Brian Cohen
  • Making the Grade Blog
  • About Me
  • Tutoring
  • Press
  • Resources to Share

How not to cheapen a diploma

4/25/2011

1 Comment

 
As Spring Break ends, the last quarter of my school year begins, and with that comes the flood of my students asking about their grades. I find it so aggravating that their general mindset is to wait until the last possible minute to worry about anything - they wait until past the due date to turn something in, wait until the end of the quarter and ask for extra credit work, and wait until the end of the year to worry about passing (not learning). 

This week I started a financial planning unit with my Algebra 1 students - we focused on what they "need" in life as opposed to what they "want." It was probably some of the most actively engaged my students have been. The next step will be to attribute dollar amounts to those items/services and plan a budget to accommodate them. I really wonder how this unit will unfold because it REQUIRES forethought - something my students are not always known for. 

It then makes me think about the forethought required for a diploma. Not just one unit, one quarter, or one year - but FOUR YEARS of planning to make sure a student has learned something. At the end of my year I am now wondering and worrying about what a diploma will mean for my students and my school - do I offer the olive branch of "just passing" in order to guarantee my students will do some work? Or do I hold fast to my ideology and agree that it is impossible for a student to pass if s/he has received less than 158 percentage points over the last 3 quarters (add 100 to that number and divide by four to see the magic "passing number" for the year)?

I am a firm believer that a diploma should mean something. The pressure I feel (both internal and external) to get more kids to pass my classes - even if they do not understand the material - is horrendous in the short-term and the long-term. I just wish my School District would agree.
1 Comment
Claudia link
8/5/2011 01:41:18 am

I have taught Algebra 2 and Geometry for the past 4 years so my experience is limited but I have never felt the pressure to pass students who do not learn the material.

I always try to find different ways to actively engage my students. Need and want are two things I personally have to deal with when it comes to spending money. Good luck with your math classes this fall.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I am a math teacher in the New York Department of Education. I infuse technology and real-world problems into my curriculum in order to prepare my students for the future. I would love for people across the country to recognize we teachers can't do it alone. If you don't believe me, come visit my classroom!

    Picture

    Contact Me

    Picture

    Email Updates

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    March 2022
    September 2021
    August 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.