For the past four years I have watched kids in the role of valedictorian that have taken the easy route. Kids who have pushed themselves with the tougher classrooms often risk a B in order to challenge themselves. This year was a holy mess, with a student and parent accused of changing grades to ensure the honor (no doubt grades were changed, no evidence of the who) and the battle resulted in the review of all grades for four years. Nasty mess.
Lori On 6/30/08 7:55 AM, "TLP" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > As a parent, I remember looking the honor roll as an indicator my children > were doing their work to the highest level of which they were capable. As a > teacher, I am proud when kids strive to do the best they can regardless of > grading. However, the sad truth is the honor roll is alive and well in most > middle schools. > > As a parent of children who could be found at all levels of the spectrum, I > see the pros and cons. My child who received special services for a writing > disability, overcame incredible odds and was jubilant when she achieved > honor roll for the first time as a middle schooler. Another child , a hard > worker who gave 110% in every subject she tackled and graduated 7th in a > class of over 200, was devastated if she received less than a 95. My > son...could care less! > > I have a student who never made the honor roll because of her difficulty > in math. She excels in every other venue but is math phobic. This year she > scored 84% in math. Rather than being elated she was devastated she had not > gotten that extra point to place her in honors. Were there no honor roll she > may have been proud of her accomplishment. > > However, should we not honor those who work to achieve this distinction? My > daughter, who was always a high honor student, was proud of her > accomplishments and felt rewarded in some way for her hard work. When > discussing this with her now, she asked me if we would ignore the high > scorer or overall team player for the MVP in a basketball game, the big > seller on a sales team or the fastest runner in a road race. Of course she > knows grades can be subjective unlike these earlier examples and "ay, > there's the rub!" > > I have no firm answers and would love to hear for the rest of you on the > subject. I tend to lean toward more standards based grading which may > eliminate the honor roll but still believe some sort of recognition is in > order for those who achieve. How best to do this? -- Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach & Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 57555 http:www.tcsdk12.org ph. 605.856.2211 Literacies for All Summer Institute July 17-20. 2008 Tucson, Arizona _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
