How do I explain this new grading system to my child? 

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How you explain the report card with your child is up to you and your family. We recommend that you focus on a few strengths and weaknesses with your child rather than looking over the entire report card together. Having a more focused conversation with your child about the areas where they excel and where they can continue to work will help your child set more targeted goals for their own learning.

 

How does this report card benefit my child and I? 

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Students are assessed based on grade-level standards. Standards based report cards are unique to each grade level. Teacher’s are better informed on areas to target instruction based on strengths and weaknesses. Parents will be better able to guide and support their child towards academic success due to specific identification of the learning target and use of a rubric.

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What do I do if my child scores a 1 or a 2 on a Standard Based Report Card Indicator?

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Analyze the skill that requires more attention and review the rubric to determine grade level proficiency. This action will allow you to assist your child at home as well as communicate with your child’s teacher regarding specific strategies.

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y child received all A’s in the previous grading system, what should I expect them to receive in the new grading system?

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If your child received all A’s in the past you can most likely expect them to receive 3’s in this new grading system. However, learning is a continuous process as such expect to see some 2’s.  Our goal for all learners is to earn the grade mark of 3, to show that they are meeting our challenging grade level standards and expectations. A 4 means that a student is exceeding the standard being taught.

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Isn’t a “3” just another way of saying the student earned a “B”?

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One of the biggest differences between a traditional letter-grade report card and a standards based report card is assessing what students have “learned” not “earned”   based on very clear and specific expectations defined by the state standards.  A “B” is an average of the points earned on tests, quizzes, assignments, and so on but does not tell us what the student has really learned and achieved in terms of standards based expectations for a specific grade level.