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Mom21
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| Posted: April 06 2013 at 10:30am | IP Logged
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Does anyone give a consequence for failing a test? DS miserably failed his Seton weekly catechism test. He failed a weekly catechism test in a previous quarter and we grounded him for a week (which means no playing with the neighbors and no "screen" time). His dad told him at that time he will add an additional week if he failed another test. He failed this week's test so now he's grounded for 2 weeks.
He knows his catechism. He just didn't study enough. He typically gets decent grades but will sometimes wait until the last minute to study.
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: April 06 2013 at 11:58am | IP Logged
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Wow, that's a tough one. I've heard those tests are really difficult. Maybe he needs help studying? I know there are some that use Seton that actually use the test itself as a study guide.
How old is your ds? That would make a difference too.
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Becky
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Mom21
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| Posted: April 06 2013 at 12:20pm | IP Logged
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He's a 6th grader. The weekly tests are memorized Q&A from the Baltimore Catechism. The only actual "paper" test is the quarter test. And yes, we do use the quarter test as a study guide when that time comes. I'm just referring to the weekly memorized Q&A.
He gets the Q&A he has to memorize on Monday and has his test on Friday. He's been doing it all year so this isn't anything new. This is the second test he failed so he typically does pretty well on them.
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: April 06 2013 at 5:01pm | IP Logged
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The negative consequences of failing a test is the failing grade. We don't add additional consequences.
We do work with our student to see what needs to change in order to improve the grade. Sometimes there is trouble understanding the content. Sometimes they underestimate what needs to be done to get a good grade. Sometimes they just blow it.
What we avoid, especially during the junior high years, is getting into a battle about it. We work to be perceived as being on the same team - us against the test (or the like.) "Wow, so sorry you failed the test. That must be frustrating. What happened?" We really don't like studies to become a battleground, a battle of the wills. The junior high years are the best years to try and fail then try and succeed. It's a great time to start owning their education.
Love,
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Angie Mc
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Mom21
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| Posted: April 06 2013 at 5:21pm | IP Logged
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Angie Mc wrote:
The negative consequences of failing a test is the failing grade. We don't add additional consequences.
We do work with our student to see what needs to change in order to improve the grade. Sometimes there is trouble understanding the content. Sometimes they underestimate what needs to be done to get a good grade. Sometimes they just blow it.
What we avoid, especially during the junior high years, is getting into a battle about it. We work to be perceived as being on the same team - us against the test (or the like.) "Wow, so sorry you failed the test. That must be frustrating. What happened?" We really don't like studies to become a battleground, a battle of the wills. The junior high years are the best years to try and fail then try and succeed. It's a great time to start owning their education.
Love, |
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These are great thoughts! Thank you for sharing. We don't do consequences for other subjects. We just think Catechism is so important. I think our son was just being plain lazy this week since he typically does okay. With him, though, sometimes the failing grade doesn't always motivate him to want to do better.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: April 06 2013 at 5:22pm | IP Logged
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We don't really have that situation with tests here.. but knowing how I am about some other stuff, I think our response would be.. rather like Angie's with the addition that since it was a failed grade it would have to be redone.
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: April 06 2013 at 5:22pm | IP Logged
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Angie Mc wrote:
The negative consequences of failing a test is the failing grade. We don't add additional consequences.
We do work with our student to see what needs to change in order to improve the grade. Sometimes there is trouble understanding the content. Sometimes they underestimate what needs to be done to get a good grade. Sometimes they just blow it.
What we avoid, especially during the junior high years, is getting into a battle about it. We work to be perceived as being on the same team - us against the test (or the like.) "Wow, so sorry you failed the test. That must be frustrating. What happened?" We really don't like studies to become a battleground, a battle of the wills. The junior high years are the best years to try and fail then try and succeed. It's a great time to start owning their education.
Love, |
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Cassie
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CSBasile
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| Posted: April 08 2013 at 8:57pm | IP Logged
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I know that it is important that they know their catechism so they can defend the faith, but sometimes I wonder if we make catechism seem too much like any other school subject. To me, it should be about providing the right environment for your child so he can build a relationship with the Lord. As he falls deeper in love with the Lord, he will yearn to know more about the Lord, and he will be self motivated to read the catechism and other religious books.
I know you probably don't have much choice, because it is a graded subject, but just something to ponder. I come from the perspective of a parent and accredited Catechesis of the Good Shepherd catechist. Sometimes it makes me feel so sad that we rely on the traditional teaching techniques (workbooks, etc.) to inform our kids about our faith. I've taught too many CCD classes where the kids think of it as just an extension to their long, boring school day. Learning the faith should never be that.
Could you try doing something to make it a bit more interesting for him to study/learn? Perhaps a "jeopardy" type quiz versus his/her siblings? Maybe he's just bored of studying the usual way.
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guitarnan
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| Posted: April 08 2013 at 9:20pm | IP Logged
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Of course, the consequences for this grade should include the grounding that your husband stated in advance. You don't want to change the rules mid-stream.
I do agree with Angie - a bad grade is a natural consequence. Were I using the Seton program, I'd let that consequence stand and focus on motivating my child to study more attentively.
I used a "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" style quiz game with another catechist the last time I taught CCD - only as a reward for attentive study - and our students loved it.
If you don't have enough children to do something like this, you could try a Catholic trivia or board game.
Study habits in general are important to foster, but there's no harm in using "carrots" rather than "sticks" now and again.
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mooreboyz
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| Posted: April 10 2013 at 6:51am | IP Logged
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When my 8th grader scores poorly on a test I make him redo the chapter and retake the test. This has happened twice this year with his algebra. I also noticed he needed some more help and so I spend the time to go over every problem he gets wrong each day. By having this consequence he will not finish this subject before summer. We discussed this and he decided to do a lesson each weekend as well. I think when it happened the second time it really hit him and he is working harder and really learning the material.
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stellamaris
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| Posted: April 10 2013 at 8:58pm | IP Logged
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A little bit different idea is to institute "study hall" if a test score is too low. This is a designated time (say 15-20 minutes each day) when he studies the material he failed to learn the first time.
I think we often assume that our children will know what to do when we tell them, "Study!" However, effective studying is basically a set of skills. "Study hall" time might be an opportunity to work directly with your son on these skills. The use of flash cards for drill, memory techniques, "telling back" to himself orally, organizing material in spatial ways so he can visualize it easily, identifying what to study, etc. are all skills you might introduce during this time. Learning how to study and then having to develop the habit of a disciplined study time will only benefit him later on. Also, you can absolutely take the helpful approach recommended by Angie of presenting this as a member of his "team"--which you are! You can work together to identify his weakest study areas and then assist him in developing these truly important and valuable skills. 
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Caroline
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Topic: Consequences for failed test
