Random stuff

This is a collection of random ideas and thoughts, which I will probably post when I'm bored or procrastinating.

Friday, May 26, 2006

Marking

Apparently report cards are being changed so that everyone from grade 1 upwards is getting graded on an A to E scale, and the report cards are going to be written in 'plain English'.

I suggest we make it EXTREMELY plain English - instead of a system of marking from A, B, C, D and E, it should go:

A = Excellent
B= Good
C = Okay
D = Bad
E = Crap

I don't think anyone will have a problem understanding that, do you? :-p

Actually to be honest I think it's silly to grade everyone from year 1 upwards on an A to E scale. What about the kids who do their best but aren't necessarily cut out for school - branded a 'C' student from 6 years of age. I think that's disgusting. Wanting a clearer report card system is fine, branding children is not.

posted by Noof @ 5/26/2006 08:28:00 pm  

6 Comments:

  • At May 26, 2006 8:51 pm, Blogger Mathieu said…

    I wish my teachers had seen it your way.

     

  • At May 28, 2006 11:56 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hmm..thats not entirely an unrealistic proposition is it? (The marking of A-E from yr 1 I mean) How else are you supposed to mark a student who isn't doing well? You can't simply ascribe a higher mark to a student that isn't deserving simply because little Timmy tries his hardest. Those reports have sections for effort and use of ability as well do they not? Effort is one thing, actual achievement is quite another...the harsh reality is that some kids will do well and others may not and that has to be recognised if any sort of improvement is going to be made for those that don't do well. And besides a "C" isn't that terrible, its still a sound achievement after all.
    P.S Word verification was "Hdiot"...seems ironic considering we're talking about kids with difficulties at school:P

     

  • At May 28, 2006 12:11 pm, Blogger Noof said…

    There's another way of assessing known as outcomes based - come on dude, they should teach you this stuff at UQ! ;-) As in "Can this student do task x? Yes." And that's what can be reported in the report card. There are different levels in the curriculum - students are supposed to be at level 3 (i.e. completed the tasks in that level) by the end of grade 5, and level 4 by the end of grade 7, etc etc. Rather than labelling students it lists what they have accomplished and what they need to work on. Makes more sense to me.

     

  • At May 29, 2006 7:32 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    You should see the branding I have... ;)

     

  • At June 02, 2006 11:26 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Actually, I really like the idea of 'plain english' on report cards, even though it will make it harder for us teachers!! (i'm going to be such a great teacher with bad grammar!:P) It definitely makes it easier for both the parents and students to know where they are sitting, and if you ask me I think that if students have an encouraging report that not only praises them on things they're are doing well, but also encouraging them to work on some areas, then the students will definitely know what they need. The clearer the better if u ask me!

    janelle

     

  • At June 03, 2006 10:26 am, Blogger Noof said…

    True.....I am all for clearer reporting, and definitely encouraging students when they're going well and giving them correction/suggestions for improvement in other areas. I'm just worried about the kid who does his absolute best and for whatever reason can only manage a C or a D. Or kids with undiagnosed learning disabilities. They're going to be the ones who suffer: "Oh look, I'm just a D student, no matter how hard I try. I may as well stop trying...." That's something I'm concerned about.

     

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