Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Aelric]

My head CT told me this week that she wanted me to make a school wide test for the end of this month. It's an essay test that will kind of top off my series of lessons to improve the writing skills of my middle school. She told me that I would have total control over this test and that the grade, unlike anything else I do, will count for or against the students overall grade, meaning that I can put a fire under their butts and make them take it seriously.

So, I've determined that I want the test to be a simple three paragraph essay on an easy topic that can be written about on the spot, like "My favorite _______." I'm going to be looking for spelling, punctuation, word usage, sentence structure (subject>verb>object) and paragraph structure (Topic>body>conclusion). These are all things I've been teaching this year, so the students really don't have much excuse to do poorly. I'll be knocking off a full percentage point for every mistake I find in any category.

While most of my classes will probably do fairly well (not great, just well), a few of them won't even try. Either that or they will do so poorly that there will be no way to give them the news easy. What worries me is a mix of discouragement with a crowd of students that I am just now finally starting to see progress with and the reactions of parents over a non-midterm or final test that has a grade that matters in a subject that they think doesn't matter. I've had parental blow back before and it's a pain in the ass This could be a powder keg considering it's school-wide.

So, I guess me question is this: Do you think this is a good idea? Should I dumb down this essay? If I should, then how? I mean, I have them make single paragraphs in class, so three in an essay should not be so hard for them.

[Fishead soup]

How kind you are.

[detourne_me]

Don't dumb it down at all. I think it's perfect.
For the slower classes I'd suggest doing complete mock essays together for a few classes. For example the whole class will write one essay together on the board and then they will all copy it down.
Start the class brainstorming topics and proof. Then write the essays together. Maybe those students will do a complete re-write for the actual test, but hey, at least they're trying.

[warmachinenkorea]

I couldn't give my MS kids a single paragraph test. I don't even think they could write "I like ______" and then explain why in a single sentence. My teachers just want games and fun. My fun english ideas are running low these days.

If your teacher is asking for thatI would shoot the idea by her and if she approves then so be it, sounds like it was her idea.

[Aelric]

Actually, it was more a natural progression due to the lessons I've been teaching than just her idea. In fact, it was her idea to make the grade matter, which is awesome of her. I'm lucky to have a pretty progressive CT that not only let's me do what I want but supports it however she can as well, but I've already praised my CT enough in other threads.

Anyway, I do have those who don't know how to say hello, in English or Korean. However, our classes are mixed in skill level, so the plight is if I dumb it own for the dumb kids who are just now making progress, I make it worthlessly easy for the smart kids. Considering I'm going to have to grade nearly 2000 essays solo, I really don't want to have more than one format.

I suppose I'm probably being too sensitive to the lower skills, however. I know my middle school teachers were unrepentant about the difficulty of their classes. I think I'll keep it how it is.

[detourne_me]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

My MS CT and I put essay questions on the end of mid-terms last week. I marked them but assigned a total mark in pencil. She can determine what the final grade should be and then deal with any complaints from parents or hagwon teachers, the latter of whom she can in turn hand over to me if they think she's wrong and they're right.

All in all I think it was a really good exercise. I also got to know a bit more about some of them (like 'my father is not kind' / 'my sister is usually violent' / 'my mother is very scary but is good cooking' etc.).