Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions
of students and parents.
- What's different about the Report Card?
- Will we learn about our child's progress before the report card? When?
- What is a RUBRIC ?
- HOMEWORK ?
- Can Progress Reports help students?
- Does each grade have its own style Progress Report?
- How can parents help children do well - or better - in school?
- When will Report Cards be distributed this school year (2008-2009)?
What's different about the Report Card?
1. It is based on trimesters instead of quarters, as it was in
the past.
2. Each grade (1-8) has its own Report Card with items specific
to the grade. Please note the categories listed under each
Subject heading. These are the specific skills and/or
competencies the student are required to master.
3. Grades for Personal & Social Growth and Effort areas will be
based on a 4 point rubric. That means that instead of receiving
"O", "G" ,"S","I",or
"U", the student will receive either a "4",
"3", "2", or a "1".
Please note the definitions at the top of the left side of the
report card. and also refer to the Rubric for both Personal and
Social Growth and Effort which we sent home in September. We
would expect that most of the students
will receive "2"s and "3"s at this first
report period. A plus or a check
mark will be placed next to areas where there is either a
strength or a
weakness.
4. Grades for Technology, Music, and Physical Education will
also be
based on a 4 point rubric (grades 4-8). PLEASE NOTE the
definitions of
the "4", the "3" . . . at the top of each
Report Card.
Your children and their teachers have worked very hard this
trimester. The
Report Cards describe student progress. They tell us (at home
and at
school)
what kinds of things your child is learning and able to do, as
well as where
more work is needed. To make the most of this "event"
it is good to discuss
the report with the child - ask your child if she/he has done her
best. Be
sure to celebrate the successes which are shown on the report,
and then to
set a goal for this next trimester - one thing the student can do
to
improve -
- - maybe to study 10 more minutes each night, or to raise
his/her hand in
class, use flash cards to prepare for tests, . . . Keep in mind -
it's not
the letters and numbers that matter so much, it is what they say
about about
individual student progress.
Will we learn about our child's progress before the report card? When?
Yes, each grade will use a Progress Report to communicate with
parents regarding student progress. These Progress Reports may
look different for each grade. The 1st Trimester Progress
Reports will be sent home on October 22; 2nd Trimester on January
21; and 3rd Trimester on April 22.
What is a RUBRIC ?
A RUBRIC is a tool used to evaluate an assessment. Rubrics are
used
with Performance Assessments (projects) and Writing assignments.
The Rubric lists the skills or knowledge that must be
demonstrated by
the student. The student should receive the Rubric when the
assignment/activity is given. The expectations are stated or
listed, and
are quite clear to the student. He/she knows exactly what he/she
has to
do to get a good grade.
However, the best thing about a Rubric is that after it is scored
by the
teacher, it shows specifically what the student knows or can do,
and
what he/she doesn't know or can't do. Actually, the grade itself
is almost
incidental. What is important is that you, the parent, and your
child
review the scored rubric and acknowledge the student success, and
then make a plan to correct any weaknesses which were indicated
on
the Rubric.
While Rubrics are not really a new way to do things, the use of
Rubrics
in our classrooms is relatively recent. While visiting
classrooms these
past few weeks, I have seen some of our teachers using Rubrics
for
assessing student work such as: Oral Reports, Math word
problems,
and Book Reports.
Our "Special" teachers are using Rubrics to assess
student progress
and achievement in the areas of Music, Technology and Physical
Education (grades 4-8). All of our teachers are using a Rubric
for
assessing Personal and Social Growth, and a Rubric for assessing
Effort. Teachers have reviewed these Rubrics with the children
and we
hope that they are aware of the expectations.
Simply put, a RUBRIC is like a recipe. It, in effect, spells out
what you
have to do to get a "4" or . . . RUBRICS help
students become
independent learners.
HOMEWORK ?
Homework doesn't have to be a drag. It shouldn't be a negative
experience. It should help children to learn to work on their
own.
Research has shown that homework extends the time available for
learning,
and
children who spend more time on homework usually do better in
school.
Homework can help children develop good habits and attitudes
toward
work. It can also teach self-discipline and responsibility.
We also know that teachers, students as well as parents and
caregivers
all play a vital part in the homework
process.
The following tips can help to make HOMEWORK a good learning
experience for your child(ren): 1) Set a regular time for
homework; 2)
Choose a fairly quiet study area with good lighting and supplies
nearby;
3) Remove distractions such as the TV, radio, telephone, toys,
etc.; 4)
Provide aids to good organization, such as folders and
calendars/planners; 5) Look over the homework, but do not do it
for your
child; 6) Review tests, assignments, and all communications from
the
teacher and school; 7) Contact the teacher if there's a problem
with
homework - be sure you know the appropriate length of time for
homework for
your child's grade; and finally, 8) Homework is usually more than
writing
and math problems- STUDYING is homework too!
Can Progress Reports help students?
We certainly hope Progress Reports will improve student
performance.
Our hope is that parent and student will sit together and review
the
Progress
Report. Strengths and weaknesses- areas where improvement is
needed- should be discussed. Students, even at a very young age,
can set new
goals for themselves, and this is a perfect time to do that.
Parents can
help
by suggesting some choices, some ideas for improvement such as
choosing a different time to do homework; taking a short break
between
subjects; using flashcards; or even using the home computer to
practice
spelling words.
Whatever you do, be sure to celebrate good work. If satisfactory
progress has been achieved to date, celebrate. Remember that each
child's
best is different.
Does each grade have its own style Progress Report?
In most cases, yes. With moving into trimesters this school year,
we
decided that all grades (1-8) would use some kind of progress
report. Before
this year, only the upper grades used progress reports, and only
to report
on students who were experiencing difficulty.
All grades are using a progress report which resembles the report
card
(without specific grades).
How can parents help children do well - or better - in school?
According to research, the following are the top ten ways you can
help your
child succeed in the classrrom:
1) Create an environment in your home that encourages learning
(i.e. use of
puzzles, paints, computers, educational TV programs, good music,
magazines,
etc.)
2) Provide your children with a well-balanced
"schedule". Establish
routines
that include set times for meals, play, work, and bedtime.
3)Read to your children every day. It will expose your children
to material
that might be too difficult to read on their own, and it will
help build
their vocabularies.
4) Encourage your them to read extensively - expose them to a
wide variety
of
interesting reading materials. Studies report that as much as 75%
of what
children learn will come from the printed page.
5) Show your children how to be organized. Show them how to use
such
organizational tools such as calendars, notebooks, schoolbags,
etc.
6) Teach them effective study skills - read textbooks(i.e
headings,
pictures,
captions, etc.); prepare for tests (flashcards, outlines, tape
recorder, . . .); regular study time and place.
7) Urge them to participate in class - ask questions, volunteer
answers, and
take notes.
8) Help them to learn how to tackle homework assignments - it
should become
their responsibility. Help them learn which assignments to do
first, how to
plan the time, and not to rush through it. Also, help them learn
that
reading and studying are important kinds of homework.
9) Talk to your children about school. Ask them to name one good
thing that
happened that day . . . at least one new thing they learned.
Most
importantly, show them that you are genuinely interested and
concerned with
that major part of their lives.
10)Develop a good relationship with your children's teachers.
Always
consider
yourself as a partner in this education process/business. You
and the
teachers both are interested in your children's success as
students.
When will Report Cards be distributed this school year (2008-2009)?
1st Trimester - December 15th
2nd Trimester - March 18th
3rd Trimester - June 17th