Note from teacher (Full Version)

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coolfamily6 -> Note from teacher (9/29/2008 11:19:17 AM)

My daughter who is a straight A student received a 55% on her 1st and only test for this quarter in Science, IPS Honors. The test is worth 50% of the grade in the class.

The note from the teacher read:
"Your child received a 55% on the first test of the year. The average score for all the classes was a 56.6%. These grades were expected as this is an inquiry based class not memorization. Your child's grade should improve on the next test now that he/she knows what I am expecting from them on tests."

What do you think? We did not receive the answer key back because we told that they are not allowed to send them home. I have requested a conference in order to view the test and dd's answers.



1love1God1way -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 12:11:53 PM)

I wouldn't worry too much.

She got a 55, and the average was a 56 . . . so, based upon a bell curve, that puts her at a C, which, in an honors class, is reasonable, and yes, some teachers are tricky in their tests, but once you figure out their system you do much better.

I honestly can't say that I would recommend a conference. I don't really see much of a problem, and it sounds like this class is going to do well for preparing her for later in life, especially college.



stampinlady -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 12:16:30 PM)

Was this simlier to a placement test? If the average was 56% I'd be worried that this teacher isn't teaching very clearly. [&:]



coolfamily6 -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 12:23:31 PM)

quote:

I wouldn't worry too much.

She got a 55, and the average was a 56 . . . so, based upon a bell curve, that puts her at a C, which, in an honors class, is reasonable, and yes, some teachers are tricky in their tests, but once you figure out their system you do much better.


There is not a "bell curve; she gets an F on her ONLY test this quarter which is the quarter that high schools who require applications will see. Her grade will fall from a 92% to somewhere around a 70% if I calculated correct.

quote:

Was this simlier to a placement test? If the average was 56% I'd be worried that this teacher isn't teaching very clearly.


It was a regular test not a placement test.

I called the school for a appointment and was told that only 3 out of 88 kids passed the test and the highest score was an 84%. There are a lot of parents requesting conferences.



stellaluna -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 12:32:24 PM)

I think a conference is in order. I personally find it bizarre that the scores would be that low in an advanced class.



csl7037 -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 12:44:33 PM)

Traci, that would have me calling for a conference for sure. If you're going to give a test you expect them to not do well on - because of the style, adjusting to her system or whatever, then don't make that 50% of the grade! That's ridiculous!

I had this with dd this year too. They're doing a weird thing where she'll have science for three weeks, then history for three weeks. So that means, she'll really only have six weeks of science. She got a 50-something on her first test - similarly, we didn't know what was really on it and I wasn't able to make sese of this new textbook online. I was worried how much weight that would carry with the class being such a short time in this quarter. Her teacher assured me that it would balance out alright with daily grades (which are all very good) and not be a problem. But I made very certain that next three weeks that she studied hard for history - since that'll be the only 3 weeks of history this quarter. I'm not certain if she'll get a science and a history grade this quarter or if those'll carry over to a semester grade. We'll see.

But if it's going to carry that much weight, I'd complain for sure. It's not like she just missed something, studied the wrong stuff, or spaced out and bombed it (like my dd) - everyone did that badly!! That's not right. I'd at least be pushing for extra credit or even a retest. Do you know many of the other moms? I bet a lot of them are flipping out too. I would be!



coolfamily6 -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 12:48:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: csl7037

I'd at least be pushing for extra credit or even a retest. Do you know many of the other moms? I bet a lot of them are flipping out too. I would be!

quote:

I'd at least be pushing for extra credit


DD asked for extra credit when she received the grade (Thurs), but was told by the teacher that she does not "do" extra credit because she has a life and it adds work for her to grade it.

I know about 80% of the parents because I worked at the school for two years, most are calling the teacher or VP.



mapachito13 -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 2:43:41 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: stampinlady

Was this simlier to a placement test? If the average was 56% I'd be worried that this teacher isn't teaching very clearly. [&:]


I was thinking the same thing. AP kids aren't slouches by general rule so the fact that so many failed IMO indicates that the teacher is not making the curriculum understandable.



1love1God1way -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 2:45:33 PM)

I guess I still don't see it as a big problem and wouldn't overreact. I've had multiple classes that have gone like this.

On a similar note. . . there is way too much attention paid to grades, and not enough paid to learning.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 2:48:20 PM)

From the note it sounds like the teacher uses the first exam to teach the kids a lesson. Is this middle school we are talking about? Because she is right--the kids are probably used to regurgitation rather than critical thinking, and that is what she is trying to require of them, in preparation for their future schooling.

I can understand doing it this way, but I cannot understand not providing some sort of second chance. Either changing the grade of the first test to match that of the second, or giving an extra test or re-test, or something. If I were one of her students I would be VERY upset, because I cared very much about my grades (not that my grades reflected that care, lol). I don't know why she wouldn't give a practice test since she knew the concept would be new to all of her students.

Is she a relatively new teacher?



coolfamily6 -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 5:24:11 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jenny-Fair

From the note it sounds like the teacher uses the first exam to teach the kids a lesson. Is this middle school we are talking about? Because she is right--the kids are probably used to regurgitation rather than critical thinking, and that is what she is trying to require of them, in preparation for their future schooling.

I can understand doing it this way, but I cannot understand not providing some sort of second chance. Either changing the grade of the first test to match that of the second, or giving an extra test or re-test, or something. If I were one of her students I would be VERY upset, because I cared very much about my grades (not that my grades reflected that care, lol). I don't know why she wouldn't give a practice test since she knew the concept would be new to all of her students.

Is she a relatively new teacher?


This is a middle school and I can assure you that these kids have not been taught "regurgitation". This is a public Charter School, it's believe is that all kids can succeed if given the right tools. It is a school that all the kids from 6th grade on are working at an advanced level. These kids regularly out perform their peers at the traditional schools.

The grade levels teach in teams, all the work "crosses over" subject to subject. Science and math are intergrated into Language Arts, History is intergrated into Art, etc.

She is not a new teacher but this is her first year at the school.



coolfamily6 -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 5:36:03 PM)

Well, when I went to pick up the children, I had to run in the office to drop off some volunteer stuff I worked on over the weekend. As I was leaving, I walked by the principal. He said hi and I decided to tell him what was going on. I said Mr. H. have you been hearing "chattering" about the 8th grade science scores?

He replied "K (the VP) is dealing with something. She said she was having to gather grade data from a class. Why?"

I told him that I had not talked to the teacher but these were my concerns. His eyebrows raised more than once, he commented that the score was out of the ordinary for dd (he has known her since 5th grade). I told him that the rumor I heard was that only 3 kids passed this class. Again, eyebrows up?

Then I said, I can deal with the F, I know this is not a true measure of dd. My issue is the note she sent home which said "Your child received their first IPS test grade today. The score was a 55%. The overall average for this exam was a 56.6%. THIS IS NOT AN UNEXPECTED RESULT, AS THE IPS CLASS IS INQUIRY BASED, rather than memorization based learning."

I told him that my issue was I felt that she set them up to fail and this was against the philosophy of the school, that we believe every child can succeed if given the right tools. And this is the score these kids are sending in to High Schools for entrance next year.

To that he said, I need you to fax me that note ASAP. I faxed it as soon as I walked in the door.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 5:58:46 PM)

It was not my intention to insult your child's school. I was going off the teacher's note, which said that up until then they had had memorization-based learning (regurgitation).



coolfamily6 -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 9:07:37 PM)

Jenny-Fair,
I am sorry, I did not mean to get defensive. I was really just trying to explain about the school then I reread it and it does sound like I was insulted.

Anyway, another update. The teacher called DH and set up an appointment for Thursday, she told him that because of the lab and homework grades dd has (most are 100%) her grade is an 89.5% which is much higher than the 72% I calculated. There must be scores that the teacher has recorded that I missed. She also said that if dd got a good grade on the quiz turned test (It was scheduled to be a quiz but the teacher decided to count it as a test grade.) she will be back in the "A" range.

I somewhat feel silly now but still think the teacher could have prepared the kids better for the type of test she was giving them. She told dh that the test involves critical thinking skills that these students must develop and it will come "over time".



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Note from teacher (9/29/2008 10:27:11 PM)

quote:

I am sorry, I did not mean to get defensive
No problem.[;)]



ladyingrace1979 -> RE: Note from teacher (9/30/2008 5:38:40 PM)

I agree that the teacher should have prepared the students better, especially in light of the school's philosophy. My other concern is that some children when they do poorly on something like this will become discouraged.

My 13 yo struggles with this, she is bright, not advanced placement level, but bright. However, she "beats herself up" if she gets anything lower than a C on anything. She thinks C's mean she's failed. So I would be concerned about that.

Kim Q



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