A Look at Grades

I was lucky enough to attend one school from k-12 grade (in fact it is the same school where I now teach). But I have taken classes at several universities and have worked for numerous employers including 5 different school districts. I have had to provide my transcripts for many interviews, but I have never been denied entry a college/university program or had a potential employer question me about my C for the first semester of senior English.

I'm not saying that schools and employers don't look at individual classes, but I believe the final GPA is what is most important. Not every student will be a 4.0 or higher student - it doesn't mean that student will not be successful. Sometimes the final grade is not as important as what is learned in the class.

I have taken classes that were easy A's. I don't remember doing much work in those classes. I don't remember putting much effort into those classes. And I definitely don't remember what I learned in those classes. On the other hand, during my college days I took several classes that required blood, sweat, and tears to finish. And I was ecstatic to finish with a minimal B and occasionally a C. In those classes, I grew. I learned my strengths and weaknesses. I developed a depth of knowledge that would benefit me years down the road.

Don't get me wrong - I am not saying that good grades aren't important. Or that making all A's means a student hasn't learned. Parents and teachers should make a careful look at grades.

Parents

Don't focus on just one test - look at the whole picture. Has there been a steady growth (or decline) in several weeks of grades? Could a low score on one test just be a fluke? We all have bad days; one test score won't usually make or break a final grade.


Make an honest comparison between the grade on the report card and the effort you see your child putting into homework for that class. I frequently have parents ask me what a student can do to improve grades then admit that he/she never sees the student do homework.


Don't settle for an A if your child is doing very little work. An A should require effort at home and school. Expect your child to be challenged - to EARN that A.

Teachers

Take an honest look at your students grades. If a large majority of students aren't passing your class, you aren't teaching. And if most of your students have an A, you aren't challenging them enough.

If the majority of students have completed the class and homework assignments and don't seem to be ready for a test - don't give it. Reteach. Find a new way to present the information. Ask the students to tell you what they know and don't know and listen to them.

Offer suggestions for self study - homework help sites, reference materials, peer tutoring, etc.

If possible, offer after school tutoring or do pull-outs for students who are struggling.

If a student takes a zero for homework repeatedly, that zero is not working. Find another consequence for incomplete work. I have sometimes required students to come to my room for the last ten minutes of lunch until they complete an assignment. This does take away from my lunch time, but it usually takes only a few days to make believers of them. They find a way to do homework so that they get their full lunch time.