For Parents
Reflection Questions
please consider these throughout the length of the study
- How do the gradebook notifications and gradebook access impact you? your student?
- What is it like for you to get a grade notification or view the gradebook during the day?
- How are your interactions with your student regarding grades? Is there a difference between digital interactions versus face-to-face?
- How many times do you check the gradebook daily? Do you have mobile notifications and/or email notifications?
- What would your school experience have been like if these technologies and levels of access were available to you as well as your parent(s)/guardian(s) when you were a student?
- What is the right balance between support and engagement versus student autonomy and self-advocacy?
Gradebook Challenge
During this four week study, we encourage you to take part in the following gradebook challenge with your student.
Challenge One: Have a discussion with your student about his or her overall past experience with the gradebook during the school day: student-to-self (personal), student-to-student (peer to peer), student-to-parent, and general observations.
Challenge Two: During the first week of the study, commit to a digital detox together such as more face-to-face than text communications, technology-free times, and no gradebook access for the first week until the weekend when it is done together.
Challenge Three: Determine a mutual understanding of how to best support each other's needs surrounding the gradebook: number of times it is checked, mobile notifications, email notifications, how to communicate concerns, mutually agreed upon parameters, etc.
Challenge Four: Work with your student on a time that he or she will sit down with you to show you their grades and discuss what is in the gradebook.
Challenge Five: Have weekly conversations during the four weeks about any noticeable differences in focus, stress, and relationships during this time in relation to the gradebook access.
Challenge Six: At the end of the study, help your child create and commit to a plan of action for how to effectively use gradebook access to maximize learning.