Elements of Grading: A Guide to Effective Practice - Softcover

Solution Tree

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1935542125 ISBN 13: 9781935542124

Publisher: Solution Tree, 2010

Synopsis

Research has shown that the quality of feedback is one of the most important factors in improving student learning. Elements of Grading addresses problems with the primary source of feedback for students: grades. Author Douglas Reeves argues that grades must meet four essential criteria: -Accuracy. How can we ensure that grading systems are the result of evidence and reason rather than individual judgment? -Fairness. How can we ensure that grades are based on performance rather than gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status? -Specificity. How can we make sure grades are specific enough to help students improve their performance, rather than simply ranking them? -Timeliness. How can we ensure that students receive fair, accurate, and specific feedback while they still have the time and motivation to use it? In addressing these four issues, Elements of Grading does not offer an ultimate answer or perfect system but shows how to begin a constructive, evidence-based conversation about improving grading systems. Reeves analyzes the main features of the grading systems many schools use today (such as the 100-point system and the policy of giving no points for missing work), evaluating each of them by his four criteria. While addressing common arguments against reform, he offers practical suggestions to teachers to make the grading process not only more accurate, fair, specific, and timely, but quicker and more efficient as well. The book includes examples, case studies, and opportunities for reflection to facilitate individual and school-wide examinations of grading policies.

About this title

About the Author

Douglas Reeves is founder of the Leadership and Learning Center and a frequent keynote speaker for education, business, nonprofit, and government organizations throughout the world. The author of more than twenty books and many articles on leadership and organizational effectiveness, he has twice been selected for the Harvard Distinguished Authors Series. He was named the 2006 Brock International Laureate for his contributions to education. He also received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Parents Choice Award for his writing for children and parents. Douglas edited and contributed to the Solution Tree anthology Ahead of the Curve and contributed to the anthologies On Common Ground, Change Wars, and 21st Century Skills.

Review

For most teachers, grading students is a gunky game an enterprise ruled more by whim than rigor. Yet, in this exciting new book, Doug Reeves shows educators how they can make grading accurate, fair, specific, and timely. If, as he contends, grading is feedback, then the grade Reeves earns for this volume is a glistening A-plus! --James Popham, Professor Emeritus, University of California at Los Angeles

In this beautiful book, Doug Reeves, one of the most respected leaders of school reform in the nation, takes the topic of grading and opens it up for us, bringing his insight to assessment, feedback, standards, competition, record keeping, conferring . . . and above all, teaching itself. I read this book as a mother of high school boys and am thankful that he understands the devastation that haphazard grading policies can wreck on students' lives. I read it as a leader of school reform and am overjoyed to be given a lever with which to lift the level of student work. Above all, I read it as a teacher, looking for and finding ways to do the most good that I can for my students. Authoritative, based on mountains of data and eminent good sense, Elements of Grading is accessible not only to read but to implement, and yet it can have world-changing consequences. You will not want to miss this one. --Lucy Calkins, Director of the Reading and Writing Project, Teachers College, Columbia University

In this beautiful book, Doug Reeves, one of the most respected leaders of school reform in the nation, takes the topic of grading and opens it up for us, bringing his insight to assessment, feedback, standards, competition, record keeping, conferring . . . and above all, teaching itself. I read this book as a mother of high school boys and am thankful that he understands the devastation that haphazard grading policies can wreck on students' lives. I read it as a leader of school reform and am overjoyed to be given a lever with which to lift the level of student work. Above all, I read it as a teacher, looking for and finding ways to do the most good that I can for my students. Authoritative, based on mountains of data and eminent good sense, Elements of Grading is accessible not only to read but to implement, and yet it can have world-changing consequences. You will not want to miss this one. --Lucy Calkins, Director of the Reading and Writing Project, Teachers College, Columbia University

Edition details

• Publisher: Solution Tree
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1935542125
• ISBN 13: 9781935542124
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 140