I too grew up in a household where nothing less than As were expected. Despite being a “good” student and a “good” daughter, I frequently disappointed my parents – not intentionally, but incidentally when I failed, in their eyes, to measure up.
As the semester comes to a close, I am regaled with stories about what will happen at home if a student does not get an A and/or how a student’s chances of getting into the college of their choice will be ruined if their G.P.A. dips. And while I am the first to admit that I am not an expert on Standards-Based Grading, I have to admit – it is a more honest representation of what students “know”.
Here’s the thing – we are all working in a flawed system; and that is a blog post for another time (but you can check out the NEA’s article “Are Letter Grades Failing Our Students?” or The New York Times‘s article “A New Kind of Classroom” for their take on the subject).
Here are some truths I have discovered in my twelve years as an educator:
- You can be a “good” student, and still not be an “A” student.
- Completing an extra project does not make you an “honors” student.
- There IS a difference between proficient mastery and advanced mastery.
You don’t like how you’re doing in Language Arts – don’t come talk to me about your grade! I could write an endless list of ALL the things I care more about than grades.
Psychologist Madeline Levine shared her own list of Six Things that Matter More than Perfect Grades – they include character, resilience, interests/passions, collaboration, self-reflection, and having friends. In another article for Courageous Parenting, Dr. Levine revealed that, “the greatest predictor of academic success is engagement; the greatest predictor of workplace success is emotional intelligence; and the greatest predictor of emotional health is self-control” (par.1). The truth is – we are failing our students when we don’t hold them accountable, when we make excuses for their behavior, and when we teach them that they are entitled to anything without being willing to put in the work.
At some point, the onus stops falling so heavily on other people’s shoulders to bear the weight of the CHOICES students make (either actively or passively) both inside and outside the classroom.
I can do my best. And I do. In fact, I pride myself on it. But, it’s like the Chinese proverb on the poster in my classroom says, “Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”
I don’t care about your grades, but I do care about YOU. Help me help you – and start helping yourself.
Thanks for reading! – Mx. Sabbagh