Anonymous
Post 11/15/2021 18:43     Subject: Freshman Math at W-L - Are many struggling?
Anonymous wrote:I listened to a great This American Life about a first gen student struggling with college math (I believe she was at UT Austin) and she was in a class where if she did better on the final than on the midterms, her final exam grade was her grade for the class. I think that is not a bad policy for a year like this given how much schools failed kids last year. It's math -- as long as they eventually learn the concepts, it really doesn't matter if they were confused at the beginning. and since math is about understanding and not memorizing, this policy does not harm the kids who have been doing well all along.


Some APS teachers do this. The test grade replaces the quiz grades.

It definitely incentivizes growth and mastery.
Anonymous
Post 11/15/2021 18:12     Subject: Freshman Math at W-L - Are many struggling?
I listened to a great This American Life about a first gen student struggling with college math (I believe she was at UT Austin) and she was in a class where if she did better on the final than on the midterms, her final exam grade was her grade for the class. I think that is not a bad policy for a year like this given how much schools failed kids last year. It's math -- as long as they eventually learn the concepts, it really doesn't matter if they were confused at the beginning. and since math is about understanding and not memorizing, this policy does not harm the kids who have been doing well all along.
Anonymous
Post 11/15/2021 16:18     Subject: Re:Freshman Math at W-L - Are many struggling?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid is in regular Geometry with a long term sub at W-L. It's not great. He said the sub is OK, but he doesn't remember much from Alg 1 even though he got an A. I am also shocked that tests and quizzes count for 85% of the grade. That's really high.


What do you think grades should be based on?


I think tests and quizzes should be the majority, but perhaps classwork and homework could count a bit more. If you get one bad grade on a test, it's really hard to dig your way out when it counts for 85% of the grade.


It's high school. That's pretty normal. At least at our private HS. No do-overs. Pop quizzes and tests counting for the majority of the grade.

It will get them ready for college, btw.


I teach in FCPS and it’s not normal there so I guess that’s why it’s been a shock to me. I get that it helps prepare them, but for someone who’s struggling it can be pretty demoralizing. Especially after a year of virtual algebra last year.