Elementary School Report Cards. I don't understand, I guess.

[Becky2005]

This is why -- I don't pay any attention to the grade school report cards. Every single teacher does it differently.

Some teachers feel that 4 means you must be doing work at least a grade ahead, so even with 100% that doesn't mean your child could do 4th grade work regularly, therefore doesn't earn a 4.

Some feel that 3 means they are doing just fine, etc...

We don't even get numbers anymore on our report cards, it's check marks in "Exceeds Expectations" "Meets Expectations" and "Needs Improvement". It doesn't tell you by how much they need improvement though (i.e. are they completely missing the concept or do they *almost* have it and just a few pieces shy of getting it).

Of course, our papers don't get graded either until 4th grade! They get + checks or - if I recall.

It certainly won't matter what they got in grade school by the time they get to High School, it's a whole other ball game with grading system then -- throw in advanced classes, curves, weighted classes vs. non-weighted.

 

[traviesojmt]

We had the 1-5 standard when we lived in CA. I hated it. My DS was school spelling winner and made a 100% on every spelling test. He still made a 4 because his teacher said she doesn't give 5s the first semester. The thing is that it taught my son that he didn't have to work as hard. You received the same number regardless if you made an A on every test or a B. With that system, he felt that working harder wasn't necessary. Now that we are back to a standard A, B, C.... system, he works harder to keep his average up. He prefers seeing a real number that he earned rather than a teacher's opinion of how he is doing.

 

[java]

I think there are teachers that like to show "Look how much they improved" with the 4's later on.

My 1st grader is great at Math. It comes very naturally to him- he can multiply- add 2 digit numbers- do word problems. Ect. He got a Developing grade in math would be equivalent to your 3.
My concern wasn't the grade more that was she not aware of what he can do? When I spoke with her she said he didn't know that Noon was lunchtime. He didn't know the word "noon".

 

[EthansMom]

Our son's school has a similar grading system and the first report card always comes in with numbers lower than I think they should be... and then the subsequent report cards show those numbers rising, with the last report card of the year being a more accurate representation of DS's abilities.

Personally, I wonder if the teachers leave some wiggle room to show that students improve over the course of the year.

 

[tzolkin]

Personally, I wonder if the teachers leave some wiggle room to show that students improve over the course of the year.

One of my older daughter's teachers actually told us this. She doesn't give out any 4s on the first report card because she expects that the kids will show improvement throughout the year. If they do better during the following marking periods than they get 4s, if not they stay with 3s.

My younger daughter (kindergarten) did get all 4s on this report card in the Work Habits/Social section (organization, effort, responsibility, etc), but not in the academic areas. Her teacher said she usually doesn't give any 4s at the beginning of the year.


Every child has a parent/teacher conference at their school, so you always hear directly from the teacher how they are doing and don't have to guess based on the grades. (They give the report card at the conference, so you don't even see it before.)

 

[mjkacmom]

In our school district, a 90 is a solid B, which is fine, but doesn't excede expectations. My 3rd grader got a mix of A and A+'s - I think only the A+'s would excede expectations. This is the first year we're dealing with just A's, but 3rd grade is when some of my kids have gotten their first B.

 

[Papa Deuce]

In our school district, a 90 is a solid B, which is fine, but doesn't excede expectations. My 3rd grader got a mix of A and A+'s - I think only the A+'s would excede expectations. This is the first year we're dealing with just A's, but 3rd grade is when some of my kids have gotten their first B.

Well, that is the other thing... for grades 4 - 6, a 90 or more is an A.

A = 90 - 100%

B = 80 - 89%

C = 70 - 79%

D = 60 - 69%

F = less than 60%

My kids read that and wonder why they don't have "4's", as they are scoring more than 90% on their tests.

 

[Papa Deuce]

.....


Every child has a parent/teacher conference at their school, so you always hear directly from the teacher how they are doing and don't have to guess based on the grades. (They give the report card at the conference, so you don't even see it before.)

In our school every student's parents have the OPTION of having a meeting with the teacher, but both of my kids had notes sent home that said "Your child's teacher feels that there is no need for a parent teacher meeting at this time, however you are always welcome to request one".

 

[mjkacmom]

Well, that is the other thing... for grades 4 - 6, a 90 or more is an A.

A = 90 - 100%

B = 80 - 89%

C = 70 - 79%

D = 60 - 69%

F = less than 60%

My kids read that and wonder why they don't have "4's", as they are scoring more than 90% on their tests.

Last year, dd8 got at least 100 on every single test. She didn't have a single wrong answer all year long. That's what I would consider a 4. This year, she's had wrong answers, enough to knock A+'s into A's. I would consider an A to equal a 3 in your school district. My dd is a little bummed about her A's, and she is trying to step it up.

 

[Rora]

At that level it is not all about the tests and the actual "graded" work. It is about their classroom participation, their ability to grasp the concepts, the way that they approach the subject, how they do on in class work and related work, and many other things. The grading is more subjective at that level.

Meets Expectations is a great level. And no, Harvard does not look at their 3rd grade report card when determining admissions. Don't sweat the small stuff. Give your kids a huge hug, tell them how proud you are, hang the report cards on the fridge and take them out for ice cream. They are doing wonderful.

As a 3rd grade teacher, I totally agree with this. This is the exact way levels are determined, at least in my school!

Not to worry Dad, your kids are doing GREAT!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Last year, dd8 got at least 100 on every single test. She didn't have a single wrong answer all year long. That's what I would consider a 4. This year, she's had wrong answers, enough to knock A+'s into A's. I would consider an A to equal a 3 in your school district. My dd is a little bummed about her A's, and she is trying to step it up.

Well, they do not offer the chance to get more than 100% on their tests, so they figured that they should be getting "A's".... the best grade possible in their school. They are kind of bummed because they feel that they are getting "B's" even though all their tests are above 90% ( except 1 ).

Like I said, it is 3rd grade. No big deal... but to my kids, it sort of is.

 

[Alphabetsoup]

I too had A-F grades in elementary school...at least my parents and I always knew where I was in terms of grades.

It seems to me this new grading system is really just a way to let average kids (those who get C's and really need to step it up) feel like they are doing better than they are and to absolve slack parents of their laziness in helping their child succeed -- Here kid...have a 3...just like the child who worked their rear off and got all A's, even though the highest you ever earned was an 80%!! This system also keeps the parents in the dark as to what is really going on. And, in the process, kids who actually CARE about their grades are made to feel that there is no reason to try any harder since they are already getting A's and can only get a '3' on their report card -- quite frankly if that had been me I would've shrugged and said "why bother trying harder...it won't matter anyway".

Way to make a child feel valued! Sheesh!!

It basically negates the hard work they are already putting in by giving them the same grade some kid was barely making a 75!

No wonder kids who are C students get into my university classes, do C (and sometimes D) level work and still expect an A -- they are used to being given good grades for doing lousy work...it is being instilled in them from elementary school on.

Just one more reason to homeschool my kids!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

In our school every student's parents have the OPTION of having a meeting with the teacher, but both of my kids had notes sent home that said "Your child's teacher feels that there is no need for a parent teacher meeting at this time, however you are always welcome to request one".

So request one. I don't care if the teacher feels my kids need a conference. I want one so I can ask any questions I have. School is about more than grades.

 

[disykat]

Well, they do not offer the chance to get more than 100% on their tests, so they figured that they should be getting "A's".... the best grade possible in their school. They are kind of bummed because they feel that they are getting "B's" even though all their tests are above 90% ( except 1 ).

Like I said, it is 3rd grade. No big deal... but to my kids, it sort of is.

You're still going on the assumption that a 4 equals an "A." It doesn't. Explain to them that everyone that is doing a great job at being a 3rd grader gets a 3. This report card doesn't show who's getting A's.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

You're still going on the assumption that a 4 equals an "A." It doesn't.

I agree. It seems to me that 4 equals "exceeds expectations" which means they are ahead of the class by more than what is expected. Getting good grades doesn't mean that. Understanding things easily, being able to do advanced work easily etc. (as an example- there are many more criteria) exceeds where they are supposed to be.

 

[mickeyboat]

I mentioned it above, but I'll repeat. If the kids are not getting any work above a 3rd grade level (math worksheets, reading assignments, spelling words, etc.), there is no higher grade than a 3 - because they aren't doing over 3rd grade level work. It doesn't matter if they are getting it all right because it's not 4th grade level work, so they can't get a 4.

Inquire with the teacher to see if there is some above-grade level work that your daughter can be doing.

 

[Papa Deuce]

[/B]
So request one. I don't care if the teacher feels my kids need a conference. I want one so I can ask any questions I have. School is about more than grades.

I don't need one... like I said, they will email me. They are very good about that.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I mentioned it above, but I'll repeat. If the kids are not getting any work above a 3rd grade level (math worksheets, reading assignments, spelling words, etc.), there is no higher grade than a 3 - because they aren't doing over 3rd grade level work. It doesn't matter if they are getting it all right because it's not 4th grade level work, so they can't get a 4.

Inquire with the teacher to see if there is some above-grade level work that your daughter can be doing.

Well, I don't know if that is or isn't true. The requirements for reading are 300 pages for 1st marking period. we have to keep track. My one daughter read 2700 pages!!!!! yes, 2700 pages. And my other read 1750 pages... and they are reading some of the very same books that I read as a teenager.

And, if they "can't" get a 4, how come in 2nd grade they both got MOSTLY 4's?

 

[mjkacmom]

I really think that if they have grades less than a 98% or so, they aren't exceding expectations. It's only 3rd grade - most kids get A's. You also don't know how they are participating in class. Just tell them that to get a 4, everything has to be perfect.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I really think that if they have grades less than a 98% or so, they aren't exceding expectations. It's only 3rd grade - most kids get A's. You also don't know how they are participating in class. Just tell them that to get a 4, everything has to be perfect.

In fact I know very well. The teachers email us this stuff about every 2 weeks when they touch base. We are always told that they are big participators in class. Even moreso, one of the teachers sends home handwritten notes about once a month.