My Childs Science Test
By nelly5
@nelly5 (1424)
United States
March 21, 2007 1:05pm CST
Okay, a little information first, my children and I just moved at the start of the new year, therefore they are attending a new school. The oldest two have both struggled with their grades since moving. With that being said, here is my issue.
My daughter who is 10 years old and in the 5th grade had a D in Science class. I had checked the grade online and seen that with 3 more points she could bring it up to a C. At the time that I checked, she had a test coming up in 3 days and it was to be the last test for science in that grading period. I knew she would have to study extra hard to do a good job in order to bring that grade up so that she could have a C on her report card instead of a D. The teacher sent home 3 study guides with her.
My daughter and I studied for 2 hours one night and again for an hour another night and then on the morning of the test, I reviewed with her before she left for school. She knew everything on the study guides! She didn't have to even take the time to try to decide on an answer, she just knew it b/c she had worked so hard studying. I was so proud of her and knew that she would earn a good grade on this test.
Two days later, she brings the test home and she was very upset. She got a D!! I thought how in the world could this be. Well as I was reading through the test questions I was becoming very upset myself. There was only 2 questions on the test from the study guides!!! This was not fair to any of the children in that class!! How can the teacher give them 3 study guides to study from and then only use 2 questions from it. I was so upset that I wrote that teacher a note and told her how upset I was after I saw the questions that she included on the test. I also let her know how hard that my daughter had studied b/c she knew she had to have a good grade for this test in order to bring her grade up.
The teacher left me a voicemail on my husbands phone and said that she did not record a grade for my daughter for this test & that she would like me to call her after spring break is over (on spring break now). I am just wondering how many other parents would have done what I did. I also asked the teacher if there was anything else my daughter could do to bring her grade up. So I am just curious what you all think about this, was it right for the teacher to make a test like that, without using the information on the study guides?? They are only 5th graders. Thanks for taking the time to read. Have a great day.
3 responses
@ChaJudLeoBit (1656)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Were the test questions things that they at least discussed in class? I think it's fair to take questions from lecture material as long as they discussed it. Even if it wasn't on the study guides, if it's in her notes somewhere, it should be ok for the teacher to use. If the topics were never covered, then I agree it isn't fair.
1 person likes this
@ChaJudLeoBit (1656)
• United States
24 Mar 07
I guess that's true. I don't remember back that far. I can' only remember college, since I did that quite recently. Taking notes were all you did!!
1 person likes this
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
23 Mar 07
My daughter was under the assumption that the test question were all going to consist of what was on the study guide. She is in the 5th grade, the don't take notes in science class yet, unless it is something specific that the teacher tells them to write down. Thanks for your response. Have a great day.
@jenseyedea (579)
• United States
21 Mar 07
Well you know me well enough to know what I would have done. But I think you did the right thing. It is important for parents to stick up for their kids, because no one is else is going to. Plus education is something that you have for the rest of you life. You spent the time with her studying, and then followed up and that is commendable. I am glad that you took the time for your daughter. Since the teacher called you back maybe she is wiling to work with her. Teachers aren't going to do much for the kids unless they are good teachers, or they know that the kids have someone who has their back. Let me know what happens....Love ya
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
21 Mar 07
Yes, I do know what you would have done..lol Thanks for responding and reassuring me that I did the right thing. I believe you are correct, there are not many teachers who will go out of their way to help a child unless they know that someone does have their back. I will certainly let you know what happens next week after the kids go back from spring break. Love ya
@paulsy (1263)
• Philippines
21 Mar 07
I used to have that problem when my kids were in the lower grades. I used to complain a lot on parent-teacher meetings that teachers were not really following the reviewers they made themselves. The best thing is to really speak to the teacher concerned. The children study so hard everything that the teacher gives in the reviewers, and sometimes I think they don't realize that!
@nelly5 (1424)
• United States
21 Mar 07
Yes I do believe that some teachers don't realize how hard our children do try to do well. I just couldn't believe the questions that were on that test, after having 3 study guides sent home that were suppose to contain the information that would be on the test. Thank you for taking the time to read my posting and thanks for the response.
