I think I'll simply pass everybody. That's what they all want anyway.

On 11/03/09, Cyn wrote:
> This is how we did it for years at Coweta County and somewhat
> similar in Troup County. I was a high school teacher, 9
> through 12.
>
> At the beginning of the school year, before there is a
> problem, call each student in your class and contact parent
> or guardian and introduce yourself. Do this the first two
> weeks of school. Good PR never hurts.
>
> Then, when there is a problem the RTI is so much easier.
> They know of you and tend to want to keep their student on
> task. Yes, parent contact is required for failures; verbal
> or written documentation is vital. The only difference was
> the face-to-face meeting. Once you made the suggestion for a
> meeting, it was up to the parent to take advantage of the
> opportunity to meet with you and/ or a
> counselor/administrator. You can do some folder keeping
> during the grading period or school year/semester you teach
> John Doe and take the file with you. Documentation includes
> student work, not just your grade book.
>
> Most parents were appreciative, and even the student saw how
> serious work really is. Some of my colleagues tell me that
> now only certain work counts in the grade book, so I would
> take only what the system tells you will count. For example,
> daily work, homework, little tests, etc, can be assigned,
> but do not figure in the overall grade. The only grades that
> count in Troup are major projects and tests, so teachers can
> only count that work toward a final grade. Standardized
> tests count 15/20 percent of the students grade. EOCT used
> to count 20% of freshman, sophomore, junior students and the
> graduation test counted 20% of the final grade for seniors;
> at that time not all classes had an EOCT; I think all
> courses now have an EOCT so that has to count, too, toward
> the final grade. Systems have 8 weeks' Tests on the semester
> system and a final which for many was the end of course test,
> and the teacher final was like any othger test. Confused?
>
> Usually computer programs are set up in systems to credit
> students with the right percentages, so teachers merely
> submit the numbers. Interesting, isn't it? I really think
> standardized testing has become much too important in the
> grading system, but we do what we have to do.
>
>

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