What to do?

[RitaZ.]

Let it go or pursue it?

My DS is in 4th grade and I have noticed that some of his finished class work, that he has brought home, has correct answers marked as incorrect. Today, he brought home two assignments with answers marked incorrect, but they are correct. One of the papers that he brought home today also has an error that she missed, he should have used a capital T, but didn't. He tried to ask the teacher why one answer was marked wrong, but she didn't answer him.

I don't want to come off as though I'm questioning her abilities and I know that mistakes are made when grading papers, no one is perfect. However, these grading mistakes have happened on several papers. Last week, I noticed the first error, but decided to let it go. These "mistakes" usually take 1 or 2 points from a perfect score. At the same time, if the answer is correct or even if it's incorrect, he should receive the points that he earned.

As I said, I don't want to antagonize the teacher, I have a feeling she may not be receptive to my inquiry.

So, do I let it go for now? Wait to see if more errors are made?

TIA

 

[Maleficent13]

It sounds like you have waited, and there have been multiple errors. If it had been just once, I'd let it go, but it seems to be starting to be an issue.

I think I'd have to say something to her.

 

[ChristmasElf]

My son who is in 2nd grade has a teacher that asked for parent volunteers to help correct papers for her. Maybe it is a parent or a teenager correcting these papers and is not that careful. I would just mention your concerns to the teacher.

 

[TEENEE]

We had the same problem last year with my dd's 4th grade teacher. We had many problems with that teacher but that's another story. Anyway, here's what we did. My dd would take the paper to the teacher, either before or after class, and ask her to explain why the answer was wrong. This way the teacher wasn't being confronted. It was as if my daughter was asking for help. The teacher never had a problem with it. Good luck. It's tough when the year starts out on the wrong foot.

 

[Beauty]

Alot of teachers of that age group also have high school aides that they let check papers. I think I would say something, especially if these are taken for a grade.

 

[Keggy]

I would say something. Maybe even send a note to school.
It is their grade and it all adds up...

Kelly

 

[RitaZ.]

The teacher doesn't have any student teachers, it's her handwriting. DS told me that he did ask her today why one of the answers was marked incorrect, but she didn't answer him.

I'm going to save the papers in question. I will probably end up sending a note, but I need to think about it some more.

 

[golfgal]

Are the errors in correcting actual errors or did he forget to put something in the answer like a label for math (the answer is 45 frogs and he put 45)? I would double check that first. I would bring it to her attention, though. DS had a teacher that routinely corrected things wrong and he ended up with a C when he should have had an A. We, of course, blamed him until we learned otherwise. There was one other teacher that I subbed for one day. She had a different sub the day before (she was put on bed rest for a bad pregnancy and the first day I couldn't be there) and this sub "corrected" the math test they had that day. Well, a bunch of the kids came to me complaining that they had the right answers down and they were marked wrong. I looked into them and she was marking things wrong when kids put "cm" for centimeter instead of writing out centimeter. OH BOY!

 

[swilphil]

My dd would take the paper to the teacher, either before or after class, and ask her to explain why the answer was wrong. This way the teacher wasn't being confronted. It was as if my daughter was asking for help. The teacher never had a problem with it..

I like this idea. By having your child address the teacher, you are helping him learn to stand up for himself and avoid coming across as a nitpicky parent. If the teacher isn't answering him, work with your son on coming up with different ways he can approach her. For instance, he can ask the teacher before school when would be a good time for her to go over the assignment with him.

As far as the teacher missing a capital T on a paper, just tell your son the right answer. Often times teachers don't count off for certain mistakes in writing.

 

[Rajah]

I think I would either send a note, or try to set up a parent/teacher conference to ask about the corrections and why they were marked incorrect.

 

[MosMom]

I think you should say something but be VERY careful with how you approach her and word it. I'm sure you won't go in there ranting but it is just the beginning of the year and I would hate for your son to go on her short list just because you stuck up for him.

 

[RitaZ.]

Are the errors in correcting actual errors or did he forget to put something in the answer like a label for math (the answer is 45 frogs and he put 45)? I would double check that first. I would bring it to her attention, though. DS had a teacher that routinely corrected things wrong and he ended up with a C when he should have had an A. We, of course, blamed him until we learned otherwise. There was one other teacher that I subbed for one day. She had a different sub the day before (she was put on bed rest for a bad pregnancy and the first day I couldn't be there) and this sub "corrected" the math test they had that day. Well, a bunch of the kids came to me complaining that they had the right answers down and they were marked wrong. I looked into them and she was marking things wrong when kids put "cm" for centimeter instead of writing out centimeter. OH BOY!

She marked answers that were answered correctly by DS as incorrect. It wasn't in Math, but Language Arts.

My oldest had similar problems as your DS. I remember his 3rd grade teacher had her student teacher grade one math test. OMG! Most of the answers were marked as wrong by the student teacher, the teacher had to go over the test and correct the student teacher's mistakes; the test was quite colorful by the time it was sent home.

 

[RitaZ.]

I like this idea. By having your child address the teacher, you are helping him learn to stand up for himself and avoid coming across as a nitpicky parent. If the teacher isn't answering him, work with your son on coming up with different ways he can approach her. For instance, he can ask the teacher before school when would be a good time for her to go over the assignment with him.

As far as the teacher missing a capital T on a paper, just tell your son the right answer. Often times teachers don't count off for certain mistakes in writing.

I'm quite sure she missed the T, he wrote Thailand in lowercase. On that same paper, his capital C in cursive looked like lowercase c, she took points off for that.

Bridget, that's exactly the reason why I want to approach this with caution.

 

[simba928]

You should definitly bring it to the teachers attention, whether it be you or your son. At the elementary school that I went to, the teachers had helpers that would come in during their recess to check papers, cut things out, etc. The helpers were 5th graders and when they checked papers, they would get an answer key. It might be other students checking the papers and she might not look at them after they are checked. I know I would be very angry if I did not get the points that I earned. Your son deserves all the points he earned.