In the eighties when I went to school, I remember how I and my classmates used to talk about and long for the day, in the eight grade, when we were going to receive our first grades. When that day finally arrived we were all very excited and I don't think anyone was surprised about their grades – everybody was well aware of what level they had reached.Today pupils don't have to wait that long for their first grades and I welcome that change! Pupils and their parents deserve to know their strengths and what to improve preferably in the end of Primary school!
The main reason is that schools together with pupils and their parents need time to work with areas that need some extra effort. Waiting too long to inform pupils and parents about the situation might decrease the chance to solve the problem. Clear and straightforward information and good communication between school and parents are crucial and focus must of course be put on the strengths of the pupil. Grades can and must not replace the important dialogue, but combined they provide the best information possible, I think.
Another reason for having grades in Primary school is that it makes many pupils work harder. Grades are for some pupils the best incentives, and their motivation increases. Today when international studies reveals that the Swedish pupils results are not as high as many other countries results, we need to make a change. One measure to take might be to put greater focus on the importance of knowledge, and to make pupils realize that school is important. Grades are one of many ways to work in that direction.
Some people who argue against grades in Primary school mean that grades make pupils feel bad and nervous, focusing too much on the results instead of appreciating and seeing the value of the process. I think that might be the case the first and second time the pupil receives the grades, but after a while he or she will get used to them and stop thinking about them too much.
We live in a global world and compared to children in other countries we don't grade our children very early. So far I haven´t heard anything about pupils in other countries feeling terrible about receiving grades at an early age, and if we want to have a chance to compete internationally I believe the Swedish school needs some changes. Finally we have taken one step towards having a school system to be proud of – and I am now looking very much forward to giving my first grades instead of receiving them!
Prenumerera på:
Kommentarer till inlägget (Atom)
Dear Anna,
SvaraRaderaExcellent work! Your ideas are well backed up and arranged in a clear and logical way.
In all, a very nice read!
Your introduction gives a clear idea of what you are going to write about, starting with a catching general introduction from your own experiences. The introduction is then ended with a clearly stated thesis statement. Your following paragraphs all deal with one idea each (splendid!), and you use topic sentences throughout. In the fourth paragraph you have a counter-argument which you refute – splendid! You use transitional devices at the beginning of paragraphs 2 and 3, and it would have been a good idea to use one at the beginning of paragraph 4 as well. Thereby you could have brought out the fact that it is a counter argument (e.g. “There are, however, people who argue against…”). You also use some transitional devices in the text.
As to your language, it is very good! You might want to think about subject-verb agreement, though, as in “international studies reveals”. That sentence is also a bit awkward: “international studies reveals that the Swedish pupils results are not as high as many other countries results,”, but I think you mean that “the results of Swedish pupils are not as high as those in many other countries”. Another piece of advice would be not to use “I think” in your texts, since this lessens the impact of what you are saying.
Best,
Marika
Hello Anna,
SvaraRaderaNow it is my turn to make a comment on your blog.
I want to start with some positive comments and I will end with some positive comments...well what does she mean you think...and I've got an answer to that.
I think your blog text is very well written!!! You've got very good paragraph topics, good linking devices, good paragraph themes which deal with only one theme and I think it's good for the text to have a countable argument to feel the balance when you read.
So, many good things is included and I think you have a nice flow in the text. It's easy to read and I think that is important.
Very, very good Anna!!!
But I knew that before...you know...I miss you...
See you soon
Eva-Lena