School Marking policy in Year 1

[GrowlingTiger]

OK, name-changed as I've made myself unpopular at school by raising this, but would appreciate a "professional" view on it if any knowledgable teachers pass by.

Ds is a summer born Year 1 child, so 5 and a half. His pencil control is OK but not great. He has a weekly test in spellings and number bonds/timestables. Am not entirely enthusiastic about these (esp when in the first term he was learning to spell words that he could not yet read!) but accept them as part of the overall package.

His report at the end of last term said "Ds must learn the number bonds and multiplication tables for the weekly tests as his results have been a little disappointing". I was slightly narked as this wasn't raised at the parents evening and I'd personally been pleased with his progress whilst being aware that he isn't the most able boy in the class by some way. Report also commented that he lacks confidence is addition and subtraction.

Roll on this term and now the marking policy of the school has tightened up so that for numeracy, if the child reverses a digit (ie mirror reflection of a single digit, not 16 rather than 61), then the answer is marked as wrong. Ditto spelling, so if a letter eg "g" is reversed despite being in the right place in the word, then the spelling is marked as incorrect. Ds has got all items tested correct for spelling and computation but because of these reversals is getting lower marks (eg 6/10).

I guess I am slightly frustrated that if the object of the exercise is to say learn the 3 times table then ds knows his 3 times table forwards, backwards and at random. Yet the marks indicate otherwise and I suspect his report will too.

When my older child was going through this the approach seemed more laid back - with the idea that they would grow out of the reversals. But it is stricter for my younger child. How does this match up against other schools (ds is at a private school in case that makes a difference). I've been told that the change in policy is in effort to raise standards. But does this really work - ds thought that he had worked well but is getting lower marks than ever. I am concerned that this will put him off.

[LadyMuck]

Is this a Cognita school by any chance?

[GreenEggsAndSpam]

Growling Tiger - your post makes me sad. Why does a 5 yr old need to know timetables? So much pressure
No way would my child attend a school like that - I think that approach sounds cruel tbh.
As for the school, if they have this approach in the classroom, then it sounds unlikly they will be interested in a parent's opinion
I take this is an independent school?

[pooka]

DD's school most certainly does not do this!

IN spelling tests, if she has reversed a letter (not unusual, she is left handed and 5.5 FGS) but otherwise correct, then she gets a tick but the teacher writes the "correction" next to it.

Same in maths. If it is clear that the error is one of pen control and writing, then that should be a tick, because in terms of maths is correct - is just the getting it down on paper (which takes time to learn and be entirely fluent) that is not so refined.

DD at state school incidentally.

[lljkk]

I want to know what kind of school, too.
Sounds very very pushy, our school (very average state primary) isn't that demanding of Yr3 children.
The idea of 'marking' points out of ten on a Yr1 child's work almost makes me feel sick, that is just not right.

No matter the poor lad lacks confidence, if the room for error is so small.

[GrowlingTiger]

Yes, it is a Cognita school, so fee-paying/private/independent. Is this common to Cognita then?

In general we like the school, but this particular change seems crazy. It never used to be the case and I assumed that the change happened as the school was introducing some sort of best practice.

[melissa75]

Speaking from the teaching perspective, I think it is a bit harsh for a year one to have this. However in saying that, I can somewhat see their point of view, which may be that the sooner it is caught and stopped, the less they will be in the habit of reversing the number/letter.
I beleive letter and number reversals are something they will grow out of with repeated practise. I am currently in the process of marking my kids assessments for maths and literacy and the concept of letter reversal does not come into concern until you hit level 2, so if the child was within this level then they would lose marks for letter reversals. In reference to number reversals, I tell the children if they give me their work to mark before the end of the lesson, that I will not mark it until they do their numbers the right way round, in order to have them pay more attention to their numbers (as they are displayed all around the classroom for reference) but I would never mark it incorrectly if the child had not had the opportunity to correct it.

[GrowlingTiger]

OK. I guess as a parent I see what enormous effort and progress he has made over this year - just sad that it isn't reflected in his scores, and that he misses out on certificates etc (which they get for 10/10). He just seems rather little to have to be so correct, especially when it is a numeracy test.

Should I be worried if his teacher is commenting that his numeracy is poor in his reports when it is his recording of numbers that is poor (but he knows his bonds and tables)?

[melissa75]

GrowlingTiger, I can completely see your point of view, and can understand your disappointment when you see the effort your son is putting into his work. I do agree, he does seem little, but then the debate comes in of when is a child old enough to have the harshness of being marked wrong? Some people think this should be from the moment they enter schooling to get used to it, because it is a fact of life, others feel that they should not be marked wrong until the end of year 6. So it depends on when you think that threshold is crossed.
I don't think it is fair to say in a report with a blanket statement that his numeracy is poor, when it is just one aspect of his numeracy. Perhaps you could speak to them about this? I am not familiar with Cognita schools or their mandate or policies, so cannot comment in that regard, but I would say if it is possible to express your concern about this aspect, I would.

[GrowlingTiger]

I guess that I thought that a lot of things had got dumbed down these days, so that errors in say spelling wouldn't lose you makrs in your history GCSE.

If ds puts that 3 x 9 = 28 then I expect it to be marked as incorrect. When he puts 3 x 9 = 27 but has incorrectly formed the 7 then I feel that he has shown that he knows what the answer to the sum is. But if other schools do this then fair enough.

I've raised the concern with the school who have said that it is their policy and that the previous teachers who marked my other child's work had been incorrect in their approach. Hence my potential unpopularity as I suspect that a lot of marks will have to be decreased as a result of "clarifying" the policy.

[spula]

You should praise him at home for KNOWING his times tables and explain the school test also includes writing, and that is something you can work on together. Make him his own certificates for home - or even better, stick him in a state school where he would be hailed a genius

[lljkk]

Just googled Cognita... Chris Woodhead is their chair. Hmmm.... that doesn't fill me with confidence.

Is your son scheduled to do his GCSEs this year, GTiger? When I did marking at Uni (MSc level, 15 yrs ago) mark mostly depended on content (science subject), knocking a further % off for stuff like English errors. That always seemed balanced to me.

[LynetteScavo]

I am not going to be helpfull here, but I'm so

I would have my child out of this school like a shot.

[GrowlingTiger]

I have been looking at other schools but Year 1 was a bumper year locally for some reason (lots of classes are in portacabins as the LEA was severely short on space). Even all of the private schools have lengthy lists. The local state schools with spaces are neither that local nor that good. But I'm happy for your dd Lynette.

Llykk, no as a 5yo he isn't doing his GCSEs. I guess I was using that as an example where the marking looks at what is being tested rather than other issues. I suppose I have been focussing on the numeracy side rather than ensuring that his digit formation is perfect. I suspect that if we put in the same length of time on digit formation then he will still get 6/10 because he won't know the timestable. Afraid that he is no genius.

[GrowlingTiger]

Bumping for any teachers who might be around?

[Yurtgirl]

According to the cognita website their schools Have high expectations of every child, whatever their ability

That is obviously the tactic they are taking with your ds then Growling Tiger

I think its a terrible attitude towards learning - If I was marking your ds work I would tick them all right and merely write next to the backwards 6 a 6 that is the right way round just to gently point out the correct way

I am sad for your ds - I wouldnt want my kids to go to a school like that fee paying or otherwise

[Hulababy]

DD is in a private school in Y2. In Y1 and start of Y2 they were never marked down for reversal of letters and numbers. Half way through Y2 now and the teacher is getting a little bit stricter, but is still flexible depending on individuals.

[melissa75]

yurtgirl...so when do you start marking it wrong for number reversals? When they are 10? I am just playing devils advocate! It is a big debate though, when is it ok for it to be marked wrong?
I agree with what spula has said, if you feel your particular child responds to the praise as opposed to more internal motivation (which is hard for children this age, but some schools work on this ethos) then doing your own certificates for him at home when he gets his homework right. You can make some really lovely ones at www.senteacher.org under printables.
Otherwise, unfortunately, if it is the policy of the school to mark this way, your either going to have to lump it or leave it, as in, accept it, or change schools!

[melissa75]

hulababy, this is because in level two (the average for a Y2 child to be acheiving by years end is a 2B) they get marked down for letter and number reversals, so it is imperative to be more strict.
I am likely going to have to dodge a lot of snowballs here, but I somewhat agree with this schools marking policy, and this is mainly because as a teacher, I am there to teach the child, and would I be doing my job correctly if I marked a letter or number reversal correct? The longer it is allowed to go on, the more they are in the habit. I currently have a Y2 boy who consistently does not only his numbers reversed, but also a 16 is a 61. I know what he means, but I mark it wrong, because it is not teaching him anything to say it is right and just put it above for him. I just think it is important to break the habit sooner rather than later, because as we all know, habits are very difficult to change, no matter how old you are!

[Yurtgirl]

Melissa75 - Obviously at some point it has too be wrong if it is backwards - but not at 5 years old - Children in many countries arent even taught to read until they are 7 let alone giving spelling tests for words they cant even read. Its ridiculous

My ds is 7 and bright in many ways - but not handwriting and ability to write letters and numbers the right way round

If the answer is correct I tick it, if there is backwards writing or not neat enough I write it nicely/correctly and tactfully point this out. But no I dont mark it wrong, because he knows the answer he just hasnt written it down correctly (a skill he is still learning)

It is wrong to stifle a childs learning and creativity in this way imho

[melissa75]

sorry, keep adding on things, obviously this would not apply to children with diagnosed learning challenges such as Dyslexia, where it is an entirely different circumstance, but as you have not said this is the case with your DS, I am assuming it is irrelevant in this situation

[Hulababy]

Hmmm - I still think Y1 is too young.

Even when I was in secondary (was a teacher for 10 years) I didn't always mark down every spelling or grammatical error (not an English teacher) as it is demoralising IMO to have lots of corrections on a piece of work. I marked down important words, but not others. Just commented on it verbally instead. On coursework going off to examineres I would make a margin mark but not always a full correction mark, again for reasons as above.

I am now working as a TA in a Y1 class. If I marked each child down for every spelling mistake some children would get a page of corrections and nothing more, and certain no "mark" for their work. I cannot see how this would encourage the child TBH. Instead I use a judgement to know what to correct and not correct, and how I use that in my assessments. The teacher does the same and we work together to make overall assessments based on our knowlege of the children that way instead.

[melissa75]

Yurtgirl, but this is the debate, when is it ok? If 5 is too young, then when are they "old enough"?
Which countries are children not taught to read until they are 7??

[Yurtgirl]

This sentance: "the average for a Y2 child to be acheiving by years end is a 2B" almost entirely sums up why given a chance I want to home educate my kids

I couldnt give a flying monkey (do pardon that odd expression!) whether my ds is a level 2B or a 4C as long as he is enjoying learning and progressing and HAPPY

Assessment is useful in its place but................ only to a point (again imho)

Growling Tiger - I hope you get some joy with the school. Is it marvellous in all other respects?

[Hulababy]

melissa - I think Scandanivian countries delay formal education inc reading, as do some other European countries where reading is delayed until a little way into schooling. Most of these countries still have good literacy levels, some higher than us too.

[aintnomountainhighenough]

I agree with melissa75. In real terms it is either right or wrong. If he reversed a number it is wrong regardless of what you know he was trying to write. My DDs school is very strict on marking and I am glad. I want her to understand from an early age that being neat and accurate is important. That said tbh I can't see the point of drilling in xtables if children can't actually form the numbers correctly. I do believe that getting a good foundation and getting the basics right is the key to a child being confident moving forward.