Who knew First grade was so tough? Zac came home a few weeks ago with his report card and a certificate for making the Honor Roll! I didn't even know what an Honor Roll was until I was in Jr High. Did you? Are these kids growing up so fast that the pressure starts in First grade? Seriously? He made 2 A's and a B (in language arts, AKA writing/spelling) and therefore made it on the Honor Roll. Wow. I remember the days of "S" for satisfactory, or "E" for excelling or something like that. But real, honest to goodness grades?
I went in for my parent-teacher conference last week and was given a login for the school's grading system. I can check up on Zac anytime I want and see exactly what he's doing in school. So, I thought I'd give it a whirl today, and sure enough there's every grade he's received on there, from the first day of school to now! It even averages them for you and puts that in RED at the top of the page, so you make no mistake where he's at at any given time of the quarter. And, and, and, the grading system is no longer 90-100A, 80-89B etc, it's 93-100A, 85-92B, so that means that a 75 and below is a D! D! That was a middle of the road C in my day, which wasn't that long ago really. Now in our honors classes in High School we used that grading scale, but for everything else the easier one was standard. Why are we pushing our little ones? I realize that they have to learn and all, but why are we forcing things on them that they shouldn't have to worry about? Seriously, if you read with your child, help them with homework and spelling words, and instill in them to do their very best at the ripe ol' age of 7, shouldn't that be enough? Should the school have to stalk them with their rigid grading systems in First grade?
Let me be clear, I'm in no way trying to "coddle" Zacary, which is a term used widely in today's society for the teens and tweens. Trust me, in my job with the Middle School, I see it DAILY, more than I care to. No, I'm not trying to make things easier for him, but trying to keep him young while he still is. Heck, by the time he's in Middle School, where will we be at this rate? Scary to think.......
So, proud Mama I am, we did celebrate his Honor Roll status that weekend, but we didn't start getting his college applications ready just yet! HA!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Wow, that is crazy. Nicholas' report cards are something like: I's (independently mastered), needs improving (requires teacher support) or not attempting. Something along those lines.
I agree, that is WAY too early.
Hi Julie! This is so interesting! Honor roll in elementary school? Wow. Our elementary has three "grade" abbreviations. I can't remember the letter designations, but they essentially boil down to "Doing Great," "Doing Well Enough," and "Needs To Be Doing Better." That same scale is used for everything from math skills to behavior in art class to getting along with friends.
So, how did you celebrate? I'd be sorely tempted to celebrate Honor Roll with a roll, like a cinnamon one.
Post a Comment