Klarinet Archive - Posting 000346.txt from 1998/04

From: Dee Hays <deerich@-----.net>
Subj: Re: lesson motivation
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 20:10:43 -0400

Bill Hausmann wrote:

> Who ever said that the grades were supposed to be feedback for the
> STUDENTS? Actually, they are good feedback, but traditionally ignored.
> The grades are to report to the PARENTS what the child is doing. They also
> go into the child's record for FUTURE teachers to see. That is why,
> whether A, B, C, D, or 1, 2, 3, 4 or Star, Dot, Square, Triangle, the
> grading system MUST be OBJECTIVE. If you give a child an "A" solely
> because of his/her superior effort in a misguided attempt to boost
> "self-esteem," the teacher next year will be in for a shock when s/he
> discovers that, effort or not, the kid is dumb as a post!
>
> None of the above is intended as an endorsement of current grading schemes,
> but only as a warning to those who would eliminate their most useful traits
> in attempting to replace them with something else. In other words, don't
> throw out the baby with the bathwater. Find something IN ADDITION to
> standard grading, perhaps, to serve as motivation to the students.

Very well put. As you have stated, grades are to let OTHER people know how well

student performs. Motivation is a separate issue. You can see this in the
classrooms. Teachers who can motivate students will have a high percentage with
good performance. If the teacher cannot motivate the students, only those who
are self motivated or motivated by some outside influence will perform well.

Dee Hays
Canton, SD

   
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