Surprise! Gotcha. “Impress me!” “I can’t describe it, but I know it when I see it.” None of these should describe the highest level of learning communicated in the grade book. In this video, I share a response to an email I recently received from a teacher asking about the challenges of describing what a
By Matt Townsley and Chad Lang Are you a helicopter parent? If you’ve seen one, you probably have your working definition. If you are one, you might be asking, “what do you mean?” Helicopter parenting refers to a pattern of excessive parental involvement and control in which parents intervene in situations their children are developmentally capable
One of the more frequent questions I hear when schools begin exploring standards-based grading is this:“How do we hold students accountable for homework?” or “What do we do with students who do not want to reassess?”. In this video, I answer the question, “Is standards-based grading the motivation solution?” Supporting research: “Is standards-based grading effective?”
When schools begin discussing grading reform, one of the first questions is often, “Who should we bring in for professional development?” It’s a reasonable question. A well-designed workshop can introduce new ideas, challenge long-held assumptions, and inspire educators to reconsider traditional grading practices. Book studies can deepen understanding. Sending a leadership team to a conference
In episode 144 of The Grading Podcast, I was invited to share out our upcoming leadership-focused standards-based grading conference. Within this conversation, I suggest why grading reform is a second-order change that requires deep philosophical commitment from administrators, not just technical adjustments from teachers. One of the biggest takeaways: Isolated classroom innovation isn’t enough—lasting change
School districts across the country are increasingly reexamining or refining their grading and assessment practices. Whether the focus is on standards-based, standards-referenced, evidence-based, or proficiency-based grading, leaders may sense that grading practices across classrooms and schools are not fully aligned with district goals. It may time for a grading and assessment reboot: Teachers can interpret
When implementing new grading frameworks, such as standard-based grading, some teachers may feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of reassessments. This manifests as students “gaming the system” for quick re-dos, teachers drowning in grading, and the process feeling like an endless loop rather than a genuine tool for learning. When this cycle accelerates, it is
I received an email from a school leader that raised a familiar and important question about grading. The discussion centered on whether work habits should be reported within standards-based grading/reporting. At the heart of the question was a tension that I believe many educators recognize: work habits clearly matter for student success, yet they are
A common question I hear from school and district leaders implementing standards-based grading is deceptively simple: Should we use a 3-point scale or a 4-point scale? Often, this question emerges after professional learning experiences or deeper conversations about grading philosophy. Educators that have already moved away (or will soon be moving away) from percentages begin
A couple of days ago, I was sitting in an optometrist’s office waiting for my annual eye exam when a woman rushed through the front door, clearly flustered. She approached the front desk and blurted out, “I am so sorry for being late! Here is my insurance card.” Just beneath the counter was a sign