Re: computerdisc-l: passing to the 9th grade

[Shannon and Kimmy Eubanks <eubanks@telepak.net>]

Our district ahs a policy that students must pass all classes to advance to
the 9th grade.  This was done in previous years so that students would focus
on all class, not just enough classes to pass the year.

A problem that I have found, is that students do not want to continue to
work in the GCAK program.  They have decided that it is a waste of time and
they are not going to do their best.  To solve this problem, I have sent
home a letter to the parents and have informed them that if the students do
not finish a set number of GCAK excercises, they will fail the 9 weeks.
This has seemed to influence a great number of the students to work harder
and do the lessons correctly.   Many of the students had figured out how to
out smart the system (hitting the enter key numerous times) and get credit
without doing the work.

The parents have responded well to the letter and I am creating a WINNERS
bulletin board and placing the names of the students up there when they
finish their assignments.

Hope these ideas help.

Kimmy Eubanks
Loyd Star School

-----Original Message-----
From: Cynthia Kahler <kahler@watervalley.net>
To: Computer Discovery <Date: Thursday, February 11, 1999 4:40 PM
Subject: computerdisc-l: passing to the 9th grade


>Our district has a policy that a student must fail two "academic" subjects
>and an elective to be retained in the 8th grade.  Even though it is a
>requirement, Computer Discovery falls into the "elective" category.
> Therefore many students, since they know they do not have to pass, put our
>course on the back burner - wasting time and doing English work, math work,
>etc. in our classroom (if they can get away with it!).  This is making it
>very difficult at times for me to maintain enthusiasm about the  course.
> I've approached the idea to the district of reconsidering Computer
>Discovery as an "elective" (as it is a requirement) since many 8th graders
>see little other than going to the high school.  Even the Carnegie unit has
>lilttle effect - the ones who are worried about having the high grade for
>their transcript WILL have a high grade.
>
>Just out of curiosity, what is the policy in your district?  I'm curious as
>to whether others are suffering the same frustation as I am.
>
>Cynthia Kahler
>Oxford Middle School