The ESSENTIAL QUESTION of this post is: What is the point of a math test? Should we grade understanding of the concept or how well the kid follows the teacher's proceudres?
JW had his first math test last week. He just entered Middle School where for the first time he is getting tests with grades but this event was not a reason for wailing or angst. He loves math and views himself as a math whiz. His standardized test scores in math are 90%tile or above
He brought the test home and he was devastated. He got a 60%, missed four items out of ten. We reviewed his answers so that we could help him make corrections and reflect on his work. We were shocked to discover that two of the answers marked wrong were indeed correct.
On one part of the test he had to read a table displaying data about a series of Rock/Paper/Scissors games played by two contestants, Mrs. Warr and Mrs. Downing. The first two questions required the learner to identify the score at the end of 5 rounds. The questions were laid out in the following way:
a. Mrs. Warr? ____ b. Mrs. Downing? _____
He correctly answered these questions and went on to the next which was:
c. Who had the highest score? _____
He correctly identified Mrs. Warr as the winner but instead of writing her name on the short line (4 space) he wrote the letter a which corresponded with her name in the question a which appeared just above question c.
The teacher counted it wrong. When he pointed out to her that a. correspnded with Mrs. Warr's name she simply circled the word Who in the question. Funny, but I thought a math teaccher would get using symbols to represent words!
There was another question which was answered with correct thinking but marked wrong for a similar reason.
This is an Aspire Charter School who proudly proclaims their use of innovative programs like CPM. I like CPM but I think this teacher has missed the big picture. CPM promises that their materials guide "teachers to provide direct instruction based on their observations of students' questions and difficulties" Based on her scoring of this test I have little faith that this teacher has an adequate grasp of my son's thinking .
He struggles in every class which requires processing or producing language. Math has always been the strength we build on. Now we may be loosing that as we cope with a narrow minded teacher who scored proceudre not conceptual thinking. Oh by the way--she also takes points off of his grade when he has to use the bathroom during class.
COuld you approach the teacher as another peer with knowledge of CPM and also to let this teacher know that this is an area that JW is confident in and needs support?
The biggest thought I get out of this is: WOW, what a confident young man. Not many would approach a teacher with a well thought out argument. Most might just whine and complain and really, many would not even do anything. If nothing else comes out of this for him, he can tell himself that he has a skill in communicating.
Posted by: Carolyn Beitzel | August 19, 2003 at 06:52 AM
Oh I have been here before as a parent on more occasions than I thought.
And so these events always beg the questions about what to do as the mom. I have found if I intervene too adamantly, then the teacher is defensive and that makes everything worse. If I do nothing then I feel like a heel for failing to advocate for my child.
Such a delicate balance with no clear answers that I can discern from raising 3 kids---my last one is a senior this year!!!!
Usually if I play the part of a questionner and outloud wonder how this grade occurred, I can sometimes facilitate a gentle conversation with the teacher. Those usually led the entire conversation about teaching them responsibility and to follow directions. And I then have to wonder outloud how that is a part of a grade I thought was about what they learned not followed procedures. And I summarize by stating now I am clear that the grade is not just about what they learned but all the rest.
Even if it doesn't change a teacher's mind, I think stating it outloud really is the best way to prompt their thinking.
And it's a great conversation with my children about what they will do when they "rule" the world instead of my generation!!!! Oh, I hope they can do as well as they think they can :-}
marsha
Posted by: Marsha | August 19, 2003 at 04:43 AM
Congratulations on entering the world of blogging. One of these days I might just get up the courage to do it myself.
Your experience w/ your son's math teacher/test is both disheartening and infuriating. It is clear you already had him try to deal with her directly, to no avail. I don't know what your relationship to the school or the particular teacher is, but do you think it would do you or your son any good if you know went in to discuss these issues, or do you think the teacher might just come down harder on him?
Having her be so petty about the math answers AND so irrational as to have his math grade affected by his leaving the room to go to the bathroom (I assume he had permission and didn't leave against her wishes--even then that is a behavior issue and not a grade issue)would have me "ranting" too, especially when you say this is the one grade that he could count on for success and self-esteem. I sure would be thinking about storming the school, but only you know whether that will do more harm than good.
Keep us posted.
Margie
Posted by: Margie Waterbrook | August 18, 2003 at 11:19 PM