Grading

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Home : 2003 : May : 16

Grading
By Chicago Teacher

OK, I don't teach middle school, but primary grades, so I am only posting this to stimulate some thought. I also teach at an inner city school (private), and have had excellent support from my administration and school board
regarding grading/parent complaints about grading or homework/etc. Two thoughts crossed my mind right away:
1 - Have you been told that your grading scale is too difficult? Are you expecting too much from your students? - At my school, we have (within the last 3 years) undergone an adminstration change and a major MAJOR redirection of the school. (Untrained) parents used to teach

the classes at my school! Therefore, our 4th-8th grade teachers had an enormously difficult task ahead of them because many of the students were not typical 4th-8th students in terms of both their prior knowledge in academic subjects as well as "common" school expecations such as: turn in your homework. I have had a less difficult time because I get my students young and they hadn't had poor teachers before me. What kind of learning experiences have your students had prior to beginning your class? Just a thought.

2 - (And this is where I'm not trying to be confrontational, just trying to give some input) What kind of classroom manager are you? How well do you motivate your students? It is definitely super difficult to motivate some middle school students, especially those who may not value education or have little parent support (in any community setting), and the difference in motivation/discipline is one reason I prefer primary grade students. If I were a consultant or someone outside of your school, I would ask what you are doing to motivate the kids, because it seems like it may not be working.

Did your principal give you any input as far as what you should do, other than to change your grades? Changing the letter grade on a report card isn't going to change how much they truly know, how well they perform on state tests, or how well they do the following year in 7th grade. If not, I would ask your principal or an experienced teacher at your school for some advice.