How's My Kid Doing? A Parent's Guide to Grades, Marks, and Report Cards [Paperback]

Thomas R. Guskey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Jossey-Bass Education Series | Publication Date: March 14, 2003

In How's My Kid Doing? noted educator Thomas R. Guskey has created a practical handbook for parents who have trouble understanding their school-age children's grades, report cards, and test scores. This down-to-earth guide will help parents make sense of school reports and offers a helpful resource that can open communications between parents and teachers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

How's My Kid Doing? "Assessment is the big issue in education today. Letter-grade report cards are antiquated holdovers from years ago that no longer reflect what's happening in the schools. Especially at the elementary level, more and more schools use standards-based." (Chicago Tribune, April 14, 2002) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Here's everything you have ever wanted— or not wanted— to know about grading. Definitely a must read for parents, teachers, and students." —Harry K. Wong, educational consultant and author, The First Days of School

"Over the years, Tom Guskey is the teacher from whom I have learned the most about the principles of effective communication. He has consistently analyzed and articulated our communication options with immense clarity. He's done it again, this time for parents." —Rick Stiggins, president, Assessment Training Institute

"The book is so eminently clear and sensible, it should be required reading for all educators and policymakers, not just parents. In jargon-free prose, Guskey strips away the murkiness surrounding grading and reporting, while never falling into oversimplification. There are many concrete suggestions for both writers and readers of reporting systems. A must for the faculty room as well as the family library." —Grant Wiggins, president, Learning by Design

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass (March 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787967351
• ISBN-13: 978-0787967352
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,431,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas R. Guskey is Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY. A graduate of the University of Chicago, he began his career in education as a middle school teacher, served as an administrator in the Chicago Public Schools, was the first Director of the Center for the Improvement of Teaching and Learning. His work focuses on educational measurement and evaluation, professional development, teacher change, student assessment, and grading and reporting. A Fellow in the American Educational Research Association, his books have won several prestigious awards, including the Association of Educational Publishers' Distinguished Achievement Award in 2010.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Simplifies Standards-Based Grading, July 23, 2006

By 

Teacher5 (Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How's My Kid Doing? A Parent's Guide to Grades, Marks, and Report Cards (Paperback)

I chose this book on the recommendation of the superintendent of schools in the county where I teach and my children attend school. The language is clear and easy to understand. As a teacher, I am familiar with the goals behind standards-based grading, but I find that many parents have misunderstandings. The whole first chapter is devoted to explaining the language of the book. I plan to make it available to the parents in my classroom this year. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand what standards-based grading REALLY is.