This definitely describes the problem we have by homeschooling like they do in school. You are right about how conditioned we are to think in public school terms. I have been struggling with this for the past year. I am learning that the public school ideal may be good for, say, well, I can’t really say who it’s good for, definitely not the active, creative types like I have.

Of course, I live in CA where my record keeping doesn’t have to be as intensive as it does in other states so we are very fortunate.

Judy, I certainly don’t have a problem with grades. Particularly older kids seem to have a desire to know how they measure against whatever standard. And an older child may tend to be more motivated simply to improve in a subject. I just thought the question was odd, particularly given the age of the two children in question.

It is easy to give a grade on concepts or problems that are either right or wrong. Like math questions, grammatical errors, historical or geographical facts. I have always had difficulty grading anything that was an opinion or conceptual in nature. It becomes, in that case, more of whether or not they presented a convincing case, had their facts and put forth a logical explanation of things.

Of course discussing grades, what they mean to whom, and what their purpose is, with your kids is a lesson in and of itself.

I was surprised at one parent-teacher meeting to learn that Marissa was failing spelling. She has savant like language skills. Any word she sees once, she can spell.

When I got home, I asked her, “What’s up?”

“Of course I am failing spelling. I don’t do the homework. Spelling homework is for kids that don’t know how to spell and need the practice. I already know how to spell.”

I didn’t know how to respond. She was right. She didn’t need to do spelling homework. It was a waste of her time and mine. I learned that I was too motivated by grades ~