Lessons My Students Taught Me
An Honest and Forthright Assessment of the 2022-2023 School Year Detailed, evidence-based feedback is one of the pillars of our ungrading approach, called the Learning Progression Model (LPM). Because I […]
The Tension between Job and Self: A Teacher’s Trajectory
Burned Out or On Fire? How are you doing? Are you finishing the year feeling burned-out? Was this an especially difficult school year or did it feel normal to you? […]
Assessment 3.0: The Learning Progression Model
Are you ready to shift to Assessment 3.0? If you are reading this, then I assume you are seeking the same thing as I am: how to make better humans […]
Using Feedback to Improve Student Learning: A Learning Progression Approach
Do you remember the last time you gave students feedback on their work, only to have them ignore it and focus solely on their grades? It’s a frustrating experience, but […]
Target Levels
An essential feature of the Learning Progression Model is the use of “target levels.” A target level is the benchmark that students are expected to reach by the end of […]
On Ramps to Education – “There’s no point in trying.”
I’m sure we’ve all, at one time or another, been so overwhelmed by a task at hand that we didn’t know where to start. Looking at the sheer volume or […]
The Easiest Grade Translation for a Gradeless Classroom
I am so excited! I love how seemingly minor alterations can create a huge mindshift. After years of using a grade translation chart tailored to each class, we finally came up […]
Reassessment vs. Retakes
There has been a lot of discussion in educational circles over the past 5 years or more regarding reassessment vs. retakes. How many chances should a student get to show […]
Content vs. Skills
Hello! One quarter of the school year has passed, unbelievably. I sent home a letter (via email) to parents and students, explaining the Unit 1 scores and what they mean, […]
The Role of Practicing
I recently received letters of gratitude from two former students. They lifted my heart, and surprised me. They were uplifting because the girls each wrote perceptive comments about the effect […]
