The Grading Podcast

In this week's episode, Sharona and Bosley dive into some of the details, nuances, similarities and differences regarding the role of administrators in the implementation of alternative grading practices. We talk about what administrators can do to support alternative grading efforts, how to talk to administrators, and the similarities and differences in the roles of administrators in K-12 versus Higher Ed. Links Please note - any books linked here are likely Amazon Associates links. Clicking on them and purchasing through them helps support the show. Thanks for your support! * How to talk with administrators about alternative grading [https://gradingforgrowth.com/p/how-to-talk-with-administrators-about], Grading for Growth Blog * A School Leader's Guide to Standards-Based Grading [https://amzn.to/44stoqD], Tammy Heflebower * Grading From the Inside Out: Bringing Accuracy to Student Assessment Through a Standards-Based Mindset (How to Give Students Full Credit for Their Knowledge) [https://amzn.to/4dd4w8G] Tom Schwimmer * Standards-Based Grading: A School District's Pillar to Student Success: Matteson Elementary School District 162's commitment to student success by ... and high expectations for all students. [https://amzn.to/3FbrAI9] * Here’s what alternative grading models could look like [https://www.k12dive.com/news/what-alternative-grading-models-could-look-like/744810/#:~:text=Ungrading%3A%20Students%20self%2Dassess%20their,the%20student's%20self%2Dappointed%20grade] Resources The Center for Grading Reform [https://www.centerforgradingreform.org/] - seeking to advance education in the United States by supporting effective grading reform at all levels through conferences, educational workshops, professional development, research and scholarship, influencing public policy, and community building. The Grading Conference [https://www.thegradingconference.com/] - an annual, online conference exploring Alternative Grading in Higher Education & K-12. Some great resources to educate yourself about Alternative Grading: * The Grading for Growth Blog [https://gradingforgrowth.com/] * The Grading Conference [https://www.thegradingconference.com/] * The Intentional Academia Blog [https://intentionalacademia.substack.com/] Recommended Books on Alternative Grading: * Grading for Growth [https://www.amazon.com/Grading-Growth-Alternative-Practices-Engagement/dp/1642673811/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2AY77FRS7LWBJ&keywords=grading+for+growth&qid=1690223954&sprefix=grading+for+growth%252Caps%252C122&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=fe8d967e9ef22adcf74c58fbd3b9392b&camp=1789&creative=9325], by Robert Talbert and David Clark * Specifications Grading [https://www.amazon.com/Specifications-Grading-Restoring-Motivating-Students/dp/1620362422/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IIE9IBXJOZY9&keywords=specifications+grading&qid=1690228778&sprefix=specifications+grading%252Caps%252C131&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=488cafcb421ce6921a7790e129a928b7&camp=1789&creative=9325], by Linda Nilsen * Undoing the Grade [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFCZ5VCS?ref_=cm_sw_p_kb_dp&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=kpe], by Jesse Stommel Follow us on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram - @thegradingpod. To leave us a comment, please go to our website: www.thegradingpod.com and leave a comment on this episode's page. If you would like to be considered to be a guest on this show, please reach out using the Contact Us form on our website, www.thegradingpod.com [https://www.thegradingpod.com/]. All content of this podcast and website are solely the opinions of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily represent the views of California State University Los Angeles or the Los Angeles Unified School District. Music Country Rock performed by Lite Saturation [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuEhnFL_D38], licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/].

In this episode, Sharona and Bosley look at some of the challenges that elementary school face when considering standards based reporting and standards based grading. From issues with consistency between instructors to the differences between communicating with parents versus communicating with students. Join us in this discussion as we look at the importance of grading in elementary school. Links Please note - any books linked here are likely Amazon Associates links. Clicking on them and purchasing through them helps support the show. Thanks for your support! * A Parents' Guide to Grading and Reporting: Being Clear about What Matters [https://amzn.to/4k0Fj3p] * What is Normed Grading and Why is it Necessary? [https://gradingforgrowth.com/p/what-is-normed-grading-and-why-is] * Grading With Integrity: A Research-Based Approach Grounded in Honesty, Transparency, Accuracy, and Equity [https://amzn.to/4k04lQ5] * Extinguishing the Fires Within Assessment and Grading Reform [https://amzn.to/3EKBb8N] * Episode 43 - Alt Grading as a Team [https://thegradingpod.com/episodes/43-alt-grading-as-a-team-course-coordination-plcs-course-teams-how-to-do-this-together/] Resources The Center for Grading Reform [https://www.centerforgradingreform.org/] - seeking to advance education in the United States by supporting effective grading reform at all levels through conferences, educational workshops, professional development, research and scholarship, influencing public policy, and community building. The Grading Conference [https://www.thegradingconference.com/] - an annual, online conference exploring Alternative Grading in Higher Education & K-12. Some great resources to educate yourself about Alternative Grading: * The Grading for Growth Blog [https://gradingforgrowth.com/] * The Grading Conference [https://www.thegradingconference.com/] * The Intentional Academia Blog [https://intentionalacademia.substack.com/] Recommended Books on Alternative Grading: * Grading for Growth [https://www.amazon.com/Grading-Growth-Alternative-Practices-Engagement/dp/1642673811/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2AY77FRS7LWBJ&keywords=grading+for+growth&qid=1690223954&sprefix=grading+for+growth%252Caps%252C122&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=fe8d967e9ef22adcf74c58fbd3b9392b&camp=1789&creative=9325], by Robert Talbert and David Clark * Specifications Grading [https://www.amazon.com/Specifications-Grading-Restoring-Motivating-Students/dp/1620362422/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IIE9IBXJOZY9&keywords=specifications+grading&qid=1690228778&sprefix=specifications+grading%252Caps%252C131&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=488cafcb421ce6921a7790e129a928b7&camp=1789&creative=9325], by Linda Nilsen * Undoing the Grade [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFCZ5VCS?ref_=cm_sw_p_kb_dp&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=kpe], by Jesse Stommel Follow us on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram - @thegradingpod. To leave us a comment, please go to our website: www.thegradingpod.com and leave a comment on this episode's page. If you would like to be considered to be a guest on this show, please reach out using the Contact Us form on our website, www.thegradingpod.com [https://www.thegradingpod.com/]. All content of this podcast and website are solely the opinions of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily represent the views of California State University Los Angeles or the Los Angeles Unified School District. Music Country Rock performed by Lite Saturation [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuEhnFL_D38], licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/].

Please enjoy this replay of episode 20 from November 2023. Coming to you from the California Mathematics Council - South annual conference, Sharona and Bosley sit down for a wonderful conversation with Dr. Sean Nank. Sean is an adjunct professor at California State University San Marcos, a full professor at the American College of Education, as well as a high school math teacher in the Oceanside Unified School District. Sean is also a recipient of the Persidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. In this incredible conversation, we talk with Sean about the human impact of assessments on our students and the important conversations that can be had once we really start to examine the impact of our grading systems. Links Please note - any books linked here are likely Amazon Associates links. Clicking on them and purchasing through them helps support the show. Thanks for your support! * seannank.com [https://seannank.com/] * How to Grade for Learning: Linking Grades to Standards [https://www.amazon.com/How-Grade-Learning-Linking-Standards/dp/1506334156/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HQMBE13Z5EQX&keywords=grading+for+learning&qid=1700853586&sprefix=grading+for+learning%252Caps%252C144&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=2d78cf324f7b5dc379fa100d2c0ded7b&camp=1789&creative=9325], Ken O'Connor Resources The Grading Conference [https://www.thegradingconference.com/] - an annual, online conference exploring Alternative Grading in Higher Education & K-12. Some great resources to educate yourself about Alternative Grading: * The Grading for Growth Blog [https://gradingforgrowth.com/] * The Grading Conference [https://www.thegradingconference.com/] * The Intentional Academia Blog [https://intentionalacademia.substack.com/] Recommended Books on Alternative Grading (Please note - any books linked here are likely Amazon Associates links. Purchasing through them helps support the show. Thanks for your support!): * Grading for Growth [https://www.amazon.com/Grading-Growth-Alternative-Practices-Engagement/dp/1642673811/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2AY77FRS7LWBJ&keywords=grading+for+growth&qid=1690223954&sprefix=grading+for+growth%252Caps%252C122&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=fe8d967e9ef22adcf74c58fbd3b9392b&camp=1789&creative=9325], by Robert Talbert and David Clark * Specifications Grading [https://www.amazon.com/Specifications-Grading-Restoring-Motivating-Students/dp/1620362422/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IIE9IBXJOZY9&keywords=specifications+grading&qid=1690228778&sprefix=specifications+grading%252Caps%252C131&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=488cafcb421ce6921a7790e129a928b7&camp=1789&creative=9325], by Linda Nilsen * Undoing the Grade [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFCZ5VCS?ref_=cm_sw_p_kb_dp&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=kpe], by Jesse Stommel * Grading for Equity [https://www.amazon.com/Grading-Equity-Matters-Transform-Classrooms/dp/1506391575/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1690228885&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=051ec8a84ba5f535e15891dd6c380f43&camp=1789&creative=9325], by Joe Feldman The Grading Podcast publishes every week on Tuesday at 4 AM Pacific time, so be sure to subscribe and get notified of each new episode. You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram - @thegradingpod. To leave us a comment, please go to our website: www.thegradingpod.com and leave a comment on this episode's page. If you would like to be considered to be a guest on this show, please reach out using the Contact Us form on our website, www.thegradingpod.com [https://www.thegradingpod.com/]. All content of this podcast and website are solely the opinions of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily represent the views of California State University Los Angeles or the Los Angeles Unified School District. Music Country Rock performed by Lite Saturation [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuEhnFL_D38] Country Rock by Lite Saturation is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/].

Sharona and Bosley sit down this week to talk with Jennifer Martinez-Montes about her work on professional development surrounding AI for instructors. Jennifer is a 9th grade English teacher at Santee Education Complex in the Los Angeles Unified School District. She is currently researching the impact of AI on teachers and the opportunities for effective use of AI in lesson planning, differentiation, and other areas of a teacher's responsibilities. In this conversation, we explore the need for instructors to understand AI, its opportunities and issues impacting our work as educators, as we try to determine the impact on students and grading. Links Please note - any books linked here are likely Amazon Associates links. Clicking on them and purchasing through them helps support the show. Thanks for your support! * Teachers Worry About Students Using A.I. But They Love It for Themselves [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/14/us/schools-ai-teachers-writing.html] * Canva AI Image Generator [https://www.canva.com/ai-image-generator/] * Open Art AI [https://openart.ai/] Resources The Center for Grading Reform [https://www.centerforgradingreform.org/] - seeking to advance education in the United States by supporting effective grading reform at all levels through conferences, educational workshops, professional development, research and scholarship, influencing public policy, and community building. The Grading Conference [https://www.thegradingconference.com/] - an annual, online conference exploring Alternative Grading in Higher Education & K-12. Some great resources to educate yourself about Alternative Grading: * The Grading for Growth Blog [https://gradingforgrowth.com/] * The Grading Conference [https://www.thegradingconference.com/] * The Intentional Academia Blog [https://intentionalacademia.substack.com/] Recommended Books on Alternative Grading: * Grading for Growth [https://www.amazon.com/Grading-Growth-Alternative-Practices-Engagement/dp/1642673811/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2AY77FRS7LWBJ&keywords=grading+for+growth&qid=1690223954&sprefix=grading+for+growth%252Caps%252C122&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=fe8d967e9ef22adcf74c58fbd3b9392b&camp=1789&creative=9325], by Robert Talbert and David Clark * Specifications Grading [https://www.amazon.com/Specifications-Grading-Restoring-Motivating-Students/dp/1620362422/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IIE9IBXJOZY9&keywords=specifications+grading&qid=1690228778&sprefix=specifications+grading%252Caps%252C131&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=488cafcb421ce6921a7790e129a928b7&camp=1789&creative=9325], by Linda Nilsen * Undoing the Grade [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFCZ5VCS?ref_=cm_sw_p_kb_dp&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=kpe], by Jesse Stommel Follow us on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram - @thegradingpod. To leave us a comment, please go to our website: www.thegradingpod.com and leave a comment on this episode's page. If you would like to be considered to be a guest on this show, please reach out using the Contact Us form on our website, www.thegradingpod.com [https://www.thegradingpod.com/]. All content of this podcast and website are solely the opinions of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily represent the views of California State University Los Angeles or the Los Angeles Unified School District. Music Country Rock performed by Lite Saturation [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuEhnFL_D38], licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/].

In this episode, Sharona and Boz dive into what research around grading reform might look like. From the types of studies to the areas of interest and some options for focus. We look at what's been done, what's missing, and how the Center for Grading Reform is planning to launch a new initiative to build a national network of researchers focused on grading system. Links Please note - any books linked here are likely Amazon Associates links. Clicking on them and purchasing through them helps support the show. Thanks for your support! * The Compentency Based Assessment Symposium [https://smithengineering.queensu.ca/about/teaching-and-learning/events/cba-symposium.html], Smith Engineering, Queen's University * Chicago Math Symposium [https://chicagosymposium.org/] * Anastasia: The Musical - Encore South Bay [https://www.encoresouthbay.org/] * 72 – Off the Mark – an Interview with author Dr. Jack Schneider [https://thegradingpod.com/episodes/72-off-the-mark-an-interview-with-author-dr-jack-schneider/] * College Bridge [https://college-bridge.org/] * NCTE - Disrupting the Alternative Grading Narrative: Recognizing the Contributions of Two-Year College Teacher-Scholars [https://publicationsncte.org/content/journals/10.58680/tetyc20245215] * Grading With Integrity: A Research-Based Approach Grounded in Honesty, Transparency, Accuracy, and Equity, by Thomas Guskey [https://amzn.to/43VF5G8] * On Your Mark: Challenging the Conventions of Grading and Reporting (A book for K-12 assessment policies and practices) (Essentials for Principals) [https://amzn.to/43PKAGh] * Instructional Feedback: The Power, the Promise, the Practice 1st Edition, by Dr. Thomas Guskey [https://amzn.to/42zPN3O] * Grading for Equity, 2nd Edition, by Joe Feldman [https://GradingforEquity:WhatItIs,WhyItMatters,andHowItCanTransformSchoolsandClassrooms] * Off the Mark: How Grades, Ratings, and Rankings Undermine Learning (but Don’t Have To) [https://amzn.to/4idEtio], by Schneider and Hutt * Specifications Grading [https://amzn.to/4jbpUgM], by Linda Nilson * Punished by Rewards: Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Edition: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes [https://amzn.to/4lx1Bvb], by Alfie Kohn * Labor-Based Grading Contracts: Building Equity and Inclusion in the Compassionate Classroom (The Perspectives on Writing) [https://amzn.to/43UvrUe], by Asao Inoue * Grading for Growth [https://amzn.to/42qwJnj], by Robert Talbert and David Clark * Student perceptions of Alternative Grading Strategies in the Biology Classroom [https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00140-24?_ga=2.64752743.990908718.1744465932-1346520133.1744465932], Jacob Adler * Alternative Grading Systems and Student Outcomes: A comparative analysis of motivation, enjoyment, engagement, stress, and perceptions of final grades [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02602938.2025.2475068?af=R], by Melanie Butler * Setting the Stage for a New Path Forward: Introducing an Alternative Grading Framework to Students [https://publicationsncte.org/content/journals/10.58680/tetyc202452188], NCTE * Proficiency-based grading: a potential solution learning without stressful exams [https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/advan.00255.2024], Terence Favero * Reading Science: A Mixed-methods study of alternative grading with a molecular biology journal club [https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/bmb.21890], Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education * Project EMBER [https://www.tpsemath.org/projectember] * Harvard University - The Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning [https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/beyond-the-grade] Resources The Center for Grading Reform [https://www.centerforgradingreform.org/] - seeking to advance education in the United States by supporting effective grading reform at all levels through conferences, educational workshops, professional development, research and scholarship, influencing public policy, and community building. The Grading Conference [https://www.thegradingconference.com/] - an annual, online conference exploring Alternative Grading in Higher Education & K-12. Some great resources to educate yourself about Alternative Grading: * The Grading for Growth Blog [https://gradingforgrowth.com/] * The Grading Conference [https://www.thegradingconference.com/] * The Intentional Academia Blog [https://intentionalacademia.substack.com/] Recommended Books on Alternative Grading: * Grading for Growth [https://www.amazon.com/Grading-Growth-Alternative-Practices-Engagement/dp/1642673811/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2AY77FRS7LWBJ&keywords=grading+for+growth&qid=1690223954&sprefix=grading+for+growth%252Caps%252C122&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=fe8d967e9ef22adcf74c58fbd3b9392b&camp=1789&creative=9325], by Robert Talbert and David Clark * Specifications Grading [https://www.amazon.com/Specifications-Grading-Restoring-Motivating-Students/dp/1620362422/ref=sr_1_1?crid=IIE9IBXJOZY9&keywords=specifications+grading&qid=1690228778&sprefix=specifications+grading%252Caps%252C131&sr=8-1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=488cafcb421ce6921a7790e129a928b7&camp=1789&creative=9325], by Linda Nilsen * Undoing the Grade [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFCZ5VCS?ref_=cm_sw_p_kb_dp&tag=thegradingpod-20&linkCode=kpe], by Jesse Stommel Follow us on Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram - @thegradingpod. To leave us a comment, please go to our website: www.thegradingpod.com and leave a comment on this episode's page. If you would like to be considered to be a guest on this show, please reach out using the Contact Us form on our website, www.thegradingpod.com [https://www.thegradingpod.com/]. All content of this podcast and website are solely the opinions of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily represent the views of California State University Los Angeles or the Los Angeles Unified School District. Music Country Rock performed by Lite Saturation [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuEhnFL_D38], licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/].