These circumstances do have an impact on student
achievement, there is no doubt about it. However, we have all also
heard stories of students, classes, and schools who have apparently
conquered obstacles like these and gone on to accomplish great things.
It is possible to transcend negative circumstances to attain the goals
we've set for ourselves, and that others have set for us.
For the last year or so, I've been studying the topic of grading as
it relates to student achievement. I've been seeking answers to
questions like, What are the most effective methods of measuring and
communicating student achievement, and what are the least effective (or
even toxic) methods? What is the proper use of a letter grade or a
percent on an assignment, and what does it really mean to the student,
or to the college looking at their transcript? Should homework be
graded? Why do we mark down on an English project, for example, when
it's turned in late--after all, turning it in late is not an indicator
of how well the student understands Shakespeare, but rather how
irresponsible the student was.
There are two experts in the field of educational
assessment from whom I've learned much already: Rick Wormeli and Doug
Reeves. This school year some teachers and I will be studying the work
of these two men, among others, to evaluate our grading practices and
look for ways to improve them to most effectively support student
achievement.
For example, in one of his books Doug Reeves states, "...accurate, specific, and timely feedback is linked to student learning. ...feedback is not only more important than most other instructional interventions, it is also more important than socioeconomic
status, drug use, nutrition, exercise, anxiety, family structure, and a
host of other factors that many people have claimed are overwhelming."
The use of feedback--which is much more than just putting a letter
grade or a number at the top of the paper--is one method of evaluating
student work that can overcome the negative effects of all those
barriers I named at the start of this article.
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