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Question: I appreciate your approach to grading--leaving it in the hands of the parents and I understood that going into the school year. However, I was doing my quarterly review in keeping with the upcoming review with our County School Board, as required by the State of MD (using the CHC report card). I am having a hard time evaluating my oldest daughter. We used CHC Kindergarten last year and it was lovely! I wasn't as concerned because she was young enough for me not to have to answer to the State. Now, my kindergarten-aged student is doing the CHC First Grade program. I would say that she does very well, few struggles. I can't figure out what to use as the standard to compare her work to. A student her age (kindergartener)? A first grader? Again we are using 1st grade materials, so I try to have 1st grade expectations. Even with those expectations, should I mark everything wrong, such as during math when she skips a problem by accident or has an occasional letter backwards? Sometimes I feel I may not have explained a concept thoroughly enough. Some subjects are more objective (math) as compared to handwriting. I compare what I think she can do to what I expect her to do to what an average 1st grader would do (which I don't know exactly because I don't have a class full of them). In science, I know she understands concepts (i.e. can explain organs and systems to me in the study of the human body), but can I put a grade on that? She has had 2 tests so far. Even on art projects, I have a hard time know if what she did is acceptable (I tend to be a perfectionist)...how sloppy is too sloppy? Do I grade by her best or an objective standard? And do I grade by what I believe CHC standards to be, or some state standard? I have a hard time deciding on what scale is appropriate (numerical, alphabetical, smileys, etc.). And I wonder if homeschoolers should get practically perfect grades because of the one-on-one attention that ensures thorough understanding? Any light you could shed on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your wonderful products that lead us closer to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph everyday!
Answer:

Dear Parent,

Thank you for your question!

I am glad to hear that your daughter is doing well in school. It sounds as though you are doing very well at teaching and going at her pace. Generally, County School Boards look at your daughter's chronological age, when reviewing her grade level. Therefore, it would be best to compare her work to the average kindergartner. The fact that she is doing 1st grade work is a compliment to you and your teaching. If you compare her to the average kindergartner, the test will show that she is achieving above grade level, and advanced for her age. Hence, this test will be a fairly accurate assessment of your daughter.

Because you have a very good idea of what your daughter knows, you can choose how you grade her papers. As you grade her papers, it is important to keep in mind that she is a kindergartner doing 1st grade work. For instance, skipping a problem by accident or occasionally writing a letter backwards is a common problem among students, particularly young students. I wouldn't necessarily mark these problems as wrong, but bring it to her attention consistently. A reading comprehension mistake could be for any reason, including the fact that it is above her level of understanding. As the teacher and parent, you know her level of understanding.

There are many different ways in which to grade papers. I have discovered that teachers find a method of grading that best fits their teaching style. When I was in a 1st grade classroom, I would give an actual grade to the big tests, such as unit assessments and end of the year tests. For the daily work, I would use smiley faces, stickers, and plus and minus signs. I would then record these into my grade book and watch for signs of improvement and regression. This being said, I think it is important for students to become used to receiving a grade, but I wouldn't start really emphasizing this until 2nd and 3rd grade.

Whatever method you choose to use in grading, the most important part is to watch for improvement and consistency. This is particularly helpful when you are grading subjects that are not objective, such as handwriting. For instance, you know how well your daughter can form a certain letter. If she is sloppy that day, you can have her correct her work. However, if you feel that she is doing her best, she should then receive the appropriate grade. Remember that a kindergartner has less developed small motor skills than a first grader, and a first grader less than a second grader. Again, it is more important to look for improvement and consistency than for perfection.

CHC's curricula is designed to bring the student up to and above state standards. For example, by the standard of many schools, when a child finishes Little Stories for Little Folks at the end of 1st grade, he/she will be reading anywhere from end of 2nd to end of 4th grade level, depending on whether the school judging achievement is an average public school, or a 'prep' private school. In either case, the child will be reading above grade level, and above standard. So CHC's style, while gentle, prepares the student well.

Again, remember that your daughter is in 1st grade, but she is also at a kindergartner's age. Also, perfection cannot be expected from a learner; mastery comes with time. [By the time she is in fifth grade, she should be forming those letters perfectly!] However, you know what level she is at in everything, and you can expect her to do her best in everything.

God bless you and your family!

Laura Nicholson

   
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