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Looking at Your Child's Progress

• How is my child doing in school?
• Is my child reading at the right level?
• Is my child a good writer?
• What can I do to help?

Report Cards

Report cards are a way of letting parents now how their child is doing in school. Some report cards use letter or number grades. Some include comments from the teacher. Some don't use any grades. Instead, teachers write a paragraph or two describing the progress that the child is making.  In the Griggsville-Perry District, most report cards include letter grades along with a few comments from the teachers. Kindergarten students will receive a grade report in January with a checklist and comments from the teachers regarding the progress the students are making. Other grades will be receiving grade cards during the time coming up of Parent-Teacher Conferences, October 20 and 21.

The grades and notes on report cards can be based on a variety of things. In addition to test scores, the teacher's observations, samples of the child's work, and the child's own evaluation of his or her work are also taken into account.

Teacher Observation

The teacher is in a position to be a good judge of how your child is progressing. Every day, the teacher observes the learning that is taking place with your child. The teacher can note what the child does well, what the child needs more help with, and how the child is improving. Teachers often keep notes and use checklists of reading and writing behaviors to help them remember what they observe.

Student Self-Assessment

With guidance, children can learn to evaluate their own work. Assessing their own work helps children think about what they have learned and what they still need to know.

Portfolios

When you visit your child's teacher, he or she may show you your child's portfolio. Your child's portfolio will contain materials that have been collected over time, in a systematic way, to show areas of growth as well as areas that need improvement.

A portfolio might include some or all of the following: teacher notes, teacher-completed checklists, tests your child has taken, samples of your child's writing, audiotapes of your child's reading, a reading log that lists books your child has read, and notes your child has made about his or her own work.

By looking at the materials in the portfolio, your child, his or her teacher, and you the parent can see the progress in your child's reading and writing.

What You Can Do

Here are some things you can do to learn more about the methods of assessment used in your child's classroom:

• If you do not understand how your child's teacher evaluates learning, ask the teacher to explain his or her system.
• If your child is discouraged by a grade, explain that learning takes place over time. Ask if he or she knows what to do to improve the grade. If not, make an appointment for you and your child to discuss the grade with the teacher.
• If you are concerned about school performance, don't wait until you are contacted. Make an appointment to talk with your child's teacher. Ask for specific suggestions to help your child improve. But make a point NOT to contact your child's teacher daily or every few days. Children are aware that their parents have concerns, and your child should not have to worry that you are constantly meeting with their teacher.

Set high expectations for your child while reminding him or her that everyone has areas of strength and weakness. Always encourage effort, rather than grades. Children need to know that what is most important is that they do their best and keep trying.

Several of the above suggestions were taken from Houghton-Mifflin notes. Please remember that Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up.  Please take advantage of that opportunity to come in and meet with your child's teacher(s) to best work together toward student success.