Crunching the Numbers

Well, the results are in after my November Grammar Review Month of Fury (yes, I had recently watched Requiem for a DreamВ when I came up with the name for it). I spent all of November reviewing basic grammar in every grade level, along with basic family vocabulary. The grammar topics taught were:

the verbs "to be" and "to have";

the simple present tense;

negative sentences;

interrogative sentences;

the present progressive tense;

the simple past tense and

the simple future tense.

The fifth grade did not learn the final three, because they will learn them for the first time later this year. Every other item was review for all classes. From the stunned looks on the faces of even some of my brightest students, though, it was clear that though it might have been taught in the past, it had not been learned. After a month, it was time to test my students. The tests were 20 points; 15 for grammar and five for family vocabulary. The fifth and sixth grades had separate tests, but the seventh and eighth grades took the same test. Let's break down these statistics:

FifthВ Grade:

11 students (one excused from test because of prolonged illness)

Average score: 6.55

Average percent: 33%

Median score: 5 (failing)

Top score: 13

Sixth Grade, Section A:

10 students

Average score: 7.60

Average percent: 38%

Median score: 7 (failing)

Top score: 14

Sixth Grade, Section B:

Six students (seven skipped both testing dates and will receive a 2, but will not be counted in these statistics)

Average score: 9.00

Average percent: 45%

Median score: 10 (passing, but would be failing disastrously if the other seven had taken the test)

Top score: 13

Seventh Grade, Section A:

11 students (one excused because of prolonged illness)

Average score: 10.55

Average percent: 53% (the only class with an average passing grade)

Median score: 10 (passing)

Top score: 18 (my God, that Catalina is smart)

Seventh Grade, Section B:

Eight students (three students remain untested)

Average score: 7.00

Average percent: 35%

Median score: 7 (failing)

Top score: 12

Eighth Grade:

10 students

Average score: 8.50

Average percent: 43%

Median score: 8 (failing)

Top score: 13

A few observations on these data:

1. В  В Only two of my classes had a median passing grade, and one class's "success" can be dismissed because the weaker half of the class ditched class.

2. В  В My 7a group performed better on the test than my eighth grade.

3. В  В The majority of my students failed while taking a test on review material.

4. В  В The top scorers in five of my six classes were girls (although hardly a surprise in fifth grade, with 10 girls and two boys).

5. В  В These students have been studying English since second grade. The system is broken and I alone will not repair it. My vacation starts December 23rd.