The Gradeless Classroom - a letter to parents
Yes - we are going gradeless this semester!
Students will only be given numerical grades for midterm and final report cards, in compliance with the Ministry of Education.
Why are we doing this?
Students often associate their knowledge, progress and success based on a numerical grade.
The reduction of students and teachers to numbers leaves us to question: what do grades really reflect; what is the purpose of grading; and is there another way to engage students critically and creatively in learning, providing feedback and communication without using traditional grading methods?
Why are we doing this?
Students often associate their knowledge, progress and success based on a numerical grade.
The reduction of students and teachers to numbers leaves us to question: what do grades really reflect; what is the purpose of grading; and is there another way to engage students critically and creatively in learning, providing feedback and communication without using traditional grading methods?
A classroom motivated by grades can sometimes create a negative and competitive learning environment. It is my hope that by going gradeless, students can have the ability to focus and reflect on their learning, self-assess their progress, and create next steps that will help them to achieve their goals in this course.
Music courses lend themselves to assess the process of learning an instrument, and the development of creative and critical thinking skills, which all require time, reflection and practice. Associating a numerical grade would not help us to describe the competencies of the student.
What does this look like?
Students will be assessed on a daily basis through observations (participation in class, demonstration of interpersonal skills, Seesaw uploads) and conversations (student reflection, student/teacher conferences, discussion and questioning). Feedback will be provided to students, so they have a clear idea of skills demonstrated well in class, and what steps they need to take in order to improve.
Students will be assessed on a daily basis through observations (participation in class, demonstration of interpersonal skills, Seesaw uploads) and conversations (student reflection, student/teacher conferences, discussion and questioning). Feedback will be provided to students, so they have a clear idea of skills demonstrated well in class, and what steps they need to take in order to improve.
When a skill, task, learning strand etc., needs to be more formally assessed, students will have the opportunity to digitally link evidence of their learning (recordings, videos, reflections) to a rubric, and self-assess their progress. A student/teacher conference will take place to go over the students’ self assessment, and feedback will be given to students.
At midterm and final reporting periods, students will conference with me to go over all the rubrics and self-assessments completed, and a grade which is mutually agreed upon by the student and myself, will be assigned.
Questions?
My goal is to create a learning environment where students are engaged in their own learning process that will not only benefit them in this course, but will help them to become lifelong learners. As this may be the first time your child is enrolled in a gradeless course, please do not hesitate to contact me (ajclarke@scdsb.on.ca) if you have any questions, or need further clarification. I will be hosting a parent information session about the gradeless classroom on Wednesday February 8th from 3:30-5 at GBDSS if you’d like to attend. I will also be blogging about our classroom and the transformation of assessment at AjclarkeEdu.blogspot.ca
Questions?
My goal is to create a learning environment where students are engaged in their own learning process that will not only benefit them in this course, but will help them to become lifelong learners. As this may be the first time your child is enrolled in a gradeless course, please do not hesitate to contact me (ajclarke@scdsb.on.ca) if you have any questions, or need further clarification. I will be hosting a parent information session about the gradeless classroom on Wednesday February 8th from 3:30-5 at GBDSS if you’d like to attend. I will also be blogging about our classroom and the transformation of assessment at AjclarkeEdu.blogspot.ca
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