gingersmom Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I'm having a discussion with my daughter about high school and getting into college. She does not believe that I should give her grades. I disagreed. I would love to hear everyones opinions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I do give my kids grade once they are in high school or doing high school work. I may even start giving my youngest grades this year because she may try to get into a summer program that will need a grade report. Most of the colleges request transcripts with grades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnitaMcC Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 We give grades. Two main reasons... 1. I think grades (GPA) are required for colleges to accept the transcripts. 2. Colleges give grades and high school is a good time to let the teens get used to getting grades. They likely will be doing exams and getting grades throughout life. Once start a career, often times will continue learning new things and taking exams to be recertified, etc. Another reason is that it just is easy for me to keep track of how they are doing and gives them a concrete way of seeing for themselves how they are doing. It is easy for them to see right away if they are learning... If they take a World History quiz or math test and score less than a 90% then they know they are missing something (either they don't fully understand or they are making simple mistakes due to not paying attention). Keeping grades helps show them a pattern over time. If they are thinking they are working hard and are getting an overall grade of 80% then they need to rethink about if they truly are doing their best all the time. There is a pattern that is easier to see if they see scores for math quizzes/test of say 90%, 70%, 88%, 95%, 75%, 99%, 80% and so on.... that averages out to 85%. They may think they are doing real well because they had mostly good scores, but in reality they are far from it. So it gives them a reality check. It helps them see how a few low scores can hurt their overall grade. Just my take on it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asta Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I give grades, but probably not in a *traditional* manner. I grade everything he has done, and his final tests, but his final grade (the one going on the transcript) is a combination of those numeric tests, how much effort he put into the course, and what his attitude was. :glare: His attitude for his instrument sucked last year. Unfortunately (fortunately?) he performed very well, and did well with his outside lessons. I gave him a B instead of an A simply because his attitude was unbearable all year! a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpupg Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Yes. his final grade (the one going on the transcript) is a combination of those numeric tests, how much effort he put into the course, and what his attitude was. I'm doing a similar thing. I'm writing course descriptions for every course which include my grading standard -- tests, homework, papers, whatnot. Each and every course has an explicit component called "Neatness/Quality/Attitude" that is worth up to 10% of the grade. My plan is to periodically point out how a good attitude could very well tip the final grade higher ... I think ds can connect those dots. :) Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth in Canada Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I really don't think I can be objective, and I don't think I can accurately write exams that are fair. Besides--if she gets problems wrong or doesn't do as well as we think she can, she needs to redo the work. She'll have grades from some official provincial on-line classes and a few university courses, and she'll have SAT and SAT subject scores. I'm hoping that's enough answer the "how good a student is she" concern of universities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 no. I really think my grading their work is just not possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 No. I feel grades stifle a child's creativity. If a child follows the grading plan they will work hard to show you what they know. But they will not take risks, or venture a new insight on a topic. To get good marks consistently you need to study what those before you have studied and present it back in a coherent, grammatical and logical fashion.One gets credits for telling what other people have thought about a topic. They will not take risks. Risks result a whole new way of thinking about a topic, or they result in a glorious failure. Any bright child, knowing themselves to be graded will go the safe route. Even if they prove their new idea, there is no way of knowing if the reader will understand or accept it. Scientists often have a hard time getting their peers to accept new evidence if it goes against the current stream of thinking. Think for a moment about taking up a new hobby, say quilting. If you knew every step would result in a grade, you would take the work slowly and carefully, you would stay with tried and trusted patterns, use the accepted way of putting colours together. Your quilts might be technically perfect, but they would lack originality. I want my children to be leaders, innovators.They cannot do this by following carefully what has gone before, they have to learn to take risks, to accept that glorious failure, and learn from it, build on it, to take it and turn the embryo idea into a working model. The only argument for grades is that college is a closed minded place. If you NEED a college education to get where you are going (rather than desire one for the kudos) them you need to know how to regurgitate what the lecturer wants to see. This however can be taught to an average child in rather less than a year. They then have to decide if they want to do what they want to do enough to accept college with all its limitations. It is not until Phd level that colleges begin to accept original thinking. I apologize to those who know of open minded colleges. Apparently they do exist. I simply have no personal experience of them. Willow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 No - not each assignment, but I did on the transcript. I had my ds make corrections to any written work. I also returned his work to him and discussed it with him. I have even handed work back to him and told him that it wasn't good enough and to put some effort into it. I didn't give him A's in math on his transcript because he didn't do A level work in math, ever. He got grades from his cc classes and his SAT and ACT scores provided a consistent picture of his work even though I only gave final grades for transcripts and not for any single assignment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christy B Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Yes. I'm doing a similar thing. I'm writing course descriptions for every course which include my grading standard -- tests, homework, papers, whatnot. Each and every course has an explicit component called "Neatness/Quality/Attitude" that is worth up to 10% of the grade. My plan is to periodically point out how a good attitude could very well tip the final grade higher ... I think ds can connect those dots. :) Karen BRILLIANT!!! I plan to steal -- I mean implement -- this, starting immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanaTron Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 My 8th grader will be doing two classes for high school credit this year, Algebra 1 and 1/2 credit of Latin 1, and I'm contemplating whether to assign grades on the transcript or not. I really like the way we've been doing things, without grades, but discussing and correcting work. I'm also afraid that I would be sorely tempted to not grade my ds objectively, because his is my own kid, but also because I really have no one with which to compare him. I am thinking in particular about writing assignments. I know what is "A" level work for him, but not what would earn him an "A" in a classroom. Lastly, the thought of trying to keep up with grading and recording all his work makes me quite tense. How did you decide what grade to give your student on his transcript? Did you take into consideration how rigorous the resources were? Did you consider how much effort he put into the work? Anything else I need to consider? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Sort-of. My oldest child is in 5th grade. He gets grades on English and Math tests and quizzes. I do not test in History or Science and do not keep records of any reviews in Spanish. He is a struggling writer, so I give him a score of 1-5 based on a list of factors. I think A-F would upset him whereas a 2 or 3 doesn't seem to do much more than make him work harder. In highschool, though, this will change. At that level, I think the child needs to know how they are doing and what they can improve as much as the teacher. He will get more grades and I will be more picky when he gets to that level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary in GA Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Dd is in 7th, and I began grading some assignments this year. We've also begun taking tests. This is so it won't come as such a shock in 9th. I will have to have her work "accredited" if she is to go to a public university or do any JE. The accreditors require some accountability. Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 My 8th grader will be doing two classes for high school credit this year, Algebra 1 and 1/2 credit of Latin 1, and I'm contemplating whether to assign grades on the transcript or not. I really like the way we've been doing things, without grades, but discussing and correcting work. I'm also afraid that I would be sorely tempted to not grade my ds objectively, because his is my own kid, but also because I really have no one with which to compare him. I am thinking in particular about writing assignments. I know what is "A" level work for him, but not what would earn him an "A" in a classroom. Lastly, the thought of trying to keep up with grading and recording all his work makes me quite tense. How did you decide what grade to give your student on his transcript? Did you take into consideration how rigorous the resources were? Did you consider how much effort he put into the work? Anything else I need to consider? You are considering all of the things I considered. My ds also had friends that were in public high school in honors and AP classes and I saw the level of work and grades that they had. I did give him A's in his English and history classes because they were rigorous, and he read a lot, and we discussed it a lot. He did very few papers, but I am terrible at grading his writing - I just think he is a terrific writer. When he too cc classes, his professors agreed with me so that gave me some confidence. He only earned 1 A in math during his whole high school career. He is quite capable, but lazy and doesn't like math. His SAT scores in math were lower than his verbal, and I don't think that they justified A's on the transcript. He bumbled through the assignments and I had him do all of his corrections but I didn't give him a single grade. I've got to run, but hopefully this helps to clarify. I think you can honestly assess without grading everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 I don't think you MUST give her grades. But yes, we did (kiddo has graduated) and do (kiddo in 9th). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanaTron Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Thank you, that does help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 We are on the college track with all 3 of our boys, so yes we give grades - and tests - and papers. We need them for transcripts. Their grades consist of their test work and papers... all other 'homework' or study guide 'stuff' is for their own edification and not graded - just corrected and discussed. We grade with an actual number - percentage correct, but also have it worked out to A, B, C, etc., for colleges that prefer that. THEN, when it comes time to apply for college (which for us, is now with my oldest), I'm finding myself tweaking the transcript. Since I work in the ps, I know teachers there give extra credit (in general) as well as credit for homework completion, etc. I don't need my students to have a lower assessment of them than they would if they had come from ps - esp when it comes to thoughts of scholarships. That said, the transcript does NOT show my son better than he is. For example, his test scores (national - SAT) show him to be in the top 96% nationally. I don't mind tweaking his Consumer Math grade up to a 96 or 97% since what he missed on tests were minute details on statistics. In hindsight, I'd have not counted those questions at the time, but I was a newbie. He knew the concepts - but might have picked 77% of adults (for something) instead of 81% of adults. That's too picky in my mind. It wasn't a poor calculation, that would have been different... it was a case of not realizing he'd need to know the specifics of stats on a topic - 'how many people,' etc. True math problems in that course he got correct (we kept the tests). I don't need colleges seeing him get an 89% in Consumer Math when he gets high A's in all of his others... We tweaked it by giving him credit for homework completed - much as ps would have. For Chem, on the other hand, he is low A material - he got a 93% overall (without counting homework, etc), so we're leaving it just as it is. I don't want some college thinking he knows 97 or 98% of that course when he didn't. In the end, his transcript matches his national testing... and to be honest, his math grade was the only one that needed tweaking... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 I think as a homeschooler that it's very helpful to college admissions people if you speak their language. And a big part of their language is grades. I didn't get grades in college. Instead, my transcript consisted of a thick stack of evaluations. What was ridiculous was that each evaluation could be easily translated into a grade. If they used words like "excellent" then it was an A, "good" was a B, "fair" was a C, and "poor" was a D. When I applied to medical school, several people at various schools told me when I interviewed that they were less than thrilled to have to read them. So I am giving my son grades. And in a several areas I'm struggling with appropriate grading (essays, geometry proofs, are the science tests I write difficult enough, that sort of thing). But I'm forging ahead anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 (edited) This is the first year I've given my children grades. I don't grade everything, but I grade R&S Math tests and CLE Lightunit quizzes and tests. If we weren't using curriculum that gave tests and quizzes, I'm sure I wouldn't be grading this year either. I have been surprised how motivating grades are to my daughter, though. She is always very anxious for me to grade her tests right away. Lisa ETA: Okay, I didn't realize this post was coming from the high school board. My kids are only in 2nd and 4th grades. Edited September 3, 2009 by LisaTheresa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Thats the idea behind what I did. My ds's transcript grades matched his national testing and his cc grades. btw, in his university coursework now he is getting excellent grades (a 4.0 last semester :) ) and even squeaked out a B in his college math. He is doing just fine in an environment in which he is graded on everything and even in the classes where he only gets two grades for the whole semester - one for a project and one for the final. He understands the difference between giving his best effort and squeaking by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanaTron Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 I can't just assign credits, and explain that my student worked to mastery of each subject? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 (edited) So, there's no way around it? I can't just assign credits, and explain that my student worked to mastery of each subject? Personally, I think you can. There's nothing to stop you from assigning grades on a scale such as: A ... Mastery B ... Making progress C ... D ... F ... or A ... Excellent B ... Very Good C ... D ... F ... or something else along those lines. You're the homeschooling parent, the teacher, the principal -- you're permitted to make and use whatever grading scale seems reasonable to you. You can note it in a Key on your transcript and address the details in your school profile or counselor letter. (It would add credibility to your grades though if any out of the home graded classes or test scores corroborate your grades.) Regards, Kareni Edited September 3, 2009 by Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 And I'm not planning on giving my youngest grades. BUT he had SAT scores and some CC classes for colleges to judge him by. My older one got into a state school. My plan with the younger one is to give colleges an ungraded transcript, and then if they request grades, I will assign ones based on how well I feel he mastered the material and how much material was covered. They will be rather subjective, but even if I graded papers as I went along and gave tests, they would be. I think grades would be more a reflection of my ability as an assignment-giver and test-writer and grader than my sons' knowledge of the material. I am bad at those things. I know. I have tried. I have no basis of comparison. It would discourage my sons from trying things they don't know ahead of time will work. I have lots of reasons. I have no idea if I can get the second one into college this way too, but I intend to try. It worked just fine with the older one, to my vast relief GRIN. -Nan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Nan, it's all pretty subjective anyway regardless. I mean, what one teacher scores as an A+ paper another might give a C+ or B-. I had one year, the one I actually learned something btw, that I scored much lower in English. And then in History, the coach would give this one girl top scores for her essay tests mostly because she was interesting and creative. The stories were great and did suggest mastery of the sujbect matter, but he would let it go if she missed certain points that just didn't fit into her style. I personally would have scored her appropriately and told her that any other test that came back as a fascinating piece of creative writing would earn her an A. I don't want to dig to see if you got the points and I'm not going to reward your creativity instead of the points. It's history and an essay. Write me a 4-9 sentence paragraph for each answer...PERIOD. If I want to know how creatively you can present the information, I'll ask you for that. (Note: I'm a grump....LOL) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 I can't just assign credits, and explain that my student worked to mastery of each subject? I think you *can* do this, it's just that you are that much farther outside the box if you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Well, yes, but if you are a teacher with years of experience, you know more or less how to assign points such that the best students come out with A's and the mediocre ones with C's. I don't LOL. And you have worked out which things are musts and which are frosting and which are useless fluff. Yes, it may be based on your personal philosophy, but part of it will be based on seeing lots of students. At least, ideally. GRIN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanaTron Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Thanks, Kareni and EKS. I don't mind being out of the box...on my college entrance essays, I didn't like the topic provided, so I wrote on my own topic, and was accepted anyway at two schools, wait-listed at one. ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanaTron Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Thanks, Nan. That is helpful and encouraging. I am thinking my dc will have SATs, SAT2s, and some cc classes, as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 One thing--I think it is *very* important that your child understand what the implications are and that he is completely on board with it as he will be the one being affected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Wisc Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Grades are a part of our transcript, and they all plan to go to college. Jean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanaTron Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Yes, you are right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 I didn't want to, but I ended up HAVINg to because she is share timing at the county tech and they wanted grades. The weird part was making them all As-because we work for mastery and I wasn't cutting her time and effort to giver her average #s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.