Images From My Past

"Report cards were sent out recently and their issuance always serve as a reminder of the following situation from a couple of years ago and how destructive grades can be to a kid's motivation. "
This article took me back to my first year of teaching, 1979, and with it all the pain, anger and frustrations I felt then blistered up once more.
The title of the blog is, "Why Are You Crying? Your Grades?"
Reflection:
My first year of teaching.  I had a multi-grade 1-3.  A wonderful group that came together more as a family then a class.
Two boys in the grade that found reading very, very HARD!  Just after Christmas break, the light bulbs went on and they began to put things together.  At "level"? No.  But excited and happy about what they were doing. No doubt they would be on or above "level" next year.
April hits - the Iowa Basic Skills test time (Yup, that's what they were back then.)
Directions are read to the students: "It should take about 20–30 minutes to read the passages in this book and answer the 6 questions in the Answer Section. "  You may begin.
Story 1:

"Saturday is our day to clean, but Grandpa turns work into fun. We like to sing when we dust. We like to dance when we mop. We clean the car together. We do the wash together. We both wear our caps. When we are done, we hurry to the store. We shop for food. Grandpa lets me pick the fruits that I like best. We carry the food home. Grandpa tells stories while we walk. At night, our work is done. Friends come over. We cook dinner. We sing and dance. Saturday is our day to clean, but Grandpa turns work into fun!"

Now this may look like a simple passage to you but to those boys, motivated and excited, it was "the kiss of death".  They sat there for 20 long minutes silently crying (so as not to disturb the others).  All efforts to help them regain confidence that year failed.

I cry with them as I continue to cry for our children.  Whether it's grades or standard tests, we drain the excitement and motivation out of our children.  We have to stop putting them up to a systems yard stick.  Let them draw their own lines on the wall.

You can help put an end to it.  What to learn how? Become a member of NGGE or email me and I will show you.  Your students, your children and you will be much happier.