Grades/Grading

Academic achievement is a big focus in schools. The most common indicator of academic achievement is grades.  Grading in education is the process of applying standardized measurements of varying levels of achievement in a class.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Academic achievement is a big focus in schools. The most common indicator of academic achievement is grades.  Grading in education is the process of applying standardized measurements of varying levels of achievement in a class. Grades are a main indicator of a student’s success in school, although grades do not make up the whole picture of student success.  All too often, grades are a major source of anxiety for students.  Helping students to raise their grades is something that falls under the purview of the school counselor.  Through individual sessions, group counseling and classroom guidance lessons, a great deal of what school counselors do is all aimed at supporting the academic achievement of students.  The role of the school counselors exists to help support students so that they can achieve in school (and life) to the best of their ability.  By removing barriers to learning and teaching students skills they need to function well socially and emotionally, counselors help to support the academic achievement of students.  School counselors can also play a crucial role in helping to students to raise their grades, if needed. Sometimes, students focus too much on grades which can inhibit their social-emotional learning and may be at the detriment of pursuing their interests, sports, clubs and other extracurricular activities.

KEY POINTS

  • Teachers usually provide students with their grading scale and the number of possible points in their class.
  • School counselors cab help students raise their academic achievement by helping to change the school climate if needed.
  • School counselors can affect student grades by direct intervention through behavioral contracts, study skills groups, class room guidance lessons on time management, study skills, test taking skills, academic achievement groups and more.
  • Grades are a factor in school counselor accountability.
  • Helping students to make academic and career goals can help to support academic achievement.
  • SMART goals are a good tool for making goals to raise grades.
  • Failing students may benefit from an Action Plan.
  • Finding what motivates a student can be crucial in helping them to raise their grades.
  • Parent involvement is a big factor in academic achievement.
  • School counselors can also establish SAT preparation courses, peer and volunteer tutoring programs and homework support networks.
  • Career counseling is often an overlooked key to increasing academic achievement and motivating the unmotivated student.
  • School counselors can provide a communication link for parents whose students are struggling in school and can advocate for more frequent communication between teachers and parents when needed.
  • A school counselor may sometimes need to advocating for parents and students when students are not treated fairly by the school.

RESOURCES

SHARED WISDOM

CONTENT FEEDBACK

If you have suggestions, feedback, or resources, please email counselor1stop@inspiresuccess.org and let us know.