The impact of gradelessness

Two students researching and discussing the impacts of gradelessness in the classroom

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

@guywwallace Obviously it is a fluid concept and one that can not, nor should be condensed to 9 simple categories. However, whether or not their is science to support it yet, there is no doubt that kids do excel more at certain things in life that schools do not offer in their curriculums.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

In 1983, Howard Gardner discovered that humans have 9 different intelligences, in his Theory of Multiple Intelligences, and realized people excel at all different types of them. We must wonder then, why, 37 years later, do schools only reward kids for excelling at 2 or 3 of them?

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

@shirky17 @rickwormeli2 @DisruptedTv @TyroneCHoward @ERobbPrincipal @KFelicello @LRobbTeacher @bethhill2829 @Asael_Ruvalcaba @JayBilly2 @DCulberhouse @Randy_Speck The fact that we are human does not mean we need individualization. On average one teaching plan will work for 90-95% of the class. With a few kids who actually need these individualized plans to FUNCTION, while in school. The 90-95% can both function and thrive with one program.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

@shirky17 @rickwormeli2 @DisruptedTv @TyroneCHoward @ERobbPrincipal @KFelicello @LRobbTeacher @bethhill2829 @Asael_Ruvalcaba @JayBilly2 @DCulberhouse @Randy_Speck Again I’m not necessarily arguing against the school or teachers. I know that teachers must do what administration tells them. I simply believe that not every kid should receive individualized learning, since this takes away from kids who actually need it to function in school.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

@shirky17 @rickwormeli2 @DisruptedTv @TyroneCHoward @ERobbPrincipal @KFelicello @LRobbTeacher @bethhill2829 @Asael_Ruvalcaba @JayBilly2 @DCulberhouse @Randy_Speck Parents get too protective of their children and want to guide them through every aspect of life. There are many kids however that are dealing with things that people do not see. These kids do not get IEPS and they must learn how to go through school with these issues.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

@shirky17 @rickwormeli2 @DisruptedTv @TyroneCHoward @ERobbPrincipal @KFelicello @LRobbTeacher @bethhill2829 @Asael_Ruvalcaba @JayBilly2 @DCulberhouse @Randy_Speck I believe everyone should have the same chance to succeed in school. But, there is a point where kids have to deal with things by themselves. I have seen Seniors in highschool still get extra time on tests and they have said themselves that they don’t need it.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

@rickwormeli2 @DisruptedTv @TyroneCHoward @ERobbPrincipal @KFelicello @LRobbTeacher @bethhill2829 @Asael_Ruvalcaba @JayBilly2 @DCulberhouse @Randy_Speck Many kids suffer from learning disabilities such as ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia etc. When these kids leave highschool, than they will get no such handicaps. I understand it is difficult to distinguish between kids who need it and kids who don’t, so I’m more arguing against the parents.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

@rickwormeli2 @DisruptedTv @TyroneCHoward @ERobbPrincipal @KFelicello @LRobbTeacher @bethhill2829 @Asael_Ruvalcaba @JayBilly2 @DCulberhouse @Randy_Speck Differentiation works until parents are barging school demanding that their child get individualized schooling. I am not against helping kids who legitimately need help, but I am against kids who are getting help when they could still function without it.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

@MrPranPatel @tootler74 Power depends on environment. If you are white, and your environment (job, neighborhood, etc.) is run by a majority of POC, then the POC can absolutely be racist towards, since they have the power in that scenario.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

@Ed_by_design I agree that the way we perceive ourselves becomes who we are. However how society views us can affect us just as much. It is true though, that we need to get rid of the things that determine our self worth, grades, class rank, and other ranking systems.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

@Ed_by_design But this isn’t looked at as excelling. If students fail the class, they are lacked “stupid”, even though they are taking a math class above their grade level. If students are passing or excelling in the class, they get almost no praise for excelling at a higher level class.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

@Ed_by_design This is true in math students specially. I know that in our school district, students are pushed to the highest possible standard in math, causing almost every student to be in a math class that is above their normal grade level.

[Modern Measures @Modern_Measures]

So I was listening to @NPR this morning and it turns out that some Administrators don't like the A through F system for evaluating schools because it's unclear what those letters mean. #ModernMeasures #personalizedlearning #edu

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

Also check out episode one of our podcast “from the minds of gradeless students” -An inside to the gradeless classroom
Featuring @Ed_by_design
https://t.co/v8DF8nIwVT

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

In gradeless classrooms, feedback can act as grades, to give students a reference of how they're doing. This allows them to grow with individualized teaching to lead them towards a path that best suites them, personally.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

In the absence of grades, a student has to make a moral decision. They must decide whether to sacrifice their learning, by not doing the work that grades traditionally held them accountable for, or to be responsible and do the work assigned, simply for the benefit of learning.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

We need more kids to take classes that will push them to learn, rather than classes that they can simply get an easy grade in. Grades discourage students of pushing themselves in any sense, for fear of getting bad marks. We need to put a focus on learning, not numbers on paper.

[The impact of gradelessness @gradlessness]

@BonitaEdu Completly agree. Some students need to fail in order to learn and grow from their mistakes, but teachers are hesistant to allow them to. This comes from the fact that failing has such a horrible stigma attached to it, while instead it should be looked at as an opportunity.