In early 2016, I wrote what I thought were the “Top 10 standards-based grading articles” available at that time. Nearly three years have past and a number of quality articles have been written in that time. Here we go! Brookhart, S. M., Guskey, T. R., Bowers, A. J., McMillan, J. H., Smith, J. K., Smith, […]
One of many possible reasons why standards-based grading has been slower to catch on at secondary level when compared to elementary settings…. From a study of nearly 3,000 K-12 teachers: The evidence gathered in this study shows that nearly all teachers believe that grading plays a role in the teaching and learning process. However, the
[Note to readers: This column is part of an ongoing series for Iowa ASCD’s The Source e-newsletter.] Leaders of Professional Development: Moving towards a process rather than event What does it mean to be a curriculum lead? This is the fourth column in a series for Iowa administrators, teacher leaders and anyone else interested in enhancing curriculum leadership.
[Note to readers: This column was published in a September 2018 edition of Iowa ASCD’s The Source e-newsletter.] Leaders of Processes: Making Every Professional Learning Opportunity Count Last school year, I challenged readers to join Iowa ASCD by digging deeper into what it means to be a curriculum lead. According to our organization, the functions of our work
For the past fourteen years, I have worked in the Solon Community School District (Solon, Iowa). When I interviewed for a teaching position in 2004, I had no idea Solon would be such a wonderful place to work. During that interview, I found out the high school building was only a few years old and principal
Two articles were published in the February 2018 issue of School Administrator (AASA) describing university admissions office perspectives on standards-based grading (SBG). The full e-edition is available online and brief summary of each article is below. — High school students experiencing SBG receive a fair shot at higher education admissions The authors interviewed admissions folks at several
I was invited to share our district’s standards-based grading journey with the national superintendents’ professional organization, AASA. A brief summary: In Solon, Iowa, teachers’ gradebooks describe students’ current levels of learning without the customary array of A’s and C’s or numerical grades. The small district is at the forefront of a new assessment movement in
(Note to readers: This is part three in a series of columns written about Iowa ASCD’s current focus on supporting curriculum leadership across the state.) In the last column, I proposed curriculum leads consider getting their feet wet and engaging teachers in a collaborative process to understand the nexus between standards, instruction and assessment in
[Note to readers: This column was printed in a November 2017 edition of Iowa ASCD’s The Source e-newsletter.] What does it mean to be a leader of curriculum, instruction, and assessment? Not too long ago, I challenged readers to join Iowa ASCD this school year by digging deeper into what it means to be a curriculum lead. According
Are you thinking about making the shift to standards-based grading in your building or district? Based upon hundreds of phone calls, consultations, workshops and emails, here’s a list of five pitfalls I have observed that school leaders should avoid. Use exceeds as a descriptor in the grade book at the secondary level. Nothing frustrates Sally