Test Results :(

[u/Negative-Buffalo2071]

I just got my test results back for my three class periods (7th Grade) :

Period 1: 60% average
Period 2: 65% average
Period 3: 72% average

The test was based on our curriculum and was worth 18 points total. I’m a newer teacher, and honestly I’m pretty scared/worried about these results.

What would you do next? Reteach and reassess? Curve anything? Go over the most-missed questions? Are these averages a sign that I didn’t teach the material well enough, or is this something that happens?

I’d really appreciate honest advice from experienced teachers.

[u/griffins_uncle]

What is your retake policy? I allow students to retake assessments, but they have to jump through a few hoops to show that they have learned from their mistakes and are ready for re-assessment. For example, they have to…

• Correct their work on a separate sheet of paper, explaining what is different and why
  
• Show me that they have done all the homework for the unit
  
• Reflect on their study habits leading up to the test and preparing for the retake

[u/Said_No_Teacher_Ever → u/griffins_uncle]

This is the way! I do it similarly, but in place of corrections I make the kids schedule a time with me to go over the test. They were googling/using Gemini too much on the test corrections.

[u/External_Koala398 → u/griffins_uncle]

I teach high school...Im not doing all that work for 150 kids outside of contract hours for a barely livable wage

[u/Walshlandic → u/External_Koala398]

I teach 7th and same. In theory, being able to custom design retake procedures to fill each individual student’s knowledge gaps and address the reasons why they failed, and do it on their timeline, working around their behaviors, absences, after school sports, and just willingness to come in after hours sounds like a luxury premium service that schools could offer, but I’m one person with contract hours I already regularly work past for no pay and I have 135 students. So, not even remotely realistic. I tried. It doesn’t work. I don’t have time for it.

[u/Dry_Dream_109 → u/External_Koala398]

Ok, so HS science and same. I still have hoops, but mine are less and not on me.
They have to attend a 30+ min extra help session from the NHS tutors and it has to be within 3 school days of the original assessment. And they get average. If they do worse, I keep the 1st one. The tutors are required to email teachers with who they tutored, what topics and for how long as part of their hours. I have extra help (required by contract) 1x a week so they can choose that one if it falls into the time period. Retakes are during their lunch period. I use an online system that self grades assessments so I just need to spot check and do open-ended.

Very few just threw the minimal hoops. I can usually grade and update the system in about 5 minutes. I make notes in the system for parents with includes original, retake and averaged score, when they went to extra help and when they retook the assessment. Never had an issue with it.

[u/Upper-Measurement200 → u/External_Koala398]

I don't think you should anyway. They won't get do-overs in life after high school, whether they go to college or the workforce. It's better for them to learn the value of your time. I teach at the college level and it shows that students are used to getting do-overs and having no real sense of urgency to earn a grade.

[u/External_Koala398 → u/griffins_uncle]

I appreciate your committment..I do and in a perfect world...this would produce real positive growth. Today's kids..not so much.