Advice for teachers on grades, grading

GAINESVILLE - A nationally known education consultant told Gainesville school teachers gathered at the middle school Wednesday morning they need clearer communication with students and their parents when it comes to student grading.

Dr. Thomas Guskey of the University of Kentucky spoke at a convocation of teachers gathered at Gainesville Middle School.

"We just have been caught up in these traditional models of grading and haven't thought about how really to communicate with parents the things their kids are doing in school," Guskey said.

Guskey advised teachers to make sure parents get better information on student performance so they can be better education partners. New assessment and grading practices developed by Gainesville teachers were presented to school board members Monday night. As part of the plan, a new elementary school report card would show performance levels rather than just a letter grade.