It is not a freestyle show-whatever-you-know.

Have your kid read instructions to you. Ask him to explain to you what he is being asked to do. Have him practice underlining each part of a prompt/instruction set that indicates a portion of what is required. If there is a rubric, make him read over the highest category section with you. When he is done with homework, make him do these things again to make sure he has fully completed the task. This needs to be part of the studying process for your kid.

OP here.

Fwiw, I did this once on an exam in college. I read the question wrong and wrote an unrelated essay. But the essay I wrote so impressed the professor that he gave me an A. Because that was the purpose of the test, as he understood it - for the student to show what we actually learned about the course topic.

My kid has adhd and struggled with these things in middle school too, so I feel your pain.

Unfortunately it’s the student who needs to adjust and work on his skills. Just one more thing to stress about, I know, but it’s not unfair, and thinking back to my own school experiences, it’s not a new expectation that students read and follow the directions exactly. Better to learn these lessons now than during a crucial high school exam.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm not saying he shouldn't get points taken off for these things.

But rather, his teachers are marking them totally wrong and giving no points at all even though he did demonstrate learning.

Tell him to demonstrate that he can read and follow directions.

Good for the teacher.

OMG,
I hate parents like you!

OP here. I guess I assumed that the purpose of tests in 6th grade (elementary school) is to assess what content the student has actually learned.

By translating the Spanish words into English, he showed that he knows quite a bit (and what he did was harder than what she was asking for).

But he got 0 credit at all, as if she thinks that he doesn't know what those words mean. Which, after all, is supposedly the purpose of the class??

I have a severely inattentive ADHD teen. A couple of things here:

1. I'm a scientist. Units in math and science are CRITICAL. The teacher could very well have given no points at all.

The Spanish teacher was harsh, but within her rights, since this was all about the Spanish.

However, losing points for not coloring the border is ridiculous and you should contact the teacher for clarification, because he or she is essentially punishing the students for not following petty esthetic directions instead of focusing on what really matters, which is the poem.

2. Does your child have a 504 or IEP? My son has had an IEP since K, and I found that most teachers tended to give him the benefit of the doubt until high school. He never lost points for esthetic reasons! On the other hand, I did not complain about losing points for not answering academic questions. In high school, if you don't answer the question exactly, you don't get the points. Middle school is a good time to learn this.

Anonymous wrote:I wrote a similar thing for my 3rd grader. Maybe some of the responses will help. I assume yours does not have an IEP, because otherwise you'd be asking in Kids with Special Needs?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/834196.page

3rd grade is a very different animal than 6th. In 3rd they are just starting to be able to read the instructions and understand the task ahead of them. Middle school? They should be able to do it without help.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm not saying he shouldn't get points taken off for these things.

But rather, his teachers are marking them totally wrong and giving no points at all even though he did demonstrate learning.

You are describing your kid writing answers that are "totally wrong." In that case, he gets no points.

You don't appear to grasp the concept that following instructions is part of the task. It is not a freestyle show-whatever-you-know.

Have your kid read instructions to you. Ask him to explain to you what he is being asked to do. Have him practice underlining each part of a prompt/instruction set that indicates a portion of what is required. If there is a rubric, make him read over the highest category section with you. When he is done with homework, make him do these things again to make sure he has fully completed the task. This needs to be part of the studying process for your kid.