gradeless

Episode 14's educator coffee talk is focused on how we can assess our children’s knowledge without giving a grade. When we think about what kids really need, it’s meaningful feedback. It’s time to reflect.  It’s the encouragement and grace that it takes to grow.

My guests today, Shannon Green, Vickita Bhatt and Jim Hahn show how, now more than ever, we see the benefits of going gradeless. True educational equity, social justice, decreased anxiety, no cheating, eradication of bullying, and growth mentality are just some of the positive ramifications of providing meaningful feedback in place of the usual letters and numbers. Any school can do it, and my guests give practical tips and tools for how.

My guests today, Shannon Green, Vickita Bhatt and Jim Hahn show how, now more than ever, we see the benefits of going gradeless. True educational equity, social justice, decreased anxiety, no cheating, eradication of bullying, and growth mentality are just some of the positive ramifications of providing meaningful feedback in place of the usual letters and numbers. Any school can do it, and my guests give practical tips and tools for how.

Andrew Burnett is a veteran teacher of Math who took a few years to do research, and is back in the classroom making a big splash with going gradeless.

• Study measuring the effect of immediate feedback and whether it helps kids learn. It does.
• Change is hard.
• How to help educators change.
• Why Andrew made the change when he came back to the classroom.
• Teachers going Gradeless.
• Mathematical Mindsets by Jo Boaler
• Student Self-assessments, engaging math.
• Isn’t every kid going to say they deserve an A?
• Show me what you can do - low stakes, no grade.
• We spend a lot more time on student “show me what you can do’s“
• Give specific details on what they did well and what they did not do well.
• Not grading assignments, but giving feedback on learning.
• No grades go on the papers.
• They were no longer looking for a grade.
• Evidence vs. completion
• Seesaw online portfolio
• Workload decreased in some areas and increased in other areas.
• Worst-case scenario is I could go through all their work and give them a grade if I needed to.
• Learning opportunity vs. homework.
• Many of these grades had no indication of whether students understood the concepts!
• Students complete learning opportunities on assistments.
• Check-ins vs. Grade book accountability.
• Why did I not learn this sooner?
• Teachers say they have to have a minimum number of grades.
• Need support around you.
• Letter to parents.
• Other barriers: fear of change.
• It’s ok to wait for the new year to start.

Doesn’t this mean that kids never show anything because they aren’t getting a grade for it?

Melissa Emler is the Director of Community at Modern Learning

• Online media company to help schools change and be better. Really powerful conversations are happening regularly.

• The Testing Emperor Finally has no Clothes

• Modernlearners.com/jethro

• All of the onus for learning is placed on the teacher.

• It is the responsibility of teachers to create the conditions for learning to happen.

• Communication beats compliance, every time.

• Learning happens through feedback and questioning.

• It is the student to communicate questions and understanding.

• Going gradeless or standards based grading doesn’t really communicate learning.

• We haven’t really had a conversation about what we mean by “learning”.

• Seymour Sarason’s “What do you mean by learning?“

• People are learning when they want to learn more.

• It requires co-creating the curriculum

• Our practices do not match our beliefs.

• The amount of time we spend thinking, talking, planning for standardized tests.

• Giving prizes for testing= :(

• Beliefs must drive assessment.

• Challenge assumptions, biases and orthodoxies that influence assessment practice.

• Communication beats compliance, every time.

• Explore status quo-busting assessment solutions to provide more authentic and real-world choices.

• Let students learn about how they learn.

• Measure what matters.

• Invest in TRUST.

• So important to trust teachers to create the conditions for learning to happen.

• If we get to a common set of beliefs then we don’t need to pressure teachers to do well on a test.

• Standards and tests change based on political issues.

• how to be a transformative leader? Be strong in your individual beliefs.

Schedule a call with Jethro

Are you feeling like you are always behind at school? Do you feel like you need about 2 more hours each day to accomplish everything? Here’s how I help principals work manageable hours: Create your ideal week, so that you can leave work at work and enjoy your life!

Please take a moment to rate this podcast in iTunes or on Stitcher. 

Please follow me on Twitter: @jethrojones for the host and @TrnFrmPrincipal for the show.

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