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RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

Tweet any suggestions to add to this list at @RickWormeli2, or email Rick at rick@rickwormeli.onmicrosoft.com.

For articles authored by Rick and more multimedia, check the links below.

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Note: * indicates a website that requires a sign-in to gain access to the material (no cost necessary).

Assessments & Grading

Thomas R. Guskey explores classic mistakes in grading reform and how to avoid them.

Laura J. Link and Thomas R. Guskey explore how traditional grading contributes to student inequalities and how to fix it.

A teacher attempts implementing re-takes and asks, "What was I getting into? Would I be inundated with work? Would the kids just slack off on the first try at an assignment? Would it even make a difference?" Here's what happened on the blog, The Art and Science of Teaching.

In Solon, Iowa, teachers' gradebooks describe students' current levels of learning, supplanting the usual potpourri of scores; from AASA and Matt Townsley.

Three findings from a study of university officials' views on the use of standards-based grading in admissions decisions

Ken O'Connor on an expanded-format report card shares progress on academic achievement and work habits beyond a numerical mark; by AASA.

Ken O'Connor, Lee Ann Jung and Douglas Reeves posit that a better grading system would produce grades that are FAST (fair, accurate, specific, timely).

Network website for Assessment FOR Learning, with blogs, forums, videos and hot topic articles on assessment practices. *

In January 2016, Matt Townsley and Tom Buckmiller, Ph.D., responded to the inquiries about SBG research in a very thoughtful way.

Forest City Iowa's Summit newspaper ran several Letters to the Editor disparaging SBG and Rick's work. This is a two part response to those concerns. 

Forest City Summit published Part 2 of Rick's Letter to the Editor responding to community concerns about SBG and the use of his work in their policy-making.

Phil Thornton, superintendent of schools in Cumberland, Rhode Island, discusses standards based grading in this video.

Wednesdays from 9 – 10 p.m. EST (North America), Darin Jolly, Ken O’Connor, Tom Murray, Garnet HIllman, Michele Corbat, Rik Rowe, Rick and many others host a great conversation on standards-based assessment and grading.  All levels of expertise and perspective are invited.

This is an excellent list of publications and videos that Matt Townsley in Iowa has put together for those who want to learn more about standards-based grading. 

Doug Reeves offers this article for American School Board Journal on how a school district improved student learning when the community embraced SBG principles.

This is a wonderful Prezi presentation by Sandy Bean on standards based grading with examples from her Language Arts classroom.

Related to the book Fair Isn't Always Equal on grading practices, this link includes study guides, articles, videos, responses, teacher testimonials, and more. *

Jay McTighe recommends these videos of real classes employing Understanding by Design successfully. Worth watching and analyzing!

A great video from Des Moines schools in which teachers reflect on how Standards Referenced Grading has changed their teaching and students' learning.

Tom Schimmer, one of the great thinkers for leaders and practitioners when it comes to standards or outcomes based assessment and grading, authors this blog. 

Shannon Shult—Standards-Based Grading

Douglas Reeves—Effective Grading Practices

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Web series based around his book, Elements of Grading

Standards-Referenced Grading

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Des Moines Public Schools teachers speak of their experiences with standards-referenced grading.

Standards-Based Grading: Converting to Letter Grades

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Matt Townsley describes three ways teachers can convert standards to letter grades.

Highlighting Mistakes—A Grading Strategy​

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By Jamalee Stone

Standards Based Grading—A Student's Perspective

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By Matt McCullough

Standards Based Grading—A Teacher's Perspective

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By Matt McCullough

Education Leadership

You've got to decide on the best way to present material. To do that, you've got to know what kind of learners your students are. And to know this, you've got to be a good learner and thinker yourself. (Article by Tan Oon Seng)

Did You Know? Video by Carl Fisch and Scott McLoed on globalization and the Information Age, of special interest to educators. 

Once an AP teacher and now a building administrator, Reed's work and leadership with SBG, let alone the professional development he provides in other areas, are exceptional and worth exploring. 

WATCH HERE

Larry Ferlazzo responds to a question on balancing district mandates and
student needs.

Debbie Silver: I Am a Teacher

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Debbie Silver explaining why teachers should be proud to be TEACHERS!

Annual Conference for Middle Level Education: We Hold These Middle School Truths to Be Self-Evident...and Worth Fighting For

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This rousing session, featuring education thought leader and passionate middle level education advocate, Rick Wormeli, will celebrate teaching and leading in our middle schools. You’ll attend a simulation of the Second Continental Congress—this time with a focus on middle school rather than the Declaration of Independence—as we celebrate the goals, energy, and successes of middle level educators. Rick will bring you style, flare, and excitement, and inspire and recharge you to stay committed to the important work you do.

Getting educational research right

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By Dylan Wiliam

Differentiation

8 NEW Characteristics of Middle School Kids: What Can We Do?

​By: Jack Berckemeyer

This is an ASCD series that shows what differentiation looks like, including behind-the-scenes thinking. About 45 minutes of it focuses on  classroom.

Debbie Silver knows how important you are in the lives of students, and she offers resources to equip you for the front line, especially in differentiated teaching.

Richard is among the smartest people in differentiation, cognitive science, gifted education and teaching. This is the go-to place to connect with Richard and his work.

Home of the Institutes of Academic Diversity, this site offers wonderful resources to the differentiating teacher.

David Cutler interviews Rick Wormeli on doing what's fair in the differentiated classroom, hosting by Spin Education.

Can You Solve This?

 

Veritasium asks, "How do you investigate hypotheses? Do you seek to confirm your theory - looking for white swans? Or do you try to find black swans? I was startled at how hard it was for people to investigate number sets that didn't follow their hypotheses, even when their method wasn't getting them anywhere."

Getting Started on Differentiated Instruction​

 

Carol Tomlinson provides an explanation on getting started with differentiate instruction.

Assessments, Grading and Mastery Learning: Healthy Practices for All Learners

 

Lee Ann Jung offers this half-hour differentiated assessment and
grading module.

© 2020 by Rick Wormeli

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