But They Won’t Do It if I Don’t Grade It

Mike SzczepanikBlog, Engage Better, Grade Better, Lesson Plan Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Change is hard. Assignment completion is a concern for some if there are no grades. Numerous factors affect student motivation. Not all students are motivated by grades. The carrot-and-stick motivational technique worked for the industrial revolution. Previously, I had discussed my reasons for breaking free from grades. While there are many benefits to going gradeless, there are also some … Read More

Why Gradeless? Breaking Free From Grades

Mike SzczepanikBlog, Engage Better, Grade Better, Innovate Better, Mastery Done Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR: Our grading habits can be inconsistent and have limited value in the learning process. The extrinsic motivation of grades often limits our students’ drive for deeper learning. Going gradeless is not a simple process, but a worthy one to help students reflect, listen to feedback, and grow. In traditional education systems, grades have long been the primary measure of … Read More

Going Gradeless (w Charlotte Nixon)

Natalie Vardabasso#EduCrush Podcast

Description: Going gradeless is a phrase that can create excitement or dread. It’s intimidating just to take a chance and dive in. Charlotte Nixon, a seasoned teacher and playwright, has done just that. On this episode Charlotte explores with us the lessons she learned going gradeless in her ELA class.   Show Notes:  Charlottes teaching style 2:41  The projects inspirations 3:15  … Read More

You want to write a book? Here’s my experience.

David FrangiosaBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Lead Better, Reflect Better, Teacherpreneur Better

TL;DR: Author David Frangiosa shares his experiences about writing his book Going Gradeless, Grades 6-12: Shifting the Focus to Student Learning. He walks us through the process from developing an idea, writing a manuscript, peer review, chapter sequence, finding the right publisher for you, and what to do after your book is published. Writing a book has been one of … Read More

Pointless Assessment Practices (w Sarah Zerwin)

Natalie Vardabasso#EduCrush Podcast

For too long, the purpose of assessment has been to collect points for a gradebook. As a high school English teacher, Sarah Zerwin decided to uphold a better purpose for assessment: learning. On the episode, Sarah shares the many “point-less” assessment practices that teachers can use to shift their classroom from a culture of compliance, to a culture of authentic … Read More