I do a performance and grade sheet every week for each student from the third week onward.
Cassie,
Yes! Students can be motivated to continue their good work or strive to improve to bring their grdaes up if their teacher is diligent to regularly and frequently take the time to keep students informed about their status in class. Good discussions also allow the teacher to offer advice, suggestions, and encouragement, which conveys to the student "my teacher cares about my successfulness".
Barry Westling
It is important to keep the students informed, motivated, and engaged in their learning experience.
Daniel,
Yes, and understanding is key to learning. When we share status in a course, we are saying, "here is where we stand in our journey, and to get to our destination, this is what needs to be accomplished.
Barry Westling
Hi Daniel, I agree. When students understand that a grade can still be improved through hard work they keep, or intensify, their focus on doing homework and studying for exams. Likewise if a students has a good grade they often start to back of their intensity so reviewing can also help keep a good scoring students focus as well.
Dan
Students need to be kept informed of their grades for a multitude of reasons. As an instructor I feel it is necessary for students to know where they stand, and review their grades with them, because it allows both the student and instructor to know where the student needs to improve. Another reason to inform students of their grades is to help keep them motivated; understanding that a grade can still increase or decrease often helps students keep their focus on doing homework and studying for exams.
James,
We can also personalize this time by conveying an interest, listening, offering encouragement and advice, as well as suggestions for improvement that student will recognize contribute to successfulness in their course.
Barry Westling
This is done so the student always knows were tgey syand and what needs to be done.
Dale,
Yeah, I liken this to a journey. First, we need to know where we're headed. Along the way, we need feedback as to how close we are coming to arriving at our destination on time. So, in the classroom setting, the more frequent, accurate, and sincere we make our status discussions with students, the better they will understand where they are at in achieving their goal.
Barry Westling
At any time the student can determine if they need to seek additional help or tutoring on a specific topic if they are made aware of their grade. It also demonstrates to the students that you do care about their education.
Jason,
Good point. I think more frequent and individualized discussions regarding progress works they best. Personalizing our interest in the students success will convey that we care, are willing to listen, and are approachable about difficulties they may be experiencing.
Barry Westling
A great deal of anxiety is centered around a student's progress. if they lose sight of that progress at any time they tend to fear the results. Our brains are VERy strong mecanisms, they must have information. if we don't give them information they start to make things up and generally the information a brain makes up is negative and scary. "Know the truth and the truth shall make you free".
Blanche,
Right! Without a destination, and a plan to get there, it's unreasomable to expect students to arrive where we want them if we don't convey where there at to start with!
Barry Westling
students will appreciate the instructor and know that they care about their education and their success. It will help the students know where they stand and see if there is anything that they need to improve in order to pass the course.
Shelly,
When we show interest we convey we care and students appreciate that. It doesn't take a lot of preparation, time, or skill, just caring for the students success.
Barry Westling
It is important that students know their course grades throughout the course so that if there is a need for improvement they have a chance to do so. If students do not know what their course grade is until the last week of the course they will not have the time needed to make improvements. It like to include the overall class grade on each exam that I hand back to students. That will help them to see how they are improving as well as show them if improvements are needed.
Philp,
Right! And when we share that information in person and regularly, that conveys we care, we're interested in their successs, and it gives us an opportunity to listen and just be real. Students seem to appreciate these personalization techniques and are more willing to try harder as the result.
Barry Westling
The student must have a goal to strive for...such as turning their present "C" grade to an "B" or to realize that their lack of attendance does have an effect on the grade and it helps build a competitiveness or litmus test with other classmates.
Brian,
Great! This frequent "status report" conveys to students you (the teacher) is on top of things and current with assignments. Whenever we can do an activity that conveys helpfulness to students, that just serves to reieinforce the student/teacher relationship.
Barry Westling
I give students progress reports everytime I add grades and before and after every test.It seems to help them stay focused and seems to motivate the students to ask for help if they do not feel comfortable with the material
