I was wondering what other parents think about a school policy that keeps students from making the honor roll, even when their academic grades are good, if they make one “N” (for “needs improvement”) on their behavior and work habits.
My son has worked hard to maintain all A’s and B’s in third grade, but due to his ADHD, he has trouble displaying consistent work habits (finishing work on time and turning it in on time) and his behavior (primarily talking out in class) has suffered as the demands of third grade have increased.
He was so proud of himself when he made honor roll for the first grade period, but now he probably won’t, even though he is still trying hard and his academic grades are good. His teacher has “warned” him, but of course, he can’t just “shape up.”
I just wondered if anyone can suggest how to handle this. He has been evaluated extensively, but the teacher has not been able to implement all of the recommendations, so in some ways, I feel like the school is failing him and he shouldn’t take the “blame.”
Re: behavior grades
Giving students grades and establishing policies around grades is a sadly imperfect process at best. You might try to have this written into his IEP that given his ADHD a conduct grade should not affect his ability to make the honor roll but certainly be prepared for them to fight you on it. Schools hold near and dear their grading systems and their honor rolls.
Re: behavior grades
Is that a policy of the school district? That’s ridiculous! I would speak to the Principal first and ask that your son be recognized for his honor roll achievements and if you get no results, take it a step higher and go to the Superintendent. This sets children up for failure especially when they’ve worked so hard to make A’s & B’s. As far as I’m concerned, he earned honor roll despit getting a N. All children need improvement in some area of life but to be penalized for it is absolutely crazy!
Re: behavior grades
I agree with Lori, and another thing is, do teachers realize how an LD kid has to struggle to even get a C, sometimes harder than other kids do to get an A.
I would act as if he had made the honor roll. Learning to make your own assessments and judgements of yourself is a highly desirable skill (tho’ yes, it would be better if his achievement were acknowledged by the school!).
Our school had an “A-B Honor ROll” — you had to get *all* A’s and B’s. When my students managed to get all A’s B’s and C’s — tough to do when they were in mainstream P.E. and an elective — I told them that they’d made the “A-B-C Respectable Roll.” It meant something - in fact, another teacher picked up the idea and made a bulletin board and listed her “A-B-C Respectable Roll” students.