Help! Weird grades for my kindergartner!

[ksumn1]

My DD's school (K) uses a similar system. They have a skills, and leraning section and then a classroom behavior and personal characteristice sections. They use a "E" for emerging or still developing, "P" for progressing and mostly mets standards, grasps subject manner but needs a little more practice or help to perfect and "M" for meets and exceeds mastery of subject or skill. On skills, my DD recieved M's on almost everything except her handwriting "P" she needs to work on her spacing, neatness and occasionally switches b's and d's, and her address she recieved a "P". She knows the street name, city and state but is working on her street # and zip code. She nails it sometimes and sometimes she makes it up.


On the classrom behavior portion she recieved a "M" on eagerness to learn, inquizitiveness, and social skills. On her follows directions and stays on task, finishes all work in a timely manner she recieved a E, and a P. She's capable of doing the work but tends to either get bored or frustrated, tunes the teacher out and ends up having to stay in at recess to try to finish her work. Last week was only the 2nd week all year (since August 7) that's she's been on green every day for the week.

I would simply ask DD's teacher to explain the grading system to you. Is your DD being given a 2 because all the subject matter has not been taught and therefore she will not give a 4? Without specifics, ask how DD compares to others in the class. Were there 4 "4"'s or 0. How is everyone on the same reading level? Is it based strictly on in class, assigned reading or does the teacher consider additional student chosen reading material as well? Obviously, if they have all been reading the Cat in the Hat for 2 weeks and "studying" it, they should all have close to the same level of understanding and mastery of the book. But if your DD is reading Hop on Pop on her own for extra reading, she should be above "mastering" reading and should also exceed standards. It sounds to me as if she is basing her "grades" on either a yearlong standard of achievement or is grading too strictly. Making it almost impossible to get a 4. I also think you should speak to the principal to make sure that the grade distribution is understood by both teachers and that it is being applied correctly and fairly by both.

I feel a 4 should be attainable and mean meets all standards in all areas of competentcy with no teacher direction or explanation needed. And should a student be ablove a 4, that should be noted as well in the notes section with an explanation of which areas or subjects the student excels and an estimation of how far above grade level their understanding is.

 

[CrAzY4DL]

After all of the excellent comments on here, freaking out for about 24 hours (I am telling you-confrontation gives me diarrhea! HAHAHAHA TMI, I know!!!) and finally talking with DH after his 12 hour moto ride, I have decided on a course of "action". Since I communicate with both of my DD's teachers on almost a daily basis via email, I am going to send her an email stating that after further review of the report card, I was wondering about the grades of the other children just so I could know how to approach our grades and also what I can do at home and at school to help my daughter raise her grades for the next trimester. If anyone has any help with wording this in the LEAST confrontational manner that would be great!!

HAHA Also, this teacher is BFF with DH's cousin who I also work with. Delicate!

Thanks for everyones help, advice and letting me see another side of my issue and also, TIA for any new help!

 

[karliebug]

I teach first grade. Our grading scale is similar. 2 is progressing toward grade level standard, 3 is at grade level standard. So everyone gets a 2 until the end of the year standard is met. For example, some students are reading at guided reading level C and others are at level H, which is above what is expected at this time. Both students get 2 in reading. Why? Because our end of the year goal is level K. So the student who is above level at this time still hasn't reached the end of the year goal. I personally do not like this system because it makes poor students look just as good as higher acheiving students because they all are making progress. The only difference will be on the last report card when the average and higher students will get 3 and 4 but the lower ones will still show 2.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

For grades, they grade by number.
1-Below the grade level standard
2-Approaching the grade level standard
3-Proficient at grade level standard
4-Advanced at grade level standard

DD5 got all 2's and it totally floored me. I asked why she got all 2's and the teacher says-she knows and understands everything I have taught so far, but because I have XYZ things left to teach her, I can only give her 2's.

I think it's important for you to understand how this grading system works. My son's school has the exact same scale. These numbers are not equivalent to the ABCDF grading system. They're not grading on how your child is doing on the concept so far. Instead, they are showing you whether or not your child is on track to complete each requirement by the end of the school year. During the first grading period, you should expect lots of 2s and maybe a few 3s.

For example, my 4th grader has a requirement to learn multiplication operations. He knows the tables. He picked up on 2-digit multiplication right away. He's completely on-track with his math. But the class hasn't learned 3-digit multiplication yet and that's a grade level requirement. Therefore, he got a 2 in multiplication operations. There's no way the teacher could give him a 3 since they haven't finished teaching the required concepts. I think that's what your daughter's teacher was saying. The entire concept for each standard hasn't even been presented yet so the teacher is unable to say whether or not she has met the grade level standard.

My son's teacher said he is doing very well in all areas and he received all 2s and 3s. I don't expect to see more 3s or any 4s until the last grading period of the year. It's just not possible this early in the year unless the child is in the wrong grade and working ahead of the rest of the class.

I think you should go back and ask the teacher to explain the grading scale to you. I think you'll find that getting 2s now puts her on track to be at grade level by the end of the year and that's the goal for every child. And I wouldn't compare a 5 year old's scores to those of an older child. A 5 year old hasn't really had the chance to establish her interests and strengths and where she will excel. An older child who has demonstrated a pattern of working at a high level in a given subject will be more likely to get more 3s at this stage in the year.

 

[CrAzY4DL]

My son's teacher said he is doing very well in all areas and he received all 2s and 3s. I don't expect to see more 3s or any 4s until the last grading period of the year. It's just not possible this early in the year unless the child is in the wrong grade and working ahead of the rest of the class.

I think you should go back and ask the teacher to explain the grading scale to you. I think you'll find that getting 2s now puts her on track to be at grade level by the end of the year and that's the goal for every child. And I wouldn't compare a 5 year old's scores to those of an older child. A 5 year old hasn't really had the chance to establish her interests and strengths and where she will excel. An older child who has demonstrated a pattern of working at a high level in a given subject will be more likely to get more 3s at this stage in the year.

DD9 has received 3s and 4s for her entire academic career (k, 1, 2, 3 and now 4). In fact, she got her first 2 ever this trimester and that was because she writes too big (HAHAHAHAHA!) DD5's cousin who is in the other K class is only 3 weeks older than my DD. It's not that I question the grading system, it's more this teachers interpretation of the grading system. Also, that whole "everyone is reading at a level A" is really freaking me out. I guess I am just used to having the teacher comments be mirrored in the grades. "DD5 is an excellent learner, always helps students when her work is done, a great listener and very cooperative, I only have to tell her something once and she has it picked up", well those kind of comments I would expect 3s and 4s. I have been TRAINED to expect grades and comments to be mirrored, in a way. I am just going to ask what I can do to help DD5 get 3s and 4s next trimester is all. We do homework and reading every night, but I'm not diligent and overly patient with the reading. I KNOW I can be doing more in that area. In fact, I almost want to go get a Hooked on Phonics program or something to help me give her an edge and move up her reading level. She sooo badly wants to read like her sister (who started reading at 3 and does it for fun), I just don't know how to TEACH it.

Thanks for comments and help, and hey! Keep em coming! LOL