It’s Report Card Season
It is report card time around here. Four kids, two types of report cards, and 4 different grade levels. Not to mention Individual Education Plan progress marks. Wait, I am also evaluating my own students so if that counts it’s 6! It is a struggle to keep track of as a parent. It is a struggle to interpret what these grades mean.
The 2 major questions we all have are;
How is my kid doing?
Are they going to pass and be ready for the next grade level?
Part of my struggle is that there are 2 types of report cards in this house and 1 IEP evaluation.
1. Standards based- The kids are evaluated on grade level standards and given a letter rating.
M-Meets Grade Level Standard
P-Progressing Towards Grade Level Standard
I-Improvement Needed to Meet Grade Level
NA-Skill Not Assessed at this Time
2. Traditional-Students are given a numerical grade and a grade point average is calculated. The average falls into the classic A,B,C,D and F range.
3. Individual Education Plan Progress Marks-My kid is evaluated on his goals and objectives. These come letter ratings too.
With all these ratings it is a challenge to determine the progress your kid makes. Overall, they could have strengths in some standards and weaknesses in that same area. Be clear on what the rating systems mean.
3 Things You Should Consider at Report Card Time
1. There is consistent growth in each standard or subject area. Hopefully, all your P’s change to M’s and your I’s change to at least P’s or M’s. Also your NA’s become measured! Basically, the more M’s you see the more likely your kid will have what it takes in the next grade level.
2. Does the work your kid bring home match the standards they are being rated on? It is impossible to keep track of all the work my kids bring home. For instance, the youngest brings in adorable pictures she created about mammals. It has a couple sentences under it with inventive spelling. It is the 1st grade standard, “Writes informative pieces to express ideas or information.” Become familiar with the grade level standards. Get a general idea of what your kid is expected to learn in each content area.
3. The report card should not be a surprise. The work that comes home should give you a clear picture of your kid’s performance. At parent teacher conferences these standards and progress should be discussed. Also work samples should be provided too. A report card is a snap shot of how your kid is doing at the moment. If your kid is struggling you should know way before the report card comes out.
With all these things to consider you will have a clearer picture of report cards and your kid’s progress. The communication a report card provides is key.
Melissa Saliva is a Reading Consultant and founder of Beacon Valley Literacy Services. She helps parents help kids with dyslexia. Please reach out if you have questions about grades or you want to discuss your kid’s progress.