Thursday, April 7, 2011

8 th grade graduation

How do you feel 8th Grade Graduation motivates students?

10 comments:

  1. I have toured many other states and have found that California is still one of the few that have a graduation for 8th grade, actually we have a graduation for everything, but that is another story. As far as if graduation motivates our 8th graders, I believe motivation only works if their is a consequence for not achieving the desired outcome. In this case we have none. Students are not held back to repeat the 8th grade, they still get to move on to high school. I have yet to find a job application that asks did you graduate from junior high. We set the bar very low, in which we allow our students to rise to the high expectation of a D+ to graduate 8th grade. I think the money and time we spend on graduation could be much better suited for trying to fill some of the gaps in students skills.

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  2. I think graduation needs to something they shouold look forward to and that's when they're at high school and later on College. and I agree with us setting the bar low, we never challenge our students to the fullest... I think 8th grade gradutaion is unnecessary!!!!

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  3. I believe 8th grade graduation is a result of bygone years when graduating from 8th grade was the highlight of your experience in education. It is now more of a rite of passage that would be accomplished with a nice school day graduation. Parents would eventually get use to it and probably come to thank us. After all they are already paying for 8th grade trip, yearbooks etc. Some parents will not be able to attend because of work but again it is only 8th grade graduation. Students are motivated by going to highschool. That will not change....

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  4. I believe students truly look forward to 8th grade graduation. As a 6th grade teacher we start talking to parents and students about missing graduation at the first parent conferences. It is nice to reward the students who have done well with a graduation, a dance, and other activities. I still remember my 8th grade graduation. It was fun! I do think our 1.5, D average is too low for the graduation requirement. Students should have a 2.0 to graduate. We need to reward those that are doing well with fun activities that celebrate their achievement. It may not matter for a job application or college admission, but sometimes we need to spend time celebrating the students who have been working hard and doing the right thing.

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  5. A GPA of 1.5 is very low. A student needs a 2.0 to be elligible to do extracurricular activities, shouldn't the district raise the minimum graduation GPA to the same?

    Instead of a formal graduation ceremony, something smaller at each site would be much more appropriate. The cost would be minimal, and could be done in the afternoon on the last day of school.

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  6. I think 8th grade graduation is a motivator, in itself, to keep grades up. For students who are struggling with academics, graduation may be a future goal to stay focused and keep grades up at school. Students who graduate from 8th grade are then excited and refreshed to move on to high school. The 8th grade graduation, and all the excitement and sense of accomplishment that comes with it, then becomes a catalyst for high school graduation.

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  7. 8th grade graduation is a motivator for many students! As an 8th grade teacher, I see students improve their grades, attendance and attitude every year as they work towards graduation. Why are we rehashing this issue, hasn't it already been decided?

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  8. I believe that 8th grade graduation does serve as both an incentive and motivator to all middle school students. Discussions regarding grades and how they directly connect to graudation eligibilty, begin as early as 6th grade. Although it would be nice if students would get passing grades strictly due to innate motivation, I feel many need that external incentive and recognition for their dedicated efforts.

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  9. I think students are motivated in the 8th grade by the end of the year activities such as the 8th grade trip and the 8th grade dance. I believe the time and money spent on graduation would be better used for consequences like Saturday school or after school detention.

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  10. ...Or interventions for our struggling learners...

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