What Does a Grade Mean? Hacking Assessment Shifts the Conversation

By Starr Sackstein

When it comes time to set goals with students, inevitably, there are several whose highest aspiration is to achieve an A in all of their classes because this is what the system and their parents have impressed upon them for years.

They don’t have a plan except to do all...

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The Secret to Creating Good Student Learning Habits

By Elizabeth Jorgensen

Can I tell you a secret? I hate grades.  

I don’t like judging my students or ranking them. I don’t like placing value on them or on their work. And I’ve found that if I place judgment on progress, students stop trying. 

While my colleagues...

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5 Hacks to Improve Questions and Answers in Your Classroom

Asking questions is one of the best ways to get students thinking about a topic. However, not all questions are created equal. Some questions are simply factual recitations or closed questions that can be easily answered with a yes or no.

To increase student engagement and understanding, ask...

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Ramp up Formative Assessment to Improve Achievement

The time has come for educators to change the way they think about assessment. The old-fashioned "sage on a stage" approach is no longer viable in today's interconnected world.

To create deep, meaningful learning outcomes, teachers need to rethink how they use assessments and what types of tasks...

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Tossing Out Traditional Grades: Gaining Buy-In and Open Communication

When making a big change like throwing out grades, many people will not “get it” and may push back in ways that impede the progress of students.

Schools and colleges have supported the traditional grading system for far too long, making it challenging to suggest this seemingly...

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How a Pandemic Exposed Education's Flaws, Clearing Paths to Change

By Mark Barnes

Teachers and school leaders sacrificed so much during a global pandemic. A tsunami of issues came hurtling their way, but they stood on the shore, dug in their heels, and would not be moved.

They embraced the Zoom age, hybrid teaching, and remote learning, while constantly...

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Limiting Quit Points: Supporting Students in Creative Ways

Trying to account for the individual needs of diverse learners is one of the most significant challenges for educators.

Even when teachers use dynamic resources and offer active learning opportunities, some students will be bored or fall behind.

We all learn differently, and our success in the...

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Shifting The Grades Mindset

Traditional grading has been ingrained in American educational culture for more than a century. Because of the culture of grades that has emerged, we have lost sight of what is important in school: the learning.

Too many students, parents, and educators focus excessively on labeling learning...

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Understanding Why Students Quit

We all spend a lot of time praising traits like hard work, determination, perseverance, and grit—and noting their importance in overcoming any challenge or obstacle. Whether in the classroom, office, or on the athletic field, we know these are the elements of achievement and success.

...

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5 Surefire Ways to Help Students Succeed in Education's New World

Social distancing and school. What does this look like? At the time of this article, who could really tell? Still, even when teachers and school leaders have little idea of what education in a pandemic world looks like, we've got to find ways to help students succeed--both in school and in the...

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