Calling all former teachers or teachers!?

Question

Do you ever grade your students on how much you like them? As an example let's say there is this student who is extremely smart, he would probably deserve a 95 average but he's a class clown would you honestly give him a 95? be completely honest.

in middle school

Answer 1

Class Clown are not if his grades are good then he or she will get the 95. After all when you add up all the work he or she has done must justify the final grade. That is why I keep all of my children test, exams, and projects. To make sure they are being treated fairly. Is that honest enough

Answer 2

Absolutely not! My grades are based solely on test, quiz, and homework averages.

There are only two times a student's behavior should enter in to the picture (and even this is questionable). A student who is generally trustworthy and responsible may be given a little more leniency when turning in a late assignment (if it happens only once and he or she has a good reason). A student who is irresponsible with work or who has lied to me in the past may not be given the same leniency. Also, a student who is struggling but really really trying hard may be given one or two extra points on a mostly subjective assignment in order to bring his grade up to a passing level. For example, a student who got a 69% on an essay might be given a 70% instead if I wanted to recognize his effort. If it were obvious that a student was not trying and didn't care at all about his grade, I would probably leave it at a 69%.

Generally the student's behavior is graded on a separate section of the report card.

Edit: Studies have shown that teachers subconsciously give slightly higher grades to more neatly done assignments. (This would only apply to more subjective assignments like an essay or book report and not completely objective ones like a math test.) I try to avoid this, but a neatly done assignment does make the teacher think you have put in more time and effort.

Answer 3

Their name!

Answer 4

Grades have to be backed up with hard data. You can't give someone a higher or lower grade based behavior. You can give referrals if the behavior is disruptive. If a student receives enough referrals they can be removed from the class.

I'm in adult ed and I've had students that I really wanted to give a passing grade to but they just didn't honestly have the points. There are other students that I wanted to flunk and never see again but I had to give the earned grade.

Every once in a while we get a disgruntled student who sues because they flunked. All your paperwork had better be in order at that point. We have never lost a lawsuit.

Answer 5

I think it really depends on what grade you are talking. In elementary school, part of class grade is probably something like 'participation' or something similar, that is based on how student is generally doing in the class, not inclusive of work they're doing. (well, that's how it was when I was in elementary school). But if it is high school, then class grades are usually pretty strictly based on, say, HW, Tests, Final, Projects, etc. In that scenario, I think it would be terribly unethical for a teacher to lower someone's grade based on something not included in the score-breakdown. You certainly should pull this student over and talk to him about his behavior, but I don't think you really have the right to lower someone's grade based on attitude, for secondary school.

Of course, I say all this with a general grain of salt, as I don't know what situation you're in. Teaching (and especially students) don't easily classify into straightforward groups, so it depends on your circumstances.

Good luck!

Answer 6

That's totally unprofessional. Student grades should always be based on work skills and efforts. On a grade report, there is a place to put comments about behavior, and there are consiquences for behavior in class, however, this shouldn't be reflected in what a student has earned for a grade in a class.

Answer 7

I'm a retired college proffesor. My answer is NEVER!!! There were always students I liked and some I disliked, but when it came time to hand out grades I always awarded them based on class and test performance. The fact that they may have been class clowns or class wall flowers never entered into the picture.

Answer 8

When grading exams I grade the whole stack one page at a time. That truly gives plenty of anonymity. I also have preset how much I will take off for various mistakes ( I teach high school math.) I try not to show favoritism in grading.

Answer 9

When I was in school the lowest passing grade was 75. In the same district today it is 60. Do any kids ever fail. And just how stupid would you have to be to fail in today's schools. Yes, kids to get graded on how much a teacher likes them, which usually means: (1) how cute they are. (2) How little trouble they give the teacher. (3) How much they suck up to the teacher (4) How easy their work is to correct.

That teacher is so busy planning her summer vacation that so long as you don't interrupt her or ask difficult questions (What do you mean? for example), you'll pass with flying colors.

Answer 10

I sometimes help students if they are good/hard working students and are 1-2 points off of a better grade (c to b, etc.) never to worsen a students grade.