Homeschooling without grades

**nuisance26** · 05-03-2008, 08:49 AM

~Do any of you homeschool without grades? I was an honor roll student throughout my education and it either created my perfectionism or made it worse. I don't remember learning the material as well I was supposed to but I did become a good test taker. I'm seriously considering a classical/unschooling approach to homeschooling. Does anyone else go grade-less? Why did you do it? Any advice or stories about your experiences without grades would be very much appreciated!~

**Starlight9803** · 05-03-2008, 04:09 PM

I don't use grades. I never really understood having grades for my homeschooled child. Anything she "misses" on her work, we go over it, correct it, and learn from it. It seems that I get more of a feel for what she knows on a subject by getting her to talk / write / or illustrate something about it, rather than grading random worksheets, and using those grades to show how much retention of the subject she has. The only "graded" work we do is an end of the year standardized test (our personal choice to show progress in our state). I've found that not worrying about the grades allows for much less stress, and brings back the joy of learning.

**MommyinTX** · 05-03-2008, 11:40 PM

Yes, we don't do grades or grade levels (except we use their age grade for church classes). Everyone just works to their best ability and we keep plugging along.

Becky in TX

**zakity** · 05-04-2008, 12:52 AM

We don't use "grades". They have to correct things until they are perfect. If they are having issues with something, we go over it (and over it and over it and over it).

I always hated taking tests, not doing well on them, and no one would explain anything. The class just moved on and the kids who didn't understand got further behind.

We also don't use "grade levels" really. I do tell them what "grade" they should be in, but only so that they can just tell people a grade number if they are asked and don't want to explain the homeschooling thing.

**smk0817** · 05-06-2008, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by zakity

We don't use "grades". They have to correct things until they are perfect. If they are having issues with something, we go over it (and over it and over it and over it).

I always hated taking tests, not doing well on them, and no one would explain anything. The class just moved on and the kids who didn't understand got further behind.

We also don't use "grade levels" really. I do tell them what "grade" they should be in, but only so that they can just tell people a grade number if they are asked and don't want to explain the homeschooling thing.

Stephanie