While it would be great to get a personalized narrative about my child's specific needs and achievements as some have said exists somewhere... it isn't going to happen, so why pine for it?

This new grading system is pretty useless for middle and upper elementary. Speaking just for our family, my daughter will have this new system for the first and last time next year in 6th grade -- when she has already been used to several years of letter grades and she (and we) have a grasp of what those grades mean. Now, the year before middle school will be graded with these vague statements that won't help her or us really know about progress, so we'll spend more time than ever talking with her teacher -- during the 6th grade year, when teachers are already overloaded getting kids ready for middle school and, oh yes!, the beloved SOLs. I'm sure sixth grade teachers are just thrilled with this change.

Kids have to get used to letter grades in middle school, why not start them in middle elementary years as has been done up until now?

Anonymous wrote:A generation ago we didn't have honor roll at my elementary either. Yes, it makes sense at middle school and high school when it's more about the children taking ownership.

Agree! Honor roll in early elementary is not so much about the children as the parents. When the child is working independently and gets on honor roll (which probably happens by about 4th grade), I'm impressed. First graders getting on because rich parents do all kinds of enrichment, force feed their kids math facts and micromanage homework? Not so impressive. I'm all for enriching activities but I'm not in favor of the first grade academic arms race.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone figured out how to compote a GPA in this system? I assume 4=A, 3=B etc but what numbers are included, what values are the blanks?

There is no GPA. Don't even try to figure one out. The scale is not an average. There was no GPA with the O,G,S,N scale either.

How do they do honor role without GPA's? Or do they not do that now....

I've taught elementary students for 19 years in FCPS and we've never had an honor roll at my school.

UGH! Our elementary does honor roll and I hate it. I think it's ridiculous for first graders to be on honor roll or just miss it or something. They develop at different rates and the younger grades should be about development, not parent competition, which is all honor roll is. And before someone snipes, my kid was on honor roll 3 of 4 quarters last year (missed is by one grade the other quarter).

No honor roll, don't keep score in soccer, numbers instead of grades so no one can figure it out. No differentation, Hey let's close TJ while we're at it. A generation ago we kept score and we led the world. It was clear what you needed to do to succeed. sheesh.... Now our kids will all need to learn Chinese if they want jobs... What ever happened to school preparing kids for life as adults?

That's so ridiculous! So you think our kids can't be globally competitive if we don't have honor roll in early elementary? Listen to yourself!

Anonymous wrote:

No honor roll, don't keep score in soccer, numbers instead of grades so no one can figure it out. No differentation, Hey let's close TJ while we're at it. A generation ago we kept score and we led the world. It was clear what you needed to do to succeed. sheesh.... Now our kids will all need to learn Chinese if they want jobs... What ever happened to school preparing kids for life as adults?

They keep score in the baseball and swim leagues my son participates in. I can't speak to soccer. As far as differentiation goes, I teach third grade and I'm up to my gills in trying to provide differentiation.

A generation ago we didn't have honor roll at my elementary either. Yes, it makes sense at middle school and high school when it's more about the children taking ownership.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone figured out how to compote a GPA in this system? I assume 4=A, 3=B etc but what numbers are included, what values are the blanks?

There is no GPA. Don't even try to figure one out. The scale is not an average. There was no GPA with the O,G,S,N scale either.

How do they do honor role without GPA's? Or do they not do that now....

I've taught elementary students for 19 years in FCPS and we've never had an honor roll at my school.

UGH! Our elementary does honor roll and I hate it. I think it's ridiculous for first graders to be on honor roll or just miss it or something. They develop at different rates and the younger grades should be about development, not parent competition, which is all honor roll is. And before someone snipes, my kid was on honor roll 3 of 4 quarters last year (missed is by one grade the other quarter).

No honor roll, don't keep score in soccer, numbers instead of grades so no one can figure it out. No differentation, Hey let's close TJ while we're at it. A generation ago we kept score and we led the world. It was clear what you needed to do to succeed. sheesh.... Now our kids will all need to learn Chinese if they want jobs... What ever happened to school preparing kids for life as adults?