Posts tagged with cards.

We should grade teachers, too

Kathy Dobson, July 8, 2009 at 11:04 AM

My 11- and 13-year-old sons brought home their final report cards. On just two sheets of paper I had a complete snapshot of their entire school year. Reading, writing, oral and visual communication skills were just a few of the areas reported on.

The report cards included a summary of how well they handled their math, science and technology, social studies, health and fitness, music, and art classes. It even included evaluations of their initiative, problem solving abilities, and conflict resolution skills.

Thanks to the 'grade average' column on my son's grade seven report card, I was also able to see how the rest of his class did. Well, except for one of the most important people in the classroom. The person with the most power. The person everyone else in that classroom was at the complete mercy of all year long.

Yes, the teacher.

Picture this: a new type of report card. One that wouldn't grade math, reading comprehension or the visual arts. It wouldn't mention homework completion or class participation. Or compare how your child did to the rest of the class.

Heck, it wouldn't even be grading the students.

It would be grading the teacher. Just the teacher.

There wouldn't be any marks for geometry, spatial sense, drama or dance.

Instead, there would be a section for 'Teaching Enthusiasm.' Do they share the subject matter with clarity and passion? Do they convey a sense of excitement about what they're teaching?

And most importantly, do they actually like teaching?

Do they even like kids?

There would also be a mark for 'Teaching Methods.' For instance, do they believe that using sarcasm with students is an effective tool? Did they ever abuse their power over students?

Then there would be the usual report card stuff.

How many times were they late? How many times were they absent? Do they show respect for others? And bring a healthy lunch and snacks to school?

And just like any report card, there would be a 'Comments Section.' It would list those crucial strengths/weaknesses/next steps.

Do they use visual and verbal cues to convey the meaning of familiar material? Do they make effective use of their free time? For example, do they use their 'spare(s)' to grade papers in order to return materials to (especially) their high school students in a timely manner?

There would also be that critical third page. The 'Response Form.' The page where the teacher would have the opportunity to evaluate their report card and, in turn, evaluate the parents of their students.

The teacher could note, with specific examples, where they believe the parent failed to support the teacher's work with the student.

It would also include a section for the teacher to comment on their achievements, goals, and home support. And the opportunity to request a meeting to discuss the report card further.

And finally, there would be the 'Parent Relations' section. Does the teacher view parents as collaborators who share a common goal of maximizing student success?

Or do they simply view them as a major pain in the ass?

Tagged with grades, cards, report, teacher, performance | Comments (75) |

Report cards: reporting on the whole person

Kathy Dobson, April 2, 2009 at 12:28 PM

  

Combed hair, clean fingernails, tidy clothing: 60 years ago, I would have had a straight A report card. Times have changed.

Forget spelling, math, or reading. When my mother was in elementary school, students were routinely judged and graded on their appearance.

All that other academic stuff mattered too, but just as important as studying for that math test was combing down that cowlick.

When my son David, who is almost 13 and in Grade 7, brought home his report card this week, there weren't any comments about his physical appearance or hygiene habits. Instead, in addition to marks for math, science, geography, and visual arts, his teachers also rated his initiative, conflict resolution, and problem solving abilities.

What have report cards become? And what exactly are they reporting on?

According to the Ontario Ministry of Education, the provincial report card* ensures that all students attending publically funded schools in Ontario receive a standard report card based on the Ontario curriculum expectations.

The report card focuses and reports on two specific aspects of student achievement:

First, how well the student did on meeting the curriculum expectations. This refers to the more academic parts of the report card. It's an accumulation of your child's tests, assignments and projects.

The second part of the report card is an evaluation of a student's 'learning skills.' Combing your hair might not earn you marks anymore, but playing nice with others and participating in class will. These 'learning skills' include initiative, class participation, homework completion, problem solving, and setting goals to improve work habits.

Teachers' comments in this section might be more important than the marks.

If a teacher says my child is struggling with time management skills, isn't completing his homework, and needs to work on his conflict resolution skills, that's vital information about how my child is performing at school.

Of course, it shouldn't take a report card for me to realize that my child is having those kinds of problems at school.

Back in my parents' day - heck, even in my day - you'd know you were screwing up with those 'conflict resolution' skills based on the number of whacks you got with the school's strap.

But schools have evolved. Now they torture the parents.

Report cards now include a 'Response Form.' My son David has to fill it in with me, then bring it back to school. It states, "Please complete in conversation with your child."

Heh.

David is supposed to list what he's proud of having achieved, and identify his strengths. There's also a section for him to list an "academic goal" for next term, and one "learning skill" goal as well.

Then he needs to explain how he plans to achieve these goals.

As for my part, I need to share what accomplishments and progress David has made that I'm most pleased with. And also where I'd like to see some improvement, and how I'll "support my child at home" to help him achieve these goals.

Or I can simply check off the box: "I have received the report card," sign it, then send it back.

I wonder how many parents, for whatever reason, just check off that box, sending their child's report card back without any comments or feedback?

Of course, you're probably saying more with that one check mark than you ever could with any detailed response.

*Ontario report card, Grades 9-12  (Editor - education is a provincial matter, so different provinces will have different policies. For instance, see British Columbia's.)

 (Editor - these articles may be helpful in dealing with your child's report card: Reading report cards, Reacting to report cards, Five tips on dealing with report cards.)

 

Tagged with school, reading, spelling, math, standards, participating, skills, solving, cards, learning, report, problem, academic | Comments (12) |