Going Gradeless

After a bit of a dry spell, I'm back. It's that time of the school year when every sentence in my head starts with "Next year..." Completing that sentence is a whole new way of schooling for me.

I have long believed that when it comes to motivating learning, grades do more harm than good.

I have often said, “When I open my own school...no grades.”

I know I am not alone in this belief.

And, when I face the reality of my bank account, I know I am not going to start my own school.

So I have decided I am going to go as gradefree as possible next year within the system I work in now.

After reading Hacking Assessment by Starr Sackstein, I think I have a framework figured out where feedback and conferencing and self-reflection take the place of grades for the most part, allowing the quarterly grade to be a more accurate reflection of students’ learning.

I went into class today and, after introducing the books I’m asking my AP Lit students to read this summer, I introduced them to the anlage of the plan to go gradeless.

I expected more confusion, complaint, even rejection of the idea. A lot of my students’ have their identities all tied up in a knot of GPAs and honor rolls. I should have trusted in their vision more. We’ve talked about grades and grading quite a bit throughout the year; they know how I feel. But often when I bring up the “no grades in my school” idea, student say that they are motivated by grades.

In anticipation of that comment, I said “I know lots of people say they are motivated by grades. But that’s because grades are the only system you know. And before you knew about grades, you were motivated by learning. You didn’t stress as a toddler about whether you were getting an A or a B on your toddling.”

After some nods and laughs, one student said, “To tell you the truth, this is going to relieve so much stress.”

I agree. And while one or two of my most grade-connected students looked a tad nervous, I’m pretty sure they trust me, and are willing to give it a shot. They too will be happy for a little less stress.

On to the planning!