Note 4 of 5
How do we know children are learning if we do not give marks?
Marks are the answer to the question every parent asks: is my child learning? A space such as ours that does not give marks still has to answer that question.
What educators watch for
Educators observe each child every day and keep a record. For each child, they track a set of indicators each semester: what the child can do in reading, writing and mathematics, and also how the child works, listens, discusses and gets along with others.
What parents receive
Parents receive a half-semester report, and at the end of each semester a progress card of 10 to 12 pages. It covers academic work, thinking, work and discussion habits, art, social life and other areas. The progress card is shared in a meeting with the educator, and once parents have read it, we sit down together and talk it through. Parents who choose to work with us on monthly goals also receive a note each month on their child's progress and the goals ahead. Because it is a partnership, it is open to parents who agree to work on those goals at home.
When a child struggles
Observation only helps if something happens next. When a child is stuck, the educators and parents make it a part of their goal to help the child in that particular area.
What you give up
Without marks or ranks, you will not see where your child stands against classmates. We compare each child against what is expected at that stage, and against their own earlier work, not against each other. For some parents, this takes getting used to.
Moving to another school
Some of our children have moved to schools that follow other boards. In our experience they took a few weeks to adjust to desks, timetables and written tests.
Questions worth asking any school
These questions are useful whatever kind of school you are looking at:
- How will I know what my child can do, and what they are working on next?
- What happens when my child is stuck?
- How often will I hear from you, and in what form?
Monali Lodha, Founder