Question about grading

busybee4 · Post by **busybee4** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:43 pm

How do you grade the work done in Little Hearts? I don't believe that Carrie has an official grading scale or anything but how have some of you done this?

What kind of documentation do you keep for your records?

my3sons · Post by **my3sons** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:45 pm

Hi! I really don't think grading is necessary until much older ages. It is typical not to give grades in Kindergarten, or even in first grade in most states - so don't feel pressured into it. Just checking off the boxes or dating them in the plans as they are completed should suffice. Many of the skills are considered introductory skills only, and they will be built upon and mastered late in the program or even in the next year in the next program. Does that help at all - or are you thinking something different?

In Christ,
Julie

Melanie · Post by **Melanie** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:40 pm

Totally agreeing with Julie. I don't plan to keep official grades for my kiddos until needed for high school transcripts. A couple reasons...

1) When hs'ing there is no reason to ever have a child not master a skill, you just keep working at it or you put it aside and come back to it later. So technically they could/should get an "A" for effort in every subject!

2) It's not out of line with ps thinking. There are many elementary schools going to a "non-graded" format for k-3. Most use some type of scale. Here's a spelling example (if I can remember, it's been years since I've seen a report card!

) 1. able to spell most words from spelling list on test 2. able to apply most spelling rules to dictation 2. applies spelling rules often in all areas of writing (This is not exact wording by any means, but you get the idea...)

Right now, I just keep a portfolio from each year to show progress. Check out what your state requires though...some states may require something more.

busybee4 · Post by **busybee4** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:57 pm

Thank you ladies for answering so swiftly!!! I did not keep grades for K this year either but wasen't sure if it was needed in first grade and above. I live in NC so I will check to see what our state requires. I'm so new to all of the legal stuff in regards to homeschool! I've spent so much time looking at curriculums trying to find the one that works the best that I've not checked in with the laws too much yet.

Although I do know that I don't have to report our homeschool until our first is 7 so it will be one more school year before I even have to do that!!!

So maybe I have time to be lazy!!!

SandKsmama · Post by **SandKsmama** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:29 am

I'm in NC as well, and you don't really ever need to keep grades, until high school if you want to make a transcript for college purposes.

The *only* thing you are required by law to have on hand are 1)immunization records 2)attendance record (I love this one - every day I look around the room, YEP, they're all here

3)standardized test results *only* to prove that you indeed administered a standardized test. That's IT.

My kids do keep asking me to give them a report card - but that's only so they could go to Chuck E. Cheese and get game tokens for their grades LOL.

hope that helps some!

inHistiming · Post by **inHistiming** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 6:11 am

We do not keep a 'report card', however I do have grades for some subjects. Since we are using another program for some of our work this year, there are some subjects that have tests and a grade. However, in NY, I have the option on my quarterly reports to put a grade in that column or a written evaluation. We've used both options this year...some, like spelling, have a grade. Others, such as history and science...have a written evaluation, just explaining the progress made in that subject. In a way, I have enjoyed doing the reports *ONLY* because it helped me to see concrete evidence of my dc's progress! I always think they are doing well...now I can prove it!

I do not like having to worry about the paperwork, though...oh well, I just have to plan for it.

I'm not sure how we'll handle it next year if we are still in NY. Since Carrie's manuals are not set up for grading, I'll probably just do the written eval. again. We also have the choice, until high school, to only test dc every other year. Mine are taking SAT's in May, so next year I don't have to send in test scores if I don't want to...I can just write a year-end evaluation.

Since my kids attended an actual school for a period of time, they've periodically asked me what kind of 'grades' they are making. If your children have never attended a school, this may not be something that concerns them. In our house, we talk about grades, and progress, often; then they know how they are doing, and what I expect them to do (and how I will help) to improve or to keep making progress.

water2wine · Post by **water2wine** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:07 am

I don't grade either. I am meaner than that

I make them correct all the problems they get wrong. I have graded a few things when pencil was thrown on the paper and they obviously were not really doing it. My oldest is that way sometimes. So if she has handed me something like that we do sometimes do a little lesson on percentage to get the idea home but then she has to correct it all anyway.

I think when we get to high school level we will grade more but I still will make them correct it all.

I remember missing the same things in school until I got to college and corrected all my mistakes. I found then I remembered the ones I missed and I did not miss the same thing again on the next test. College teachers seemed to always put the ones everyone missed on the next test so to me it makes sense. Since we plan on going all the way through only reason to grade I think would be to prepare for college or have some kind of a transcript although I think SAT scores will be the main deal really to getting into college. And I guess since I have one with special needs putting off grading makes sense for us so they won't be comparing grades.

inHistiming · Post by **inHistiming** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:35 am

Yes! We definitely re-do missed work, and I explain to them why they missed it. I have one who will make careless mistakes on Math work; we talk about what grade he could have made had he paid closer attention, and the fact that we are always to do our best work, in everything, the way God tells us to. We try to discuss this too, before there is a problem. That way they don't feel like I'm throwing Bible verses at them when they mess up, but that it's good for teaching, too. And of course it is.

II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

We've been memorizing this verse. It's so relevant to all that we do as home schoolers, and parents in general.