Report cards

[MinnieMe87]

You cannot always wiggle yourself of out trouble and your daughter is being taught that lesson - by her teacher. Just because your daughter asked doesn't mean the Teacher has to jump and abide. If your daughter only earned a F then that's what she gets.

I agree!
I know when I was in Junior High if we had a grade that was either a D or F we got a letter sent home informing our parents about our grade and they had to sign it and we had to bring it back to the teacher. If we did not bring it back, then our teacher would call our parents to make sure they received the letter. Our parents could also request weekly progress reports be sent to them (by email or sent home with us) to let them know what our grade was.

 

[MM27]

That said, most of the principals that I know tell teachers not to put down a 69 because it's more trouble than it's worth - just make it a 70. In this day of computerized reporting though, that's getting harder to do.

As a teacher, I would never listen to this logic from a principal. My principal triedone year to bully one of our teachers into raising a grade to please a parent. It was the last time that that ever happened. We gave him an earful during our next faculty meeting. I would never bump a grade to please a parent. So what happens to the kids that don't have pushy parents? Do they just deal with the grade they earn?

I'm not saying the teacher should "fix it". I'm saying she's being unreasonable if my DD goes to her wanting a chance to do a project or report for a 0.1 percent credit, and she says no.

I don't give extra credit at all. I make that very clear to my students in the beginning of the year so they don't ask all year long. My feeling is, if you pay attention, do the work you are assigned and fix any problems during the marking period, you won't need extra assignments to bump up your grade. Again, it comes down to fairness. Is it fair to the kids that worked hard all marking period for others to be able to bump up their grades by doing a quick assignment at the end of the marking period?

Back when I was in school I didn't know what kind of grade I'd get until I got it. I had no idea what sort of formula the teacher used determine grades. Is the lowest grade dropped? How much might class participation be considered? What percentage of the grade are test scores vs. homework? etc. I might have a rough idea but I don't think it is fair to assume she knew how poor she was doing until she got that number when she did. And by then it is too late to do something.

Unless they were given that "number" on a regular basis or had a clear idea of HOW grades were determined and could keep track by looking at her homework/test scores, how is she reasonably supposed to know?

I don't know about other schools, but we have our grading scale in our student handbook and it's also printed in the student planners. I teach 4th grade and I make it a point during math to show my students how certain grades will impact their final grade (for example, not turning in homework).

 

[mumom95]

I'm not saying the teacher should "fix it". I'm saying she's being unreasonable if my DD goes to her wanting a chance to do a project or report for a 0.1 percent credit, and she says no.

Why is your daughter getting such a low grade? Is it because she failed the quizzes and tests? Or did she miss and assignment or two?

When I was a teacher, I was willing to give extra credit in some situations (mainly if the grade was brought down because of one really bad test score, when the rest of the grades were consistently better). BUT, the student had to have turned in every single assignment that had been given up to that point in the school year on time. Because frankly, I thought it was quite rude for a student to ask me to do extra work coming up with the extra credit and grading the extra credit, when they hadn't bothered to do all the work I had originally given out.

Maybe your daughter has missed an assignment and her teacher has a policy like the one I had.

 

[Sandy51]

I've been a teacher for 21 years, and I currently teach 8th grade. I cannot believe that the OP's daughter knew nothing about her grade. Does her school not have midterm progress reports? For me, extra-credit is never to be used in place of work not turned in, but to enhance the existing grade. Also, it is offered to everyone in class.

Sandy

 

[PlainJane]

I would also politely ask for an appointment to review ALL of her grades before the marking period is over. Sometimes teachers need to be reminded that parents are watching.

Here's my HS story about a teacher with an axe to grind. This isn't to say that your daughter's experience & mine are the same, they are not. My point is more that teacher's can be guilty of the same petty behaviors everyone else experiences.

When I was in HS I had a Social studies teacher who couldn't stand me & who would antagonize me whenever she could. Then, when I was a Jr. she gave me a B when I should have gotten an A. I ignored the whole thing,didn't complain to anyone, because I really didn't like her either and thought she was just batty anyway... besides private schools DO NOT care what the students or their families have to say so why bother. Anyway we were in class one day and I guess she just couldn't stand that her antics didn't get to me so after I asked a question she responded "Now that you know what I can do with your grade maybe things will change". My mouth dropped and she smirked. At the end of class, when everyone left I said. "I bet you didn't think I noticed what you did with my grade, I did but didn't complain because in 1 year I'm outta here, so it really doesn't matter. But, now that you've actually threatened my grade in front of an entire classroom of witnesses I think if I wanted to complain my family could make a pretty good case especially since I have a folder full of A+'s from this class. So I think it would be best if we just stick to what I actually do in the classroom from here on, don't you think?" I turned my back, shut the door and walked out to her stunned silence. She never messed with me again.

Not all adults that work with kids are decent people, some make real mistakes and some are just mean. I always make sure the adults around my kids know I am watching, and listening.

Some teachers are just crazy. One of my aunt's elementary school teachers was fired because of what she did to my aunt. Apparently, my aunt resembled her daughter; she didn't like her daughter. This lady had lost her grip on reality because she thought my aunt was her daughter, and treated her terribly. The school eventually caught on. I guess one of the kids told their parents that the teacher never called my aunt by her real name.

Of course I don't think that is the case here. Your daughter got an F; it's not the end of the grading period, so I don't see the problem.

 

[golfgal]

I'm not saying the teacher should "fix it". I'm saying she's being unreasonable if my DD goes to her wanting a chance to do a project or report for a 0.1 percent credit, and she says no.

Why should the teacher allow her to do extra credit? I don't understand your reasoning here? If your DD was so concerned about her grade she should have worked harder during the quarter and gotten help from the teacher if she didn't understand what she was doing. Why should the teacher do something when your DD obviously didn't do anything to earn a higher grade??

I am also mystified why YOU didn't know this was coming. I wouldn't have given your DD a chance to do extra credit either, sorry.

 

[dimimi]

In most of OHIO, unless you are at a private school, a 70% would be a C-. I guess I would wonder if extra credit was offerred throughout the quarter?

I have to say, in the high school I teach, most teachers would give the child an opportunity for extra work or consider work habits of the student. The would give a D- instead of the F+. Good luck.

 

[C.Ann]

I have to say, in the high school I teach, most teachers would give the child an opportunity for extra work or consider work habits of the student. The would give a D- instead of the F+. Good luck.

------------------

I don't understand the concept of waiting until the last moment and "rewarding" a student by giving them the opportunity to do extra work or an extra project when they should have been studying/working harder long before now..

And I really, really don't find it plausible that neither the child nor the parent was completely unaware that there was a problem and this grade would be coming down the pike..

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Back when I was in school I didn't know what kind of grade I'd get until I got it. I had no idea what sort of formula the teacher used determine grades. Is the lowest grade dropped? How much might class participation be considered? What percentage of the grade are test scores vs. homework? etc. I might have a rough idea but I don't think it is fair to assume she knew how poor she was doing until she got that number when she did. And by then it is too late to do something.

Unless they were given that "number" on a regular basis or had a clear idea of HOW grades were determined and could keep track by looking at her homework/test scores, how is she reasonably supposed to know?

As a teacher, to me that shouldn't matter. I will always allow a student to see a grade if they ask. Furthermore, just because you don't know how things are weighted does not mean that you don't have a clue what your grade is. You know how you are doing on homework and tests, and in my experience, homework and test grades are very often within the same range. If there is a huge disconnect between a homework and test grade- ask how the grades are weighted. When I see that as a teacher, I immediately look to see what the problem is to help that student.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

This whole scenario really rankles me. I know in my classroom extra credit is offered throughout the year as an option for them when they finish their work. I use worksheets that directly relate to the skills we are working on. My reasoning is that if they practice the skill and do better, that should be rewarded and is better than sitting around like a bump on a log. However, that has to be done only after all their assignments are finished.

Most classes don't offer extra credit. To you it may be a .1%, but to me it's the principal. Your daughter had to have some clue she was doing poorly. If a student comes to me early on and arranges something with me to bring up their grade, I will probably be willing. This shows initiative and shows that the student cares. I will try to arrange something that directly relates to my teaching, the concepts they are being graded on this semester.

If a student waits til two days beforel... too bad so sad. In my admittedly limited experience, students with failing grades are not putting in the effort. In the math class I co-taught there was not one student with a low grade who was that way because of ability alone. It was mostly due to failure to turn in assignments or put any effort in. I'm sorry, but I'm not going to allow you skate through my class all semester and then design a project to bring up your grade two days before the term ends. Not to mention, teachers have a limited amount of time in which to enter grades. If nothing else, this could be a time constraint issue for the teacher.

It's been asked, and you're not answering: Why is she failing? Is it because of lack of ability, or is it because of lack of effort? Also, what class is this? math, science, etc?

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Where I work there is no way I could "give" a student anything. There is a computerized grade book that keeps track of all the grades and each grade is given one of three different weights. It's very simple and all explained in the handbook that all parents have signed they understand. Tests and Projects are 50%. Students know when they are taking a test. They know when they are completing a project. Daily Work is 35%. Basically anything worked on in class other than a test is Daily Work. Homework is 15%. That is self-explanatory.

There is no way that I could figure out how to bump someone .01%.

My philosophy - and it's my classroom, my responsibility so I get to choose - it that there is enough to do throughout the nine weeks. I don't assign extra credit. No thanks, I have enough to do. I also don't bump grades, ever. You get what you earn, period. You are notified every three weeks about progress. I feel it's all more than fair.

I'm sorry that you are disgruntled but you need to take a look at the real culprit here and stop projecting your anger.

 

[pweyl36]

Where is your daughters responseabiliy in all this? And how come your not saying what subject it is? I can see a helicopter mom in the making.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

DS is in 8th. grade. 80 is failing in his school. He gets 3 report cards a year and 6 progress reports. Parents are advised if any homework or assignments are missing. Your signature is required and verified sometimes with a phone call. Even if the school did not advise me of his grades, I would darn well make sure he did. Every week we go over his work. On the other side, we trust him and never ask before the end of the week if he is doing his work. He needs to know the responsibility of school work and the consequences for not doing the work and or not doing it well.

 

[mamacatnv]

My philosophy - and it's my classroom, my responsibility so I get to choose - it that there is enough to do throughout the nine weeks. I don't assign extra credit. No thanks, I have enough to do. I also don't bump grades, ever. You get what you earn, period. You are notified every three weeks about progress. I feel it's all more than fair.

I'm sorry that you are disgruntled but you need to take a look at the real culprit here and stop projecting your anger.

Well said!

 

[Cor44432]

As a teacher myself, all of my grades are rounded to the whole number, so this
situation would not apply for me.

But, as others have stated, the grade earned is the grade earned, and I would
not allow extra credit for one that I do not allow for all to have the chance at.

 

[famofsix]

My DD called me on her lunch and said she will make an F on one of her grades. It is not a low F, such as 61 or 62, but a 69.9!!!
The teacher will not let her do something to get that extra 0.1 percent!
My DD asked if she could do a report or project, but the teacher said no.
I think it's ridiculous and the teacher is being unreasonable.
I have emailed the teacher, so while I wait on her response, I'm wondering what my fellow disers think.

back in the stone age when I was a student the teacher just rounded that up.

 

[veraletta]

This is why I check my grandson grades on line every day.
about a month ago he made us think he was doing well in school as he didn't bring home any bad grades.

Well I made my daughter go to the school and talk to his teacher, she said she would have all grades on line soon, she said we could look at his progress reports on line, she was late getting the grades up, because of some trouble with her pass word,thank goodness that she got them on line as, his lowest at the time was a D+ and he got it up in one month to a C+, because he knew I could check every day. LOL

It’s the best thing that the School has ever done; you can look at all their grades on line.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

does your school offer powerschool? where you can monitor their grades online? Ours does and this is how I keep track of where/what my kids are doing in school, this way there are no surprises grades.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

I think people deserve what they get. You can't just wait until the last day to ask if there's anything you can do. It's frustrating but it's not the teachers fault at all.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

back in the stone age when I was a student the teacher just rounded that up.

At some point somebody is just going to miss the cut-off. If you round up from a 69.5 to a 70, what about ther person who was a 69.4? That's why I don't like rounding, it becomes a slippery slope. You earn what you earn and I am not going to sugar coat it to make you or your parents happier- especially if you didn't do the work or put in the effort in the first place. Your grade is your responsibility, not the teacher's.