meganmelinda (meganmelinda) wrote in phyrebards, @ 2007-11-08 11:50:00 |
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Current location: | 2nd floor belk |
Current mood: | excited |
Current music: | athletes talking |
Grade Contracts
On Monday while I was in school we had a speaker come in and interrupt the regular lesson. The assistant principal came in to discussion grade contracts with the students. If a student is in danger of failing the course and has received a failing grade for the first nine weeks, and it would be impossible for them to score high enough the next nine weeks to make a passing grade, he or she can use a grading contract to change the grade and pass the course. The teacher is responsible for drawing up the stipulations to the contract, there is a conference to discuss it, and then it is signed by both the student and teacher. If the student holds up his or her portion of the contract, the grade is changed.
Last year at Cummings all teachers were required to write up and conference for grading contracts for all students that failed the first nine weeks. 250 contracts were written school wide and it took a lot of time planning and meeting with students on the teachers' part. Only 10 grades were actually changed because the students met all of the requirements of the grading contract. 250 is an unusually high number and from my understanding, usually only first year freshman utilize these type of contracts. The system at Cummings failed.
When the assistant principal visited on Monday, she explained that grading contracts will not be dealt with in the same way this year. Students are required to approach the teacher if they would like the opportunity to do a grading contract within 3 weeks after the first nine weeks. Ms. Rogers does not like to drag the process throughout the semester, and she requires it be done within the first three weeks after the first report card.
I will be very interested to see if any of our students in third period choose to do the grading contract and if they will actually stick with it. I know that some are in danger of failing (again!). What do you all think of the grading contract? Is it fair to those students who worked hard the first half of the semester? Is there a better alternative since the system does not seem to be saving students from failing?