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NFT: Teachers/Parents: Question Re Student Averages

Jon from PA : 10/20/2014 6:18 pm
I was looking over my 5th grade daughters grades and noticed her math teacher uses a running total of total points scored/point possible formula for calculating her class average instead of averaging her individual test percentages. Is this new? Because this weighs each test differently, one poor test is keeping her average lower than I'd like it to be. Is it supposed to be a more accurate way to monitor her performance?
I do total points instead of weighted averages,  
gmen1234 : 10/20/2014 6:21 pm : link
I don't count everything the same so it still is sort of weighted. I also teach math and allow any quiz or test to be "fixed" up to an 80.
I graduated high school in 2009  
Natek212 : 10/20/2014 6:21 pm : link
And I would estimate about 75% of my classes were like that. I believe it's called a "total points" system of grading.
pretty standard  
MookGiants : 10/20/2014 6:22 pm : link
way of doing things, my brother is a 6th grade math teacher and does it this way. No right or wrong way just teacher preference I guess. Does the teacher drop the lowest grade?
It's just a different type of weighting system.  
kickerpa16 : 10/20/2014 6:24 pm : link
No more nor less right than others.
My district  
dep026 : 10/20/2014 6:27 pm : link
does averages, but I would do total points if I could. Gives you an easier way to understand the grade rather than weighing things differently.

But then again, my district is way behind the times.
Thanks for the feedback.  
Jon from PA : 10/20/2014 6:30 pm : link
I really appreciate it.

Mook, she hasn't dropped the lowest grade yet but that's definitely a question I'll ask next time we talk. Thanks.
my wife teaches fifth grade and their  
robbieballs2003 : 10/20/2014 6:30 pm : link
report cards are all scaled like the state assessment (1-4). Its a nightmare to do grades since there are a million categories where the students are rated on a scale of 1-4. Its nuts. It is really up to every district, school, grade level and teacher therefore you are going to see a bunch of different ways that it is done. I don't think it is a problem the way the teacher is currently doing it.
The problem is yours  
WideRight : 10/20/2014 7:03 pm : link
What matters is that she learns, and learns how to learn. 5tth grade grades don't really matter.
In our district, the teachers have it easy  
if_i_knew : 10/20/2014 7:07 pm : link
50% of the kids get A's, 45% get B's
RE: The problem is yours  
Jon from PA : 10/20/2014 7:19 pm : link
In comment 11932673 WideRight said:
Quote:
What matters is that she learns, and learns how to learn. 5tth grade grades don't really matter.


of course it's my problem. I set a goal for her and she's not meeting it yet because of the way her grade is being averaged. I can either reassess the goal that I set (by let's say use a running average of her last 3 scores to measure her performance) based on this new information, or stick with it. I was just curious about this method as I don't recall ever seeing it before.

And yes, grades do matter. I know what she's capable of and can use her grades to see if she's putting forth the effort to reach her potential. Sometimes she needs a good kick in the but to get motivated. (as most of us do from time to time)
RE: RE: The problem is yours  
kickerpa16 : 10/20/2014 7:21 pm : link
In comment 11932694 Jon from PA said:
Quote:
In comment 11932673 WideRight said:


Quote:


What matters is that she learns, and learns how to learn. 5tth grade grades don't really matter.



of course it's my problem. I set a goal for her and she's not meeting it yet because of the way her grade is being averaged. I can either reassess the goal that I set (by let's say use a running average of her last 3 scores to measure her performance) based on this new information, or stick with it. I was just curious about this method as I don't recall ever seeing it before.

And yes, grades do matter. I know what she's capable of and can use her grades to see if she's putting forth the effort to reach her potential. Sometimes she needs a good kick in the but to get motivated. (as most of us do from time to time)


Don't respond. Not worth it.

This weighting system is, in essence, a way to normalize it so that bigger assignments are worth me.

Think about it as someone weighting the exams 25% each and the HW's 20% in total.
Thanks kicker.  
Jon from PA : 10/20/2014 7:58 pm : link
.
RE: RE: The problem is yours  
ShocknAwe80 : 10/20/2014 8:15 pm : link
In comment 11932694 Jon from PA said:
Quote:
In comment 11932673 WideRight said:


Quote:


What matters is that she learns, and learns how to learn. 5tth grade grades don't really matter.

Jon... This is the kind of crap we teachers deal with on a daily basis... You are pondering whether or not to call a teacher because his or her grading system, that is universal for every student in the class, isn't benefiting your daughter. She's in 5th grade and it as good a time as any for her to realize that not every assignment is worth the same thing. I teach English and I do NOT use the total points system, but I have a weighting system for my grades; a unit test is worth way more than a quiz in the average.



of course it's my problem. I set a goal for her and she's not meeting it yet because of the way her grade is being averaged. I can either reassess the goal that I set (by let's say use a running average of her last 3 scores to measure her performance) based on this new information, or stick with it. I was just curious about this method as I don't recall ever seeing it before.

And yes, grades do matter. I know what she's capable of and can use her grades to see if she's putting forth the effort to reach her potential. Sometimes she needs a good kick in the but to get motivated. (as most of us do from time to time)
disregard above comment formatted it wrong  
ShocknAwe80 : 10/20/2014 8:15 pm : link
Jon... This is the kind of crap we teachers deal with on a daily basis... You are pondering whether or not to call a teacher because his or her grading system, that is universal for every student in the class, isn't benefiting your daughter. She's in 5th grade and it as good a time as any for her to realize that not every assignment is worth the same thing. I teach English and I do NOT use the total points system, but I have a weighting system for my grades; a unit test is worth way more than a quiz in the average.

If teachers can't handle questions or concerns  
kickerpa16 : 10/20/2014 8:20 pm : link
about a grading scale from parents and/or students, they probably aren't well suited for that career.

It's a common concern, and one I willingly engage in. Considering that weighting can have a significant impact on a grade (say, 1 poor grade drowning you).

Don't worry, Jon. I have no issues fielding these questions, and many of the teachers I know feel the same.
I'm not pondering anything of the sort  
Jon from PA : 10/20/2014 8:23 pm : link
I just never saw and average calculated this way.

BBI is weird sometimes.
The grade will be worth less as more points total up.  
gmen1234 : 10/20/2014 8:34 pm : link
That is the good thing about total points. In weighted averages, say a test is 40%. Your grade can stay lower even if you get 100s on quizzes because you failed a test. In total points every grade helps your average,
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