tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post2295253286276265511..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: GradingDarrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-28092992824596647502010-06-03T00:47:36.751-07:002010-06-03T00:47:36.751-07:00Mrs Schroeder;
I agree with virtually everything ...Mrs Schroeder;<br /><br />I agree with virtually everything you wrote . . . except that you appear to be equating 'traditional grading' with grading based on things not pertaining to actual learning . . . The A-F scale, traditionally shows exactly that -- if it is based primarily on academic factors on performance. Obviously, if you're giving extra credit for bringing in kleenex, it won't. I guess it might be harder to justify bumping an approaching standards to a meets standards for bringing in kleenex, but there's no reason why you couldn't. It would make exactly as much sense, academically.maxutilshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11294262473781967372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-49118439644530205032010-06-02T21:01:33.131-07:002010-06-02T21:01:33.131-07:00Oh, where to start with what is wrong with the tra...Oh, where to start with what is wrong with the traditional grading system. Ask <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/atlanta-honors-student-misses-536783.html" rel="nofollow">Brittany</a>. <br /><br />The argument that "everybody knows what an A, B, C, D and F represent" simply isn't true. You might know what that letter represents, but it doesn't necessarily tell you what that child knows about Astronomy. I started SBG this year, and with my classes, it was HARDER to get an A. There was no "hiding a lot of D's and F's," they were there just like they always were, but now the kids knew exactly what they did and did not know. It WAS "more difficult for students to raise their grades through...extra credit, homework and participation." That's the whole point. None of those things show that the student has learned a thing in my class. Isn't that why I am here???<br /><br />I used to give extra credit for bringing in a box of Kleenex. So that kid's grade might have gone from a C to a B. He doesn't know anymore about stellar evolution, but Mom and Dad are sure happier. <br /><br />"Parents are baffled" when they try to interpret a specific standard? How is it more difficult to interpret a standard than it is to interpret a grade listed as "Chapter 7 Test"? Communication is the key here. Clarity is the key here. I spent a lot of time writing out exactly what I wanted the kids to know and I made that information available to the kids and their parents. I do realize that not all teachers are going to go to that effort, however.<br /><br />We coddle our kids to much, I agree with that. The whole "participation" ribbon thing has gotten way out of hand. We are not protecting our kids from anything. We are setting them up to fail later on. But aren't we coddling them when we allow them to bump their grade up with extra credit and participation?<br /><br />When a student earns an A in my class, I want to be confident that that student actually learned what I taught. Traditional grading does not allow for that.Tracie Schroederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10237663751076265379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-65204608695498279262010-06-02T20:07:50.820-07:002010-06-02T20:07:50.820-07:00Ellen,
Free Range Kids and Unschooling are two se...Ellen,<br /><br /><a href="http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">Free Range Kids</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unschooling" rel="nofollow">Unschooling</a> are two separate things. One can do either, neither or both.<br /><br />Additionally, "unschooling" is a pretty broad term and the term is used quite differently by many people. It would help make the panic more concrete if you could provide a link to "the story on the Free Range Children" since I don't know what the story is.<br /><br />-Mark RouloAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-27634941469991879432010-06-02T17:57:25.768-07:002010-06-02T17:57:25.768-07:00Scary.Scary.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-31298034088438151472010-06-02T17:50:09.511-07:002010-06-02T17:50:09.511-07:00Did you happen to catch the story on the Free Rang...Did you happen to catch the story on the Free Range Children? They aren't homeschooled, they are proudly "Unschooled." While some people may find this charming, I found it alarming because there were no goals, no aspirations. While some students may gravitate to reading or math, the majority would be content to play video games all day. Someone has to set goals. If parents will not and schools cannot, then who is going to do it?Ellen Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02845981491726296767noreply@blogger.com