Chapter 12

Synthesis:

We've decided that using a large grading scale can be a very bad thing because it allows teachers to fudge the numbers and add in a little extra things to make the grades say what they want them to. With a lower grading scale it's also more difficult to defend one's grading style because there is so little room for error. That's why rubrics are good because the grading scale is small and the rubric is right there for anyone to look at. This chapter is also about not using a minus sign after grades because it makes students feel like they are a "C loser" if they get a C-. This Chapter also talks about relating the material. You can't tell a kid in 8Th grade that he needs to get good grades to go to college because 9 times out of 10 they don't care about college yet.

Reflections:
We agree with making material more real to students. but this book seems somewhat contradictory in the idea that it tells us to use small grading scales so we don't fudge numbers yet a few pages later it says give students a D+ instead of an C- because it makes them feel better about them selves. WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT? Well on a place I like to call earth we call that fudging numbers to change the outcome. Not to mention not all students would rather see a D+ instead of a C-. If I were to get a C- I would say well at least I didn't get a D. As soon as you tell a student "Johnny you earned enough points for an A- on your paper but I'm going to give you a B+ so you don't feel like an A loser" that kid's head is going to explode because the human mind can only handle so much ridiculousness.