So how do yall handle grades? Do you just not let them stress you? During the summer my older two were talking about their grades and my youngest piped in, well I made all A's. My middle kid was so kind as to say "well you are in special ed, they don't count". Geesh! But he is right. Although he is just a reading kid, he is cut a lot more slack, really only graded on what he completes, not all the unfinished work. Siblings are so sweet>>>

Anyway, we got his first report card of the year, he is now in a GT class and he is graded like any other kid, by the reg ed teachers. He made 1 a, 2 b's and 2 c's. Part of me was happy that he is passing everything, the other part of me is a little stunned. It isn't as if he doesn't know the material, grades are low because if you only do half the paper you only get half the grade.

Anyway, just curious. I also guess this makes some difference where your other kids are. My dad pays my kids for report card grades, 3 for an A, 1 for a B, but if they get a C they get nothing. I hate having a different set of guideline for the little guy, but it also nice to see where he really is.

By Tink on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 05:52 pm:

My ds has always been in reg ed and we don't pay for grades so I don't know if my perspective will really be what you're looking for but here it is anyway.

My kids have heard since they were a couple of years old that I only want them to do their best. If they give me their best effort but only get a D because the work was above them, I'm still proud of them and will reward them with a treat from Starbucks, choosing a movie to see, etc. The same rule applies to my oldest for whom school comes easily, to my ds who obviously struggles more with the expectations put on him by the school system, to my younger dd who is plenty smart but doesn't have the personality for studying.

Personally, I'd be thrilled with your ds's grades, given what I know about his situation. How do his grades compare with your other dks? If their's are higher, will he be disappointed with a lower paycheck? I'd be more worried that he'd be discouraged and stop working as hard as he could since he isn't getting much money for the grades that he's worked hard for. Your ds is in a difficult place by having such high intelligence but an obvious disconnect when it comes to learning.

Oh, and soooo nice of your middle dk to point out that your ds's grades don't count! Sounds just like something my ds would say.

By Kaye on Saturday, September 29, 2007 - 11:34 pm:

My little guy is in reg ed. But I find that he wasn't ultimately graded the same. He was cut a lot of slack, like papers he didn't finish, they only graded the ones he did, or if he didn't do one, a zero wasn't ever recorded. This year, he is graded just like the rest of the class. I am happy with the grades, he isn't as much, because he knows he had straight a's last year. We haven't even talked paycheck with him. And it is from my dad, so I don't really get say over it. I can veto, or hold money if I see fit though.

Other kids and grades...they do much better, much much better. Depending on the cause of b's, I have been known to punish for them. If it is material they didn't understand, well that is fine, but my dd is lazy and a little unorganized and doesn't get stuff turned in. So she can drop a 97 test average to a b, real fast. The middle kid...well he is a good student, so no one really compares to him.

By Lauram on Saturday, October 13, 2007 - 07:32 pm:

Honestly, grades mean nothing. (This is coming from a teacher). Truly. There is no validity in them nor consistency.

My son went from being "on grade level" in reading to "failing" reading OVER THE SUMMER. He bombed the state test in reading. That's why he's considered "failing" now. It's really a joke. He taught himself to read at age 4.

He's SPED but is graded like everyone else. Accordingly, his grades are "all over the map." Try not to worry about it. It really doesn't mean much in the long run. Esp if they are still in middle school.

I would also put the kabosh on paying for grades. Kids should be intrinsically motivated not extrinsically. A good student will get A's no matter what.

By Lauram on Saturday, October 13, 2007 - 07:32 pm:

Reliability was the word I meant- not consistency.

By Brandy on Friday, October 26, 2007 - 11:44 am:

I'm glad my alex is getting grades now especially since he's doing good lol = ) he's getting a's and b's and in two of his classes they are p's for passing = ) we pay $1 for an a and .50 for a b and .25 for a c anything below they get money taken away needless to say he recieved $3 = ) nick on the other hand didn't receive anything...his grades were terrible...i wish schools would quit with the istep's and such that really makes me angry you shouldn't have to pass one big test to see if possibly you go on to another grade or even graduate... = ( nick is in "reg ed" and he had to take summer school or he was going to be held back well that was all a joke because after summer school they took it again and he got below what he did the first time.