frozenrider15 said:Since we’re talking about grading physical education and home workout routines, let me tell you about my kid's summer. We spent the whole break jumping rope, playing catch, running drills, and doing hopscotch. This year, she even tried attempting forward rolls on the bed. And honestly? Despite all that effort, she’s completely uncoordinated—it's like she has two left feet and two left hands. She can barely manage two, maybe three jumps with a rope before she loses her rhythm 😵. As for those forward rolls, she still needs help, and single-leg hops require an exhausting amount of concentration. The only thing she’s actually mastered is throwing a ball.
She isn't flexible at all. To be blunt, I won't be surprised when her PE grades drop to Cs or Ds. Right now, her marks are fine, but how long can you expect hard work to pay off when the results just aren't there? I'm prepared to sit her down and explain that failing a forward roll doesn't matter, but showing up and giving it her best during gym class does.
Her motivation isn't being killed by the grades yet, because they're still decent, but she knows deep down that athletics isn't her thing. She hates it. She watches other kids nail these moves and realizes she just can't. I can't stop that comparison, though. It’s like when she comes home with a C and starts comparing herself to Kate, who always pulls an A. The world is cold like that; everyone has their own lane.
There's a big difference between comparing who runs faster or who hits the target better in gym class versus comparing who gets an A or a C because of it.
The first kind of comparison is totally normal and actually pretty healthy; it can motivate a kid to improve or help them accept their weak spots while leaning into their strengths.
The second kind is just pointless.
I’ve mentioned this several times in different threads, but I truly feel that grading in elementary school is mostly unnecessary. These are basic life skills that kids need to master regardless of whether they get a grade or not—not just for future schooling, but for real life. Since grading exists, though, it really bothers me when teachers grade based on things like effort or simply bringing in the right supplies. This happens even in subjects like PE or Art, which, as far as I know, carry the same weight as Math or English.
If a kid gets graded just for consistently bringing their gym clothes, why aren't they getting graded in Math for always having their notebook, textbook, and workbook ready? Or their pencils and pencil case? In Math, you actually have to demonstrate that you understand the material to get a grade.
As for Art, there’s another issue. Kids often get constant praise in other subjects (especially Foreign Language or Religion)—things like "Bravo!" or "That's a lovely drawing" or just straight As. But then, when they get an Art assignment where they aren't just decorating something or illustrating a text, but actually have to execute a specific task from start to finish, they end up with a C or a B because they didn't follow the instructions perfectly, even if the drawing itself looks amazing.
Also, I don't quite get why Art projects get displayed on the walls (where kids are basically practicing certain techniques) while we never see Math worksheets or practice sheets for learning how to write a letter 'Z' posted up there.
