All or none.  Actually it’s more like all and none.  All of the performances (assessments) and none of the assignments.  This is the biggest change we decided to make to our grading policy this semester.  Last semester we reported both practice and performances in our online grade book, but we found that some students were still concerned about the points and the percentage rather than their learning.  As the start of the new semester approached, we thought about making the change to only report performances online. I have to admit I was a little hesitant to agree to do this.

In the past, as a student and teacher, I was not comfortable with grades based only on tests.  I wasn’t convinced that it was what was best for students. But as with any idea that comes up during our team meeting each morning, we talked it through, and I started to realize something.  That mindset was rooted in the traditional field. The one where it was all about the points, all about the percentage, and not all about the learning. Then one morning my mindset changed. I realized this might be worth trying because it had the potential for students to focus more on their learning throughout the semester.  But with any change comes considerations.

The consideration on the top of the list was the number of performances we would actually give during the semester.  If we wanted the focus to only be on performances, then we needed to ask kids to perform more than the five times we did last semester.  Because of the way we structure our week, we committed to doing a performance once a week. To our students, in the beginning, it sounded like a lot, but they quickly realized that it wasn’t that bad.  Each performance is simply an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, their progress, and their learning. Kids have started to voice excitement in earning a 2 because that’s simply a near miss, and they can always do better.  And now, more than last semester, I have more kids seeking additional performance opportunities.

As we’ve continued to move through the semester, many of my students frequently ask to retake performances.  They want to learn, to grow, and to do better the next time. I don’t force them. I don’t make it a requirement.  It’s their choice. If they want to redo one more than once, they can. Why not give them unlimited opportunities to demonstrate their learning?  I would rather have a tray full of retakes every week because that is what is best for my students. It’s all about them.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.