Teachers rail against grades, while administrators continue to mandate their use
One of my Twitter friends, Joy Kirr, recently shared a conversation she was having with someone else on Twitter about grades.Joy has been a marvelous supporter of my book, Role Reversal, which she has reviewed and tweeted about many times. This Twitter conversation demonstrates an ongoing issue about grades, and how many school administrators are inhibiting the change that needs to be made in education.
"I didn't get approval from admin (for student self-grading)," Joy says in one tweet. This issue comes up often, when I speak at schools and conferences.
In his highly-regarded book, Visible Learning, education researcher John Hattie calls student-self evaluating and grading the single most important factor, when it comes to measuring learning. Yet school administrators continue to mandate traditional grading.
Luminaries like John Hattie and Alfie Kohn and in-the-trenches teachers like Joy Kirr understand the deleterious effects of grades.
How long must students suffer before bureaucrats and school administrators change this harmful system?
Mark, I have to add something to your quote -the word "yet." I didn't get approval from my admin. YET. They are open to discussing it, but I was not timely in asking them this year. I really need to communicate with PARENTS about grades. I loaned your book to one of my administrators, but it didn't get read in these busy times. I tried to explain it in a short amount of time, as well, right before Open House, but I need more time. I think it's the parents in our district who are stuck on grades - my administration is very open to new ideas. I need to find a way to convince parents... Will you write me a letter I could tweak and give to them at the start of next year? I'd bet you're more fluent with your words than I am, that's for sure! Thanks for this post - I just had to clarify that tweet that uses the word "yet" for a reason. Thanks for understanding - my administration is very supportive of all I'm trying to accomplish "in the trenches." ;-) ~Joy
ReplyDeleteJoy, your name is so appropriate, because you are such a joy. I don't know many educators as dedicated as you. I'm glad your admin is supportive; of course, the cynic in me says, the proof is in the pudding. In other words, if you do all you can do to validate feedback over grades, let's see if they are supportive then.
DeleteI love your idea about the parent letter. Here's what I propose. I'll write the letter and post it to this blog. That way, you and any other teacher can refer parents to it. You can even print it, and put your name to it, if you like.
Thanks so much for starting this conversation. See you in the Twitterverse.
Sooooo great that you'll put the letter on the blog! Thank you - from me and everyone else who dares to use it! ;-)
DeleteParent communication and education is the MAIN part of making this work!! Trust me, once they hear it, they believe it too. We just have to get the information out to them. Those that don't come around, will when their neighbors say they agree or when their children go home saying how amazing a ROLE classroom is. I have been here, trust me, it is the best change in education since sliced bread
DeleteExcellent post. Coming from the "other Twitter user" this makes me even more motivated to make this change from grading to self assessment & feedback. Teachers, peers, parents, community members all can comment, ask questions, give feedback, argue, debate, think about & learn from/with students. This is what makes learning so addicting. Thank You Joy & Mark for what you are doing. Keep it coming.
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