I had told my students on Monday what their grades were, but some spent a couple of days suspended between disbelief (“It can’t really be that good”) and denial (“It can’t really be that bad”) before receiving their report cards today.
Jacob was pleased with his results. “I done real good in your class,” he announced. I had to smile at the irony.
When we talk about assessments, there it is: the grade on his report card says one thing, but his speech says something entirely different.
It has always been that way. And so it goes.
So true! I taught 8th grade English before my children were born and have taken a break from the professional world until they both entered school. Just recently, I’ve returned to the classroom part-time as a substitute. One thing I have noticed is the continued push to hold the teachers accountable for their students’ success or failure. Good teachers want their students to be successful and productive. Forcing us to teach to a test that has no real-life application only demeans the learning process and prohibits the opportunity for a student to reach their potential.