Today our son and daughters receive their report cards. My daughter is in 5th grade and my son is in 3rd grade. I am not sure if anyone posted this before if They did I apologize in advance. Now that we have 1st and 2nd quarter grades what do you think of the new report card system? I am trying to understand the new system. 4=A 3=B 2=C OR D= `1= D OR U? As I understand no one will ever fail. so if a student got an 1 it means they are passing. I think it helps me when it tells what my kids needs to work on. but I think they could of done it the same way with the grading system. anyone know why they changed the grading system? do you like it or are you against it? Will the kids use letter grades when they are in Middle School or High School or are they using number grading system?

Parent V Wrote:
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> Today our son and daughters receive their report
> cards. My daughter is in 5th grade and my son is
> in 3rd grade. I am not sure if anyone posted this
> before if They did I apologize in advance. Now
> that we have 1st and 2nd quarter grades what do
> you think of the new report card system? I am
> trying to understand the new system. 4=A 3=B 2=C
> OR D= `1= D OR U? As I understand no one will
> ever fail. so if a student got an 1 it means they
> are passing. I think it helps me when it tells
> what my kids needs to work on. but I think they
> could of done it the same way with the grading
> system. anyone know why they changed the grading
> system? do you like it or are you against it?
> Will the kids use letter grades when they are in
> Middle School or High School or are they using
> number grading system?


They changed from O,G,S and N to 4,3,2 and 1. Same thing, different values. Don't see as it makes a difference one way or the other.

Everyone gets an A at Dogwood, nobody ever fails, it's just easier that way.

It makes no sense to me either, but I'm certain FCPS spent a pretty penny on a study and the processes involved to implement this. As if the teachers needed more paperwork. geesh

An "O" is not the same as a "4". The old "O" grade meant that the student was exceeding the standards. A "4" means the student consistently meets the standards.

My son's school says this

4=working above grade level
3=working at grade level
2=working below grade level
They didnt even mention a 1

They said a 3 is a great grade to get

I am confused as well

Change Wrote:
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> My son's school says this
>
> 4=working above grade level
> 3=working at grade level
> 2=working below grade level
> They didnt even mention a 1
>
> They said a 3 is a great grade to get
>
> I am confused as well


Is that a school within FCPS? If so, that's not accurate and it surprises me that they would post that info. In FCPS, the new progress report reflects the frequency at which a student is demonstrating understanding of grade level standards. There are comments that state "above", "on", or "below" in math and reading, but the numerical values reflect how consistent the child is in meeting the standards.

Change Wrote:
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> My son's school says this
>
> 4=working above grade level
> 3=working at grade level
> 2=working below grade level
> They didnt even mention a 1
>
> They said a 3 is a great grade to get
>
> I am confused as well

A 3 is a great grade when you could get a 4? Keep believing that - less competition for my kid.

The county spent too much money on "feel good" grading. This grading system does not explain or measure sufficiently how my child has performed against a standard and/or among his peers. Rather this grading system measures “levels of effort”, as demonstrated by each rating’s label:
4 = Consistently
3 = Usually
2 = Sometimes
1 = Seldom

I do appreciate knowing the levels of effort, as this will help me guide my child for greater consistency; however, the “level of effort” grading is very frustrating in trying to determine where his strengths and weakness are. Not knowing his strengths or weaknesses does not allow me properly reward and encourage his strengths, or to target our improvement efforts in needed areas at home.

Every child needs to work on the foundational skills: reading, writing, arithmetic, and reasoning. That is why I have written to my child's teacher to request a short assessment and more information in these basic areas on where my child is excelling and should be further challenged, and what areas my child is struggling with for improvement.

anyone know why they changed the grading
> system? Yes, because parents get too upset if there kid got a N. If there kids failed then obviously it was the teachers fault and they would go and yell at the teachers and the kid would cry which would make the parent sad. Kids will never experience failure in life so therefore they should not be prepared for this non existent failure at school. They should never be upset or disappointed. They should be entitled to there own rooms and giant gas guzzlers where they have to get out of their seat to hit their siblings which they won't get disciplined for. Even if it completely destroys the environment and gives other kids or maybe themselves asthama for all the pollution.



do you like it or are you against it? See above.

> Will the kids use letter grades when they are in
> Middle School or High School or are they using
> number grading system? Not sure-in the future there will probably be no grading system. Just praise for your very existence.

Easier in the short term or the long term?


Dogwood Elementery Wrote:
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> Everyone gets an A at Dogwood, nobody ever fails,
> it's just easier that way.

katiesmith Wrote:
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> Easier in the short term or the long term?
>
>
> Dogwood Elementery Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Everyone gets an A at Dogwood, nobody ever
> fails,
> > it's just easier that way.

Yes

There is a specific box for effort for each subject, but aside from those effort boxes, the 4,3,2,1 ratings do NOT measure effort. They measure mastery. A student could consistently demonstrate mastery of a standard without expending very much effort. Likewise, a student could bust her ass and get a "4" in effort, but still get rated a 1 for mastery because she simply has not mastered the concept.

It is a paradigm shift, but it is an important one, because this does not just measure a child's compliance with completion of homework, participation in class, etc., which ABCDF and OGSN did -- it actually tells you whether your child has demonstrated mastery of a standard.

Read Again Wrote:
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> There is a specific box for effort for each
> subject, but aside from those effort boxes, the
> 4,3,2,1 ratings do NOT measure effort. They
> measure mastery. A student could consistently
> demonstrate mastery of a standard without
> expending very much effort. Likewise, a student
> could bust her ass and get a "4" in effort, but
> still get rated a 1 for mastery because she simply
> has not mastered the concept.
>
> It is a paradigm shift, but it is an important
> one, because this does not just measure a child's
> compliance with completion of homework,
> participation in class, etc., which ABCDF and OGSN
> did -- it actually tells you whether your child
> has demonstrated mastery of a standard.

This is a good explanation. The standards based report card is much more specific about a student's performance.

I hate the new report cards. Try getting kids excited for a 3 is really hard to do.