The Putnam County School System is adopting a standard-based format for first grade report cards, a change from the traditional number grade format.
Elementary Instructional Supervisor Diana Wood said first grade report cards will look more like kindergarten report cards. Wood said the new report cards have more specific information about skill mastery that is hard to determine through a number grade.
“As we are marking these report cards and assessing students, we can see when skills are introduced and if they’re picking up on it,” Wood said. “And then we can clearly see as they start to progress through mastering that skill.”
Wood said the new format makes it easier for parents and teachers to track how students grasp foundational skills needed for the higher grade levels.
“We really want to make sure that we have those solidified when they’re in kindergarten and first grade,” Wood said. “And second grade too for that matter. And so, we want t make sure we can work as a team with our families and our teachers together, and our students.”
Wood said parents may have a better grasp of the traditional number system, but more specifics can strengthen education efforts at home.
“The parents are a child’s first teacher,” Wood said. “When they’re having conversations with them when they’re little and when they’re reading to them, those are pre-reading skills. They are crucial in a child’s education, and as they enter traditional school in our school system, we want to partner with them to continue that.”
The new standard-based format will be given to first graders beginning next school year.
