The school system my son attends doesn't use grades for kids in Kindergarten through 3rd grade either. I'm a teacher myself, so not being able to see actual letter grades was hard at first for me too. But now I really appreciate it. Letter grades can be very subjective, and I don't think they tell whether or not some one tried, or worked really hard at something. Letter gardes also don't tell anything at all about social skills, or character development. My son's school uses portfolios. The binders they use are filled with work samples, standardized test information, and interviews or observations form teachers and other staff. In todays society, sometimes too much emphasis is put on the letter grade and not whether or not the child is learning and being challenged. It sounds like Your son is both learning and being challenged. Would he even understand "grades" anyway?
Don't worry about the grades just yet. The schools here are the same - they don't start giving out the traditional letter grades until 4th grade. I think there is a lot of positive in that - it allows the students to all develop at their own pace and shows the areas that need work. They will have so many years of school ahead - why put all that pressure now?
I used to think the same as you when DS was in first grade because I yearned to see how he did with grades and also compared to the others. But now that he gets the grades, although they are all excellent, I realize that it is not just the grades that matter. We have to help our children find what they are good at and use common sense to do good in this world. They have to get work done on time, develop confidence in themselves, be organized with their assignments and manage to speak in front of the class. They have to develop friendships and good social skills.
I try to focus on all of those things - but I do praise for good grades, too.
As a former straight A student, be glad for every year they don't assign him a letter grade. I fell apart when I got the occassional B from the teacher who refused to give A's to anyone.
Congratulations !!
He sounds like a very promising young student.
The school system my son attends doesn't use grades for kids in Kindergarten through 3rd grade either. I'm a teacher myself, so not being able to see actual letter grades was hard at first for me too. But now I really appreciate it. Letter grades can be very subjective, and I don't think they tell whether or not some one tried, or worked really hard at something. Letter gardes also don't tell anything at all about social skills, or character development.
My son's school uses portfolios. The binders they use are filled with work samples, standardized test information, and interviews or observations form teachers and other staff.
In todays society, sometimes too much emphasis is put on the letter grade and not whether or not the child is learning and being challenged. It sounds like Your son is both learning and being challenged. Would he even understand "grades" anyway?
Hi Alison,
Congrats on your bright student!!
Don't worry about the grades just yet. The schools here are the same - they don't start giving out the traditional letter grades until 4th grade. I think there is a lot of positive in that - it allows the students to all develop at their own pace and shows the areas that need work. They will have so many years of school ahead - why put all that pressure now?
I used to think the same as you when DS was in first grade because I yearned to see how he did with grades and also compared to the others. But now that he gets the grades, although they are all excellent, I realize that it is not just the grades that matter. We have to help our children find what they are good at and use common sense to do good in this world. They have to get work done on time, develop confidence in themselves, be organized with their assignments and manage to speak in front of the class. They have to develop friendships and good social skills.
I try to focus on all of those things - but I do praise for good grades, too.