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
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
51 – Ungrading in a High School STEM Classroom (w Chris Sarkonak)
One of the most persistent narratives of the school system is that it’s a place where students do work in exchange for grades. However, what would school look like if grades didn’t exist? Chris Sarkonak is one of many teachers involved in the grassroots movement called “ungrading” to move school away from a culture of compliance, towards a culture of … Read More
Going Gradeless (w Charlotte Nixon)
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
Pointless Assessment Practices (w Sarah Zerwin)
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