Nearing the end of the first semester, John and Alex provide an update on how their new grading practices are going with a discussion on the different ways that they approach revision. Then, some students from their classes join the podcast to share their often very frank, thoughtful, and surprising views of grades and grading. After they leave, John and Alex reflect on changes they will make based on what they heard.  

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Now at the end of the first marking period of the year, John and Alex provide an update on how it's going so far, including very frank feedback from some of John's students. Next, Alex and John explain why, in their experience, grades rarely provide the kind of motivation they're hoping for. Then, Timothy Klein, co-author of How to Navigate Life, joins to share what the research says about student motivation and he presents a much better path to motivation by focusing on the "science of purpose." Last, John and Alex share, as they always do, "what's keeping us going." 

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With the first progress report grades submitted, Alex and John give some updates on how their approaches are going so far and then dig into the very contentious issue of homework. Neither John nor Alex is assigning homework in their classes this year, but they wonder about what is gained and lost in their choices. John then interviews Boston University professor Dr. Janine Bempechat, co-author of No More Mindless Homework. The episode ends with Alex and John answering the question, "What's Keeping Us Going?"

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Teachers have been using roughly the same grading practices for as long as we've had public schools, but we rarely examine the potential harm of these approaches. Alex and John define what they mean by "traditional grading" practices and begin to identify the damaging effects they can have on students. Also, John interviews Jim Burke, author of The English Teacher's Companion and many other books. Alex and John end with "What's Keeping Us Going," a little bit of good news in the world of education.

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Why is grading a "third rail" issue? Why do teachers and the larger education community rarely talk about it? Because it's personal and very complex. In this episode, Alex and John begin unpacking these essential questions. John also interviews Sarah Brown Wessling, 2010 National Teacher of the Year. 

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Welcome to Season 1 of Third Rail Classroom. We are hoping that you join us on our journey this year to find more equitable ways of grading. Our first two episodes will be released before September 1. Please share with friends and colleagues, and be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss an episode. 

Please consider supporting our show using this link (buymeacoffee.com/thirdrailclassroom) and be sure to visit our website (https://thirdrailclassroom.com/) to access all previous episodes and links to lots of resources. Thanks so much for listening!