K-12 grading hasn’t changed a lot in decades. Edutopia thinks they’re due for an update. Here’s an eye-opening article on three grading practices that should be overhauled:
Teacher: Reconsider these traditional grading practices
There are three key grading practices that should be overhauled, writes Alexis “Lexy” Tamony, a high-school math teacher in California. In this article, Tamony asserts that teachers should reconsider averaging scores over time, allowing in elements other than content understanding and reporting “opaque scores.”
For more about grades, check out these Ask a Tech Teacher articles:
- 16+ Websites on Assessments
- Grading Apps, Tools, and Resources We Love
- 12 Fresh Ways to Assess Student Learning
- Helping My Daughters Prepare for the ACT Exams
Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
The concept of A-F is an outdated practice. Since our students will be measured on their skills when they enter the workforce, forcing them to master content which is usually soon forgotten when they leave the class doesn’t make sense. Adopting competency based learning is more in line with what is required in today’s world. I eliminated all homework grades and test grades in my history class only focusing on mastery of skills, such as historical literacy and assessing students on their representation of their learning. I was still bound by the A-F grades per district mandate but I did what I could to accurately measure their learning.
I was sorely unhappy when I was asked/forced to give effort grades instead of letter grades to my tech class students. Within a year, I swore by them. Yep–I know what you mean, Christian.