Not only Pre-Algebra is blue

[LitlBaa]

Katie's progress report came today...the only good things are that she's getting an A in PE and a B in band. Failing both pre-algebra and history, D in literature, and the comments are all the same...assignments not turned in, study habits need improving. Science is a C-, but that can collapse so easily to a D. When I asked her to explain these grades, she looked at me like I was speaking Chinese!

They have this whole week off, so I can't even talk to her teachers till next Monday. I thought we'd resolved the math thing, but I guess not. I 'm really at a loss here. And to top it off, I go back to work next week, so she's loose for about an hour till I get home, and she has to get herself out the door in the morning! I can see it now...popcorn and Vanilla Pepsi from the 7-11 for breakfast, a giant Blue Raspberry Icee and fries for lunch, then another Vanilla Pepsi and sour Skittles for the walk home. Then I can pry her off the ceiling and make her do homework.

[catseye]

Gosh I am sorry her grades are hurting so bad.. I really wish I had some advice for you, but maybe bumping this up will help!! Good luck

cat

[AnneM]

Oh UGH Grades !! ... I decided some years ago now that I was just NOT going to get hung up on grades .... (if I did I was open to continual disappointment!!) .... Instead I always, always look at the "effort" mark and THAT is what I base my proudness/disappointment on ... If the "effort" mark is poor then that hurts .... however if the "effort" mark is excellent then there is little I can say about the grade however low it is! Also my son has some reading/writing issues and this can definitely let him down in exams.... I have also always said to my son - THIS is the score I am really interested in - i.e. the EFFORT ... (If he gets a " D" but his effort is 100% then it would be very unfair to give him a hard time!! However, if he gets a " D" and his effort is very low then its clear that he is potentially capable of achieving better) ...

Having said all this I am in the UK and I don't know whether they give "effort and contribution" marks for subjects as well as the academic grade where you are?

Also, from what you are saying the grades for your daughter are down because the 'effort' is down .... but my advice is concentrate on the effort (NOT the actual grade itself) .... if you can achieve the 'effort' then the grade will follow to the best of your child's ability!!

GOOD LUCK!!

[LitlBaa]

I talked with all Katie's teachers yesterday...they all told the same story...not turning things in, losing assignments, not bothering to do the work at all...her Science teacher allowed her to make up the assignments she missed for half credit so that helped.

The grades themselves aren't the issue, it's the effort, as most of you said. I don't expect straight As from her, I know that's unrealistic, but she should be able to get Cs. I know she's not putting any effort forth when she's got Ds and Fs.

Hopefully she can pull it out of her hat before the semester ends and pass everything.