Today marks the conclusion of our first trimester, and once again the time honored tradition of assigning a letter to represent how a child has done in a class begins.
Thirty years ago, we lived in a society fairly obsessed with grades. Today, we live in a society that is ten times as obsessed. We have gotten to the point where many of our children view anything less than an "A" a failure. God-forbid they receive a dreaded "C", a grade that used to mean the students were performing at grade level.
Now days, it seems that we view the grade as the objective, and not the learning. Any teacher can recount story after story of children who scored 100% on their spelling tests each week, received an "A" in spelling, and misspelled every other word when using the words in a writing assignment. Grades do no reflect learning, and we have to keep this in mind when we view the students' grades. Students come to school to learn.
This trimester, my algebra class will probably receive a very limited number of "A"s on their report cards. But that is in no way a reflection of the learning that has taken place. In fact, I will say this group of students has probably put more effort into and learned more about algebra than any group I have ever taught. We need to keep this objective in mind. Before getting upset or frustrated by your children's grades, remember that it is the learning you should be concerned with.
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4 comments:
I wish everyone felt like you do. I truly believe that parents put so much pressure on their children to get "A"'s. I think that parents overlook the other very important information on our childrens report cards besides grades. Teachers make comments about the students in many different areas. Are they confident enough to participate in class? Can they get along well with other students? Do they respect students and their property? Are they kind and compassionate? If my children can get "A"'s in these subjects, I'll take a "C" in algebra anyday.
Well said, Mr. Carroll!
I spend my day reassuring children that they are gifted and can learn. I work hard to motivate them to believe in themselves and be the best that they can be.
I often long to teach in a school without grades. I think the kids get it; I just wish all the parents did too.
Grades come with hard work and perserverance. I dare say many more of our kids would be "A" students if they spent as much time studying, and discussing with parents what they are learning in school, as they do on the athletic field, or on the computer, or in front of the TV or video-game screen.
When was the last time you asked your kid to write anything to anyone or measure a wall to calculate the area before a paint job? When was the last time you sat and read an entire novel through with your child and discussed the elements of fiction with them as they relate to the story or had your child estimate the cost of filling the gas tank at the gas station? When have you discussed with your child the reason we do not genuflect in the church on Good Friday or why we bless ourselves with holy water at the church door?
When did you last have your kids with you in the kitchen as you doubled a recipe (yes, cook!) and helped them understand the real meaning of fractions. (By the way, I will give you five dollars if you can tell me a time you have ever in your life had to divide a fraction by a fraction; yes I know how to do it, but I never in my entire life have needed to do it.)
If you ARE doing these kinds of things in order to help your child learn and reinforce what he/she is learning in school, give yourself an A. If your paying so someone else can do it all for you, give yourself a C.
I better stop now, because report cards are due to the principal soon, and I still have lots of grading to do!
I admit that A's are not going to get my children into heaven, but C's aren't going to get them into high school either. Our parents didn't have to worry about where we were going to high school, the school district decided that for you based on where you lived but in a day where public high school tends to not be an option (ever driven by PHS? Scary!) the concern, that may seem like an obsession, is unfortantely a neccessity. And while I am of the belief that a faith based education is the only way to go and I know that my kids are getting the best of both worlds (and yes I have taught them why we bless ourselves when we walk into church) I dream of the day when there is a happy medium (Mr.K let me know when you open up that grade free school all the way through college and I'll sign up!), until then I will continue to be "concerned" about the C's. I just hope my kids are never asked to grade me, I'm too busy angrily cleaning the house to let them help me cook, and who follows a recipe anyway?!
Don't get hung up on grades. We, as parents know when our children are giving thier best effort. Remeber when it is all said and done, the "B" students run the buisnesses for the "C" students and the "A" students work for them! These are statistical facts and not just something I made up.
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