When Tyler came home two weeks ago with his report card I had no idea this was the first time kindergarteners in Mobile County Public Schools were receiving letter grades. I was aware that some school didn’t give the traditional A, B, C, D, F grades but instead received either P (pass) or F (fail) or perhaps S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory). Still I didn’t give much thought to it until Sunday when I read in our local paper that this is actually the first time grades are being given. I also found out that it’s causing somewhat of a stir among advocate and opponents of the new grading system.
Advocates say giving letter grades better prepares students for 1st grade and beyond. The new policy states that all students, including kindergarteners, are to be tested each week or receive a grade in reading, language arts, math, science and social studies. Students can receive an A, B, C, D, or M for “meeting minimal standards”.
Advocates of the new policy feel that assessing students more often helps the teachers know which skills the students are grasping and what they (the teachers) need to spend more time teaching. Teachers who oppose the new policy, on the hand, feel they are grading too much, too soon. The new policy states that students are graded nine times a quarter in reading and math; six times a quarter in science and social studies; and ten times a quarter in language arts. Some also point out that students are being tested when many have not learned to read yet. Some of the standards are high asking students to understand such concepts as the difference between descriptive and narrative sentences. After listening to a story read to them, students might be asked to answer questions relating to plot, setting and outcome.
Is this new policy too stringent? I asked myself as a parent whether it makes any difference if my child receives a traditional letter grade or a pass/fail grade. Speaking as a parent who’s child is excelling in school I would have to say I welcome the new policy. Because of it I was able to see that the times Tyler was tested this past quarter, he made 100 each time, as opposed to just passing. The same is true for the standardized CRT test they recently took. Seeing that he didn’t miss any questions fills me with a sense of pride although I know his intelligence is his own— I can’t claim it. Still..
And as was pointed out at the beginning of this blog, it does prepare students for the upper grades where they will be tested and will receive traditional grades. Still I can see where some opponents are coming from when many kindergarteners arrive at school ill-prepared and immediately are tested. In this case grades were given starting with the second week of school.
What’s your opinion, should kindergarteners receive traditional grades or pass/fail grades? What type of grading system does/did your child’s school use?
See also:
How to Respond To Your Child’s Report Card