The grading weights are officially changing. Thank you to the 243 people who pushed for this shift.
June 1, 2021
Final supporters
A lot of students have noticed the grade weight in math classes is 80% test and 20% assignments. If students were to pass all of the assignments but fail the test because they are not good test-takers, or not good at implementing what was learned in different scenarios, it is impossible for the teachers to set students up for success. Many straight-A students are struggling with this rule as well as virtual students since being virtual is brand new this year. Students are struggling more than average because they lack motivation and guidance. Teachers need to do what is best for students, the current model is not working.
Updates
March 22, 2021
The emails I am receiving from students about these test anxiety issues are confirming exactly why this needs to change. I am currently compiling all these stories to present to the administration.
Reached 100 supporters
March 22, 2021
34 Comments
As a former math teacher I am appalled that the weight is so unbalanced. The students are working to do as many assignments as possible but the assignments are only worth a handful of points!
This is something my family has already reached out to the school about and been offered no help or alternative. This is setting students up for failure.
I believe that this grade weight is quite high for a high school class, but also for the environment that we are currently living in. I've noticed as a typically straight-A student that my grade drops drastically. I'm currently passing the class, but it feels challenging to keep that grade within an A range, let alone a B. I know that students who normally get average grades are struggling with this grade weight.
I understand a test is making sure we actually know what we have been doing. But i believe there is NO reason for it to be 80% of our grade. We do so many assignments and a lot of us get good grades on them. Tests are timed, and a lot of us have to be on zooms which is new to us. Some people are just not good test takers. If we are doing the assignments and getting them right, we obviously know what we’re doing. I think the test weight should be brought down. It will help many more students succeed!
Agreed...repetition through assignments (ie- 40%) is needed to nail home the material. Assessments should be made of how well the material is understood by grading ALL assignments...and NO working with a partner. The areas a student is deficient should then be nailed home further, through extra assignments or a math lab. I feel the way material is taught today is done without this effort. It's just all about teaching to the test to meet Common Core standard levels established federally/state-wise.
I believe that the math weight is an unfair way to grade our math because it forces students to do well in a testing setting and not all students are capable of doing so.
Both my 8th and 11th graders are struggling. I'm paying for a private tutor due to lack of actual teaching this year.
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The grading weights are officially changing. Thank you to the 243 people who pushed for this shift.
June 1, 2021
Final supporters
A lot of students have noticed the grade weight in math classes is 80% test and 20% assignments. If students were to pass all of the assignments but fail the test because they are not good test-takers, or not good at implementing what was learned in different scenarios, it is impossible for the teachers to set students up for success. Many straight-A students are struggling with this rule as well as virtual students since being virtual is brand new this year. Students are struggling more than average because they lack motivation and guidance. Teachers need to do what is best for students, the current model is not working.
Updates
March 22, 2021
The emails I am receiving from students about these test anxiety issues are confirming exactly why this needs to change. I am currently compiling all these stories to present to the administration.
Reached 100 supporters
March 22, 2021
34 Comments
Since test count for 80% of my grade, I was never able to bring my grade up in math passed a D- and I had a 100% on all my assignments. I am a horrible test taker this basically lead me to dropping math a whole, just so my transcript would not be as bad if I continued taking math. This structure of grading makes it very hard for good students or anyone to keep on top of their grade in math or have a chance to improve. We are hardly learning anything and we are expected to throw up everything on a test. We are too worried about test scores vs if kids are really learning or trying to learn.
As a former math teacher I am appalled that the weight is so unbalanced. The students are working to do as many assignments as possible but the assignments are only worth a handful of points!
This is something my family has already reached out to the school about and been offered no help or alternative. This is setting students up for failure.
I believe that this grade weight is quite high for a high school class, but also for the environment that we are currently living in. I've noticed as a typically straight-A student that my grade drops drastically. I'm currently passing the class, but it feels challenging to keep that grade within an A range, let alone a B. I know that students who normally get average grades are struggling with this grade weight.
I understand a test is making sure we actually know what we have been doing. But i believe there is NO reason for it to be 80% of our grade. We do so many assignments and a lot of us get good grades on them. Tests are timed, and a lot of us have to be on zooms which is new to us. Some people are just not good test takers. If we are doing the assignments and getting them right, we obviously know what we’re doing. I think the test weight should be brought down. It will help many more students succeed!
Agreed...repetition through assignments (ie- 40%) is needed to nail home the material. Assessments should be made of how well the material is understood by grading ALL assignments...and NO working with a partner. The areas a student is deficient should then be nailed home further, through extra assignments or a math lab. I feel the way material is taught today is done without this effort. It's just all about teaching to the test to meet Common Core standard levels established federally/state-wise.
I believe that the math weight is an unfair way to grade our math because it forces students to do well in a testing setting and not all students are capable of doing so.
Both my 8th and 11th graders are struggling. I'm paying for a private tutor due to lack of actual teaching this year.
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Since test count for 80% of my grade, I was never able to bring my grade up in math passed a D- and I had a 100% on all my assignments. I am a horrible test taker this basically lead me to dropping math a whole, just so my transcript would not be as bad if I continued taking math. This structure of grading makes it very hard for good students or anyone to keep on top of their grade in math or have a chance to improve. We are hardly learning anything and we are expected to throw up everything on a test. We are too worried about test scores vs if kids are really learning or trying to learn.