In this episode, Tom and Natalie discuss the "Grading Trap," which inadvertently occurs when traditional grading practices - things like zeros for missing work, late penalties, and mixing behavior with academic performance - end up working against learning instead of supporting it.  The "Grading Trap" can inadvertently sabotage great teaching.

Tom and Natalie close the episode with ways that teachers can recognize the "red flags" of the "Grading Trap" and how they can get themselves out of it.

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS

RECENT BOOKS:

CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

In this episode, Tom and Natalie discuss three quick assessment wins. Each "win" falls within a specific aspect of assessment.

• Formative: Engineer conversations

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS

• JAN. 24-25 (Tom) NESA Educators Training Institute 

• Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. 

• FEB. 6-7 (Natalie) GFIO 2-Day Workshop 

• Orlando, FL. 

• FEB 19 (Tom) PLC Summit KEYNOTE 

• Phoenix, AZ 

• MAR. 5-6 (Tom) GFIO 2-Day Workshop 

• San Antonio, TX 

• MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day  

• New Orleans, LA 

• APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit 

• Athens, Greece  

• June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institue 

• Madison, WI  

RECENT BOOKS:

• "Redefining Student Accountability"

CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

• Podcast on X

In this episode, Tom and Natalie discuss what makes a good rubric. They discuss the art and science of rubrics and what constitutes a high-quality rubric. They also discuss the differences between analytic, holistic, and single-point rubrics.

UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

• JAN. 24-25 (Tom) NESA Educators Training Institute 

• Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. 

• FEB. 6-7 (Natalie) GFIO 2-Day Workshop 

• Orlando, FL. 

• FEB 19 (Tom) PLC Summit KEYNOTE 

• Phoenix, AZ 

• MAR. 5-6 (Tom) GFIO 2-Day Workshop 

• San Antonio, TX 

• MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day  

• New Orleans, LA 

• APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit 

• Athens, Greece  

• June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) Solution Tree Assessment Collaborative Institue 

• Madison, WI  

JENNIFER GONZALES RUBRICS BLOG:

https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/holistic-analytic-single-point-rubrics/

RECENT BOOKS:

• "Redefining Student Accountability"

CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

• Podcast on X

In this episode, Tom and Natalie ask, "Are Common Assessments Worth It?" Spoiler alert: they are, as long as certain fundamentals and conditions are adhered to. In particular, when common assessments are used formatively they can be a powerful process for enhanced learning for students and teachers!

UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

• Nov. 3-5: Aurora Institute Symposium

• New Orleans, LA

RECENT BOOKS:

• "Redefining Student Accountability"

CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

• Podcast on X

In this episode, Tom and Natalie explore the topic of feedback. They discuss it as both simple and complex. It's simple because there is unanimous agreement in academia about the role feedback plays in increasing student learning. It's complex because there are many contributing factors that lead to feedback potentially being ineffective.

In the end, Tom & Nat leave you with six guidelines for effective feedback.

FEEDBACK LESSONS

UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

• Oct. 17-19: NESA Fall Leadership Conference (Tom)

• Dubai, U.A.E.

• New Orleans, LA

RECENT BOOKS:

• "Redefining Student Accountability"

CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

• Podcast on X

In this episode of Assess THAT, Tom and Nat discuss how educators can quiet the grading noise. Whether it be the traditional graders on one side or the undgraders on the other, many educators can find themselves feeling uncertain about how to respond.

While the extreme positions often take center stage, especially online, it is the balanced positions that are more thoughtful, grounded, and helpful for those trying to navigate grading reform.

UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

• Sep. 23-24: GFIO 2-Day (Tom)

• Madison, WI

• Madison, WI

• Sacramento, CA

• Dubai, U.A.E.

• New Orleans, LA

RECENT BOOKS:

• "Redefining Student Accountability"

CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

• Podcast on X

In this first episode of Assess THAT, Tom & Nat discuss the five reasons assessment must still be an essential part of every educator's professional learning plan.

UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING

• Sep. 23-24: GFIO 2-Day (Tom)

• Madison, WI

• Madison, WI

• Sacramento, CA

• Dubai, U.A.E.

• New Orleans, LA

RECENT BOOKS:

• "Redefining Student Accountability"

CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE

• Podcast on X

Introducing Assess THAT with Tom & Nat! Tom Schimmer and Natalie Vardabasso will be your go-to podcast for everything assessment. From formative assessment to feedback to grading, Tom and Natalie will share their expertise and experience to help you grow your assessment literacy to bring about a transformation within your classroom, your school, or even your district.

Beginning on September 9, Tom and Natalie will bring you bi-weekly episodes that drill down to what the research says, what it doesn't say, and how to put theory into practice.

Stay subscribed to the feed, and the episodes will download automatically!

MARCH 2022: Tom was joined by Ken Williams, author of Ruthless Equity and Starting a Movement 

• Ken on X: @unfoldthesoul

UYES PODCAST

• UYES podcast link

NEW BOOKS BY TOM:

• "Redefining Student Accountability" (NEW)

• "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading"

• "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"

CONNECT WITH TOM SCHIMMER

• Podcast on Twitter

OCTOBER 2022: Tom was joined by Dr. John Hattie for a conversation about his Visible Learning research.

• Visible Learning Website: www.visible-learning.org

UYES PODCAST

• UYES podcast link

NEW BOOKS BY TOM:

• "Redefining Student Accountability" (NEW)

• "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading"

• "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"

CONNECT WITH TOM SCHIMMER

• Podcast on Twitter