----- Original Message ----- From: "Eleanor" <eleanorz541@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: RE: tziyun shnati, yearly grade 1) The project is most certainly meant to be in the school grade. The Ministry site gives very clear guidlelines. The problem at this time is with Irgun teachers who followed Irgun policy, didn't do the project and now there is an oral bagrut, where 60% is presentation of the (non-existant?) project. Irgun teachers are also advised/asked not to test the project. As an irgun teacher – by following the guidelines I may hurt my pupils; by NOT following them I have certainly hurt myself and my colleagues. Oh, well, what else is new…? 2) Extensive reading. Literature is supposed to be 33% of the grade and it is supposed to be assessed in some form. 5 Book reports are mandatory for 5 pointers in the high school Again: this information has always been on the website . 3) Among the Inspectorate's reasons and justifications for the new literature module is that many teachers teach a lot of literature and it is not felt justified in "the weight of its grade" and many students /parents complain that it is a waste of time. On the other side of the scale are the many teachers who do NOT teach literature, do book reports etc etc etc because no one checks up on them. I strongly believe with Bari –although the tziyun shanty has many drawbacks, it does allow the teacher to reward the hard working pupil for his efforts even if they meet with limited success on exams themselves. Our system / culture here is NOT like abroad and the tziyun shnati is often what gets the kids to do something (like book reports and projects). This is true for many subjects, not only English: many kids would prefer to do Hebrew lit or Tanach/Bible externally, i.e. not go to classes/homework /participation/tests: just study with a private teacher or in a cram course and show up for the exam. One of my objections to the HOTS log is the fact that the internal grade BECOMES the final grade. How many times ( this week…) do I have parents/pupils trying to make up for no=projects, no book reprots so that the tziyun shnati is NOT ruined. I can't wait for the future: a log of 3 years to be crammed into a week's work with the private teacher, or purchased online or whatever…. I have already been threatened IN THE TEACHERS ROOM BY PARENTS because of dissatisfaction with an internal school grade. And when that grade becomes THE FINAL grade? But – I believe in order to save money – this is the way the Ministry is going – only certain core subjects will be tested nationally and the other subjects will be tested internally. The Matriculation Grade is going to be worthless for the Universities who will demand greater weight on the psychometric tests. And does ANYONE believe that this (internal grades, no national exam ) is going to RAISE the standards of the education here…? Eleanor ----------------------------------------------- ** Etni homepage - http://www.etni.org or - http://www.etni.org.il ** ** for help - ask@xxxxxxxx ** ** to post to this list - etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** -----------------------------------------------