Classroom Magic

Opting out of Grading

girlwithalessonplan:

iamlittlei:

world-shaker:

As an educator who abolished grading in 2004 and initiated a Grading Moratorium, I have an acute understanding for how grading sabotages learning. Because of this, I have drafted this letter for my daughter’s future teachers.

Dear teacher, 

Kayley loves to learn and is very excited to start school this year.  

Because the case against grades has a wealth of anecdotal evidence and scientific research, I am requesting that Kayley’s assessments and evaluations only include formative comments. This means that Kayley’s learning would never be reduced to a symbol (such as a number or letter). This includes individual assignments, quizzes, tests and her report card.

As a family that plays an active role in Kayley’s learning, the best feedback we can receive about Kayley’s learning is to see her learning. No reductionist data is required.

 If you are interested in learning more about the case against grades, I would be happy to provide you with these resources, and if your school’s assessment and reporting policies make this request problematic, I would like the opportunity to discuss this further. Feel free to e-mail me at joe.bower.teacher@gmail.com

I look forward to working with you to support Kayley’s natural intrinsic desire to go on learning. 

Sincerely, 

Joe Bower

Interesting. Thoughts?

I highly respect the process of evaluating student’s learning without grades, and I feel I have to mention that with this process it is easy for students not to receive the critical feedback they may need. I hope that grade letters and numbers would be replaced by an evaluative description. 

1. algebracalculator60852 liked this
2. igniteafirewithin liked this
3. geofaultline reblogged this from iamlittlei
4. sefton-iris liked this
5. edtechtrekker liked this
6. edtechtrekker said: This is amazing! I You try to encourage students to do their best. They do it. Then, grade time comes and it’s blow to their gut when you’re not performing up to a standard that based on someone else’s idea relevance and mastery.
7. humanbeing57 reblogged this from world-shaker
8. jehwed reblogged this from jquizzz and added:

   Hmmmm. How does the system work??

9. jquizzz reblogged this from world-shaker and added:

   So interesting. Definitely give this a look if you have the chance and definitely read the interviews with teachers who...

10. samuelrsolomon reblogged this from world-shaker
11. purpleishboots liked this
12. red-square liked this
13. red-square reblogged this from iamlittlei
14. coolcatteacher reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan and added:

    Alas, numbers are part of life at least if you are on salary. Formative assessment is vital but the decision he is...

15. sydernay liked this
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17. 2ndcgw liked this
18. itsonrepeat said: I’ve been looking into this lately for a job task I’m working on. I completely agree and think it’s fantastic! The current educational system is not teaching the skills we need to move forward in today’s society
19. resmc liked this
20. life-raven reblogged this from world-shaker
21. rumagin liked this
22. iamdfair reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan
23. davidhallstead liked this
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25. kquizzo liked this
26. ghoulmann reblogged this from indielowercase
27. privilegedwhitegirl reblogged this from iamlittlei and added:

    I hate grades, but at a certain point won’t Kayley need grades to get into college, or get a job?

28. indielowercase reblogged this from ghoulmann and added:

    Narrative evaluations are where it’s at.

29. 365daysofmichellesm liked this
30. valswei reblogged this from world-shaker
31. classroommagic reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan and added:

    I highly respect the process of evaluating student’s learning without grades, and I feel I have

32. annao007 liked this
33. seekelslearn reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan and added:

    100% agree as a student. See my post about my semester without grades here.

34. thingsrecycledusefully liked this
35. classygirl24 reblogged this from girlwithalessonplan
36. girlwithalessonplan reblogged this from iamlittlei and added:

    We’ve been told MOAR GRADING: Homework doesn’t count. Formative assess up to three times/until 80% of students achieve...

37. world-shaker posted this