I am very attached to the courses I teach. I have toiled, sweated, and shed numerous tears building what I hope to be engaging lessons, organized units, and mesmerizing learning opportunities for each of the courses I teach. I, like so many of my colleagues sometimes feel that the courses I teach are my courses, … Continue reading Stop making grade soup
Tag: Tom Schimmer
The Love Language of Professional Judgment
When Mackenzie* walked into my class, she was pale, illuminating the dark circles under her eyes. Her mom had dropped her off on the way to the ER so she could find out what she was going to miss in English. She winced and pressed her lips together as she tried to speak. I immediately … Continue reading The Love Language of Professional Judgment
Grades as Journey, Not Hyperbole
I am getting tired of grades being labelled as the bad guy in education. While they are not my favourite aspect of teaching, and in fact, way down the list, I cannot figure out why so many educators continue to vilify them. The above statements might come as a big surprise to many of you. … Continue reading Grades as Journey, Not Hyperbole
Extending Our View of Extending
Lately, as I've engaged in conversations in person, webinars, works, and social media, I’ve noticed hesitancy about last level on proficiency scales. You know the one. It's called Extending, Exceeding, Advanced, Exemplary, Expert, or Mastery on a four- or five-point scale. The level that comes just before this last level is called Meeting, Applying, Proficient … Continue reading Extending Our View of Extending
my growth mindset 