|
This week, I want to share what I've learned about Ungrading/Gradeless classrooms. I enjoyed learning from the great Deanna Lough about Ungrading/Gradeless classrooms and how removing traditional letter grades is more equitable. Deanna brought the fire, and her lessons are available as a free course entitled "Gradeless and Lovin' It: How to conquer teacher burnout and love your job again." The course will take about an hour, and there is a certificate of completion. You can register here, and please share.
In our conversation, we explored the traditional grading system and its impact on students and educators. Deanna shared her experiences with ungrading and how it has benefited her classroom. Ungrading provides a fairer way for her students to earn grades and encourages growth and improvement.
As educators, we must remember that grades are subjective and only sometimes reflect actual learning. Instead, they can protect harmful systems that ultimately do more harm than good. Deanna changed to ungrading because she observed the detrimental effects of punitive systems, and instead, she decided to focus on growth and feedback as tools for student success.
We also discussed how some students struggle with deadlines and organization due to neurodiversity or trauma, and traditional grading systems only exacerbate these issues. Ungrading offers a more compassionate approach, allowing students to focus on understanding concepts and actionable feedback that can make them better writers.
One term we discussed was "doom bag," which Deanna used to describe clutter that creates chaos. I related to this term because my son tends to accumulate clutter in his backpack, which can lead to disorganization.
Overall, this conversation was a valuable discussion on the traditional grading system and its impact on students and educators. By switching to an ungrading approach focused on growth and actionable feedback, we can create a learning environment that promotes equity, encourages improvement, and sets students up for success.
Join us on this transformative educational experience and revolutionize your teaching practice with the power of a gradeless classroom. Enroll now and unlock the potential of every student!
|
