Guest guest Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Great question and something we've been dealing with (but not successfully) for 2-3 years. Mac is in 5th grade and still receives S, N, O, U's for grades. No one can agree about how to fairly and effectively give letter grades. I'm hoping to work it out this year with new administration. Jill Mom to Mac (10 yrs., 5th grade, Ds) and Kit (7 yrs., 1st grade, Ds) letter grades My daughter is in the fourth grade this year, and it dawned on me at back to school night, that we will be dealing with letter grades this year! So before I start asking her teacher all sorts of questions, I thought I would check with you all to see how your schools/teachers handle giving your children letter grades. What are my options? Thanks for any info! Sandi- mom to Shelby (10 w/ds), Stuart (7), (5) and (22 mos) @ @ @ @ @ ..\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/.. **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Maverick, a senior in HS (as he tells me about 25 times a day!!!) gets letter grades in each class based on his IEP goals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 This whole subject is very interesting to me . I have a meeting with s Teachers tomorrow ( he is now in 5th grade which is jr High in my town ) I have been fighting for inclusion for years and have gotten no where. Now this year I have found out that there is a sped teacher, and inclussion teacher, and we are meeting with the reg ed social studies & science teachers also ( I sure hope that the sped director doesn't attend since he is the one I have been fighting with all this time) Last year I was told would be included in the reg social studies and Science class. All he ever brought home was a folder for each the last day of school!! And as for letter grades... He has NEVER received a report card... only a progress report on his IEP goals, I brought up to the new teacher that I wanted him to receive report cards along with his classmates again . She didn't seem to understand why.. Can any one give the pros and cons of letter grades and report cards? I would love to have some back up tomorrow thanks Mom to 21, 19, Ds 10, 7 and Nana to Kylie 2, Jake 1, and TJ 2months In a message dated 9/9/2008 10:45:16 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, michdock@... writes: Maverick makes the honor roll all the time. He works hard and deserves it. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Sandi, made the honor roll when he attended Loudoun County. Here in WV, well, they are behind the times by about 20 years! -- cindysue@... letter grades > My daughter is in the fourth grade this year, and it dawned on me at back > to > school night, that we will be dealing with letter grades this year! So > before I start asking her teacher all sorts of questions, I thought I > would check > with you all to see how your schools/teachers handle giving your children > letter grades. What are my options? > > Thanks for any info! > Sandi- mom to Shelby (10 w/ds), Stuart (7), (5) and (22 > mos) > @ @ @ @ @ > > ...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/.. > > > > **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion > blog, > plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. > (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 As much as I love and admire Miss , I must disagree (but only for Monongalia County). Our girl made the honor roll all year last year in 6th grade. Eleanor _____ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of CSBC Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 9:09 PM ; sml524@... Subject: Re: letter grades Sandi, made the honor roll when he attended Loudoun County. Here in WV, well, they are behind the times by about 20 years! -- cindysuecomcast (DOT) <mailto:cindysue%40comcast.net> net letter grades > My daughter is in the fourth grade this year, and it dawned on me at back > to > school night, that we will be dealing with letter grades this year! So > before I start asking her teacher all sorts of questions, I thought I > would check > with you all to see how your schools/teachers handle giving your children > letter grades. What are my options? > > Thanks for any info! > Sandi- mom to Shelby (10 w/ds), Stuart (7), (5) and (22 > mos) > @ @ @ @ @ > > ...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/.. > > > > **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion > blog, > plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. > (http://www.stylelis <http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014> t.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Caty is a junior and she makes the honor roll every time. (We're in WV) letter grades > My daughter is in the fourth grade this year, and it dawned on me at back > to > school night, that we will be dealing with letter grades this year! So > before I start asking her teacher all sorts of questions, I thought I > would check > with you all to see how your schools/teachers handle giving your children > letter grades. What are my options? > > Thanks for any info! > Sandi- mom to Shelby (10 w/ds), Stuart (7), (5) and (22 > mos) > @ @ @ @ @ > > ...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/.. > > > > **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion > blog, > plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. > (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Maverick makes the honor roll all the time. He works hard and deserves it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 HI In Elem grades Sara got letter grades, now that she's in HS they give out number grades (for all students) ........... but for Sara her curriculum report card says passed in all subjects then an IEP report card is sent home with measurements for each Objective. is now in HS so his report card probably will look different than Elem or Middle school grading. Sara does work for A's so they go on her daily paperwork (test, quizzes, class work) Kathy mom to Sara16 From: Eleanor Green Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 8:30 PM 'CSBC' ; ; sml524@... Subject: RE: letter grades As much as I love and admire Miss , I must disagree (but only for Monongalia County). Our girl made the honor roll all year last year in 6th grade. Eleanor _____ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of CSBC Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 9:09 PM ; sml524@... Subject: Re: letter grades Sandi, made the honor roll when he attended Loudoun County. Here in WV, well, they are behind the times by about 20 years! -- cindysuecomcast (DOT) <mailto:cindysue%40comcast.net> net letter grades > My daughter is in the fourth grade this year, and it dawned on me at back > to > school night, that we will be dealing with letter grades this year! So > before I start asking her teacher all sorts of questions, I thought I > would check > with you all to see how your schools/teachers handle giving your children > letter grades. What are my options? > > Thanks for any info! > Sandi- mom to Shelby (10 w/ds), Stuart (7), (5) and (22 > mos) > @ @ @ @ @ > > ...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/.. > > > > **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion > blog, > plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. > (http://www.stylelis <http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014> t.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Okay, so how is this done? I'm assuming they assign the letter grade based on the work being done toward the IEP goals, as well as any tests/quizzes taken? Were there any notations on 's report card, that indicated that his work was modified? Up till now, Shelby's report card has included the same marks (a number system so far) as her peers, with many of them including an asterisk representing an adjusted curriculum. Now with the letter grades, I'm curious what the pros and cons are for including that asterisk or not including it. Thanks for any additional info you can provide! Sandi - mom to Shelby (10 w/DS), Stuart (7), (5), and (22 mos) @ @ @ @ @ ...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/.. In a message dated 9/9/2008 9:09:04 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, cindysue@... writes: Sandi, made the honor roll when he attended Loudoun County. Here in WV, well, they are behind the times by about 20 years! -- cindysue@... ----- Original Message ----- From: <sml524@...> < > Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2008 4:50 PM Subject: letter grades > My daughter is in the fourth grade this year, and it dawned on me at back > to > school night, that we will be dealing with letter grades this year! So > before I start asking her teacher all sorts of questions, I thought I > would check > with you all to see how your schools/teachers handle giving your children > letter grades. What are my options? > > Thanks for any info! > Sandi- mom to Shelby (10 w/ds), Stuart (7), (5) and (22 > mos) > @ @ @ @ @ > > ...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/.. > > > > **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion > blog, > plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. > (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Awwww..I am loved I love you, too! Can you have those fine educators in Mon county teach those in Jefferson County? I really can't comment on teacher this year..she's been out on sick leave but I plan on popping into the classroom tomorrow. One of 's worse teachers ever was the one last year. She is just warehousing/babysitting kids. Where we live, the majority of good teachers commute to Loudoun, VA or Montgomery Co., MD where the pay is much higher. She did nothing to teach my son last year and she was not open to learning how to teach him. I should have gotten him out of there earlier. They never even considered inclusive classrooms for him-even though he came here with that ability. He had grades in Loudoun but not in Jefferson. 's teacher this year was a home ec teacher who loved having kids with special needs in her room. She went for a master's in Special Ed and now is certified. She sought out this position-so I am once again hopefull that he will be taught. She has other students that attend more inclusive settings for part of the day-so she knows what can be done -- cindysue@... letter grades > >> My daughter is in the fourth grade this year, and it dawned on me at back >> to >> school night, that we will be dealing with letter grades this year! So >> before I start asking her teacher all sorts of questions, I thought I >> would check >> with you all to see how your schools/teachers handle giving your children >> letter grades. What are my options? >> >> Thanks for any info! >> Sandi- mom to Shelby (10 w/ds), Stuart (7), (5) and (22 >> mos) >> @ @ @ @ @ >> >> ...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/.. >> >> >> >> **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion >> blog, >> plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. >> (http://www.stylelis > <http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014> > t.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) >> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 In a message dated 9/9/2008 11:51:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time, little1sdaycare@... writes: Can any one give the pros and cons of letter grades and report cards? I would love to have some back up tomorrow I hate getting Micah's report card because we do a number system of 1 to 4 with one being that he basically is at a pre grade level....level. Tow is showing some improvement. Three on grade level and four exceeding grade level. Of course Micah only ever gets 1's except for social areas and gym. It is very disheartening as a parent to see no improvement in ANYTHING! It makes me cry and I wish they had some other form of measuring him. Yes he is in a regular ed class half the time but there must be a way to gauge his work seperately from the typical class grades. I find the whole thing disgusting really. Loree **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 I think the student should be graded on how much he progresses from one semester to the next. The important thing is ... is he learning? Having one standard for all students is just silly, sez me. granny On Wed, Sep 10, 2008 at 1:18 PM, <Loree5@...> wrote: > > In a message dated 9/9/2008 11:51:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time, > little1sdaycare@... <little1sdaycare%40aol.com> writes: > > Can any one give the pros and cons of letter grades and report cards? I > would love to have some back up tomorrow > > I hate getting Micah's report card because we do a number system of 1 to 4 > with one being that he basically is at a pre grade level....level. Tow is > showing some improvement. Three on grade level and four exceeding grade > level. > Of course Micah only ever gets 1's except for social areas and gym. It is > very disheartening as a parent to see no improvement in ANYTHING! It makes > me > cry and I wish they had some other form of measuring him. Yes he is in a > regular ed class half the time but there must be a way to gauge his work > seperately from the typical class grades. I find the whole thing disgusting > really. > > Loree > > **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, > > plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. > (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Sandi, I can't remember how it was done. I do think there was an asterisk - but worked hard and met his goals to get those grades. I don't care if there was an asterisk on his report card...he made the honor roll with his peers and that was the most important (and no asterisk along his name for the newspaper). His last teacher at Loudoun has offered her email address for his current teacher..yeah! -- cindysue@... letter grades > > >> My daughter is in the fourth grade this year, and it dawned on me at >> back >> to >> school night, that we will be dealing with letter grades this year! So >> before I start asking her teacher all sorts of questions, I thought I >> would check >> with you all to see how your schools/teachers handle giving your >> children >> letter grades. What are my options? >> >> Thanks for any info! >> Sandi- mom to Shelby (10 w/ds), Stuart (7), (5) and >> (22 >> mos) >> @ @ @ @ @ >> >> ...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/.. >> >> >> >> **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion >> blog, >> plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. >> (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) >> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 It is my understanding that an asterisk or any other indication on the report card that the grade/curriculum is modified is illegal. That's why much of the hassle in our district. Teachers don't want to say a kid got an A or B in 7th grade LA when the kid is only working at a 3rd (or whatever below grade level) grade...they are worried about accountability and someone misinterpreting the grade as an A or B on grade level work. If we were " allowed " to put " modified curriculum " or something to indicate it teachers would be much more willing to give the grades. There has been NO black or white on this issue and every year it is a major issue with no solution. Jill Mom to Mac & Kit letter grades > > >> My daughter is in the fourth grade this year, and it dawned on me at >> back >> to >> school night, that we will be dealing with letter grades this year! So >> before I start asking her teacher all sorts of questions, I thought I >> would check >> with you all to see how your schools/teachers handle giving your >> children >> letter grades. What are my options? >> >> Thanks for any info! >> Sandi- mom to Shelby (10 w/ds), Stuart (7), (5) and >> (22 >> mos) >> @ @ @ @ @ >> >> ...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/...\)/.. >> >> >> >> **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion >> blog, >> plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. >> (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014) >> >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 11, 2008 Report Share Posted September 11, 2008 Let me give a somewhat different view. Letter grades are perhaps most important to the kids who are college bound and want to get into the school of their choice. For those who have learning come easy, they are good motivation to excel and a good indicator to parents if a child is slacking off. Still we have to remember that the so-called normal population is a normal curve and not all children learn the same way or equally easily. For those who have trouble learning, letter grades can be very discouraging because being told that you did a poor job when your effort was perhaps higher than some of the very top kids is hardly motivational. This is particularly true if you are told that your outcome in life will be hopeless without good grades. If a child in the class is judged by a different standard because they are in special ed and have an IEP, is it fair to give them grades on their individual progress when everyone else is measured against a standard and kids who might (in an absolute sense) be graded very low even though they have good work effort and individual progress, but who are not in SPED. Our child with DS was (mostly) graded on effort and progress. The key thing was to motivate her to keep up the effort and make as much progress as she could. Fortunately our child responded well, but she still sometimes got marked for insufficient effort in some areas. I never felt that " comparison " to other kids was necessary with an IEP, but rather that she could develop a sense of achievement from what she had accomplished. I didn't care if she made the honor roll because we chose not to emphasize that for her .. something we handled differently from her siblings. Our aim was not comparison with others, but rathertrying to find a path for each of them toward a functioning and happy adult life. Grades can be an important part of that and were for her brothers, but progress was what we measured for our cwds because we hadn't a clue what her eventual achievement would be .. and at 35, that is still a work in progress. She is still learning and she has a rather remarkably good quality of life. Rick .. dad to 35 year old Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 Season: Here is a response from Pearson, Administrator for Educational and Lifeskills Services at NSSED: Hi Ellen, I think the parent is thinking it through well. I would base a decision on the thought she posed, " I don't want to limit him. It's nice not having to worry over letter grades, but if the lack of them would be somehow detrimental to his future I'd reconsider. Part of the issue is a systems issue: each school may approach it differently. For instance, one school in the area enrolls students in Life Skills classes and marks grades pass/fail. The purpose is to track student attendance, and it is the only way the data system will allow it. Another school used to enroll students in the class and give a modified grade. For that school it provided an accurate transcript if the student went on to pursue college/university coursework. Some universities require it; for others the diploma and college entrance process addresses it. For instance, a student can take continuing education classes without submitting a transcript, but a College Life Skills Program (such as PACE) requires the submission of a high school transcript. Typically, I would recommend it if offered because it leaves doors open, not that you can't appeal the process. However, the parent knows her child best and should consider the impact of optional grades. Even though college appears unrealistic right now, I commend the parent for thinking and dreaming of the future despite the challenges they are facing now. I hope this is helpful. Pearson Administrator, ELS Program NSSED 760 Red Oak Lane Highland Park, IL 60035 847-831-5100 x416 jpearson@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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