Grow Beyond Grades

Teachers Going Gradeless
  • 4.7 (3)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY
Grow Beyond Grades

This is the podcast of Grow Beyond Grades. Each episode we speak to educators who are transforming teaching and learning by grading less. Tune in and learn with us!

  1. DEC 4

    Episode 55 - Multimodal Composition w/Angela Stockman

    Angela Stockman is an instructor in the Department of Education at Daemen University in Amherst, New York. The author of several books on multiliteracy instruction, she is regularly invited to lead curriculum and assessment design work in K-12 schools, where she has also facilitated the shift to standards based grading and reporting. A former public school teacher, Angela spent fifteen years in the classroom before becoming an independent professional learning facilitator. Resources angelastockman.com

    35 min

  2. NOV 4

    Episode 54 - Centering Student Strengths w/Dr. Kelsie Reed

    Dr. Kelsie Reed is a nationally certified school psychologist serving elementary and middle schools in Prince George's County Public Schools, Maryland. She is the co-author of Hacking Deficit Thinking, a book that outlines eight practical reframes for fostering strength-based schools. As the founder of the Strength-Based Collective, Dr. Reed provides educators and parents with practical tools and resources to cultivate positive, strength-focused environments for all students. Her work centers on dismantling deficit-based narratives, particularly for students from historically marginalized communities. Dr. Reed is also a strong advocate for school discipline reform, neurodiversity-affirming special education practices, and addressing the unique needs of multiracial students. Resources Hacking Deficit Thinking by Byron McClure and Kelsie Reed: https://a.co/d/6B3xG5Q Strength-Based Collective website: https://www.strengthbasedcollective.com Instagram:   /bestrengthbased   Music licensed through podcastmusic.com Luminosity by Austin Filingo (Atomica Music)

    37 min

  3. OCT 9

    Episode 53 - Does Testing Miss the Mark? w/Akil Bello

    Our guest on the Grow Beyond Grades podcast is Akil Bello, an expert in educational access with over 30 years of experience. Akil began his career as a test proctor in 1990 and has since held roles from CEO to consultant, working to improve outcomes for underserved students. As the founding partner of Bell Curves, Akil focused on helping underrepresented students succeed in high-stakes testing. After selling his company, he became Director of Equity and Access at a major test prep firm, helping schools and organizations navigate standardized testing challenges. Currently, Akil is the Senior Director of Advocacy and Advancement at FairTest, where he advocates for more equitable and responsible testing practices. Resources Akil’s website: akilbello.com Articles by Akil Bello: How Test Publishers Are Poised To Profit From Pandemic “Learning Loss” The Challenge of Succeeding as a Black Student in America Why The First Varsity Blues Trial Really Matters

    40 min

  4. JUL 18

    Episode 52 - Paul Emerich France

    Paul Emerich France is a National Board Certified Teacher, instructional coach, keynote speaker, and adjunct professor with over a decade of experience in the classroom, teaching grades transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. He is the author of Reclaiming Personalized Learning: A Pedagogy for Restoring Equity and Humanity in Our Classrooms and Make Teaching Sustainable with ASCD. His work is featured in Edutopia, EdSurge, ASCD’s Educational Leadership, and Learning Forward’s The Learning Professional. Recently, Paul has partnered with SXSW EDU, Jefferson County Public Schools, ASCD, National Board, and Northwestern University. Topics include: Paul’s journey to discovering the imperative of making teaching more sustainable The six shifts identified in Paul’s Sustainable Teaching Project, along with examples of how they can be implemented in classes Why personalization is not the same as individualization How “low-floor/high-ceiling” learning activities leverage universal design principles to embed pathways for learners of all abilities Resources Personalized Learning Should Be Sustainable (blog post) The Sustainable Teaching Project (website, Instagram, Twitter) Six Mindset Shifts to Make Teaching Sustainable (ASCD)

    34 min

  5. 11/18/2023

    Episode 51 - Assessing Holistically w/Carissa McCray

    Carissa McCray is a member of Research, Advocacy, Collaboration, and Empowerment Mentoring program, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the American Educational Research Association. She has presented across the United States on topics ranging from implementing social-emotional strategies in the classroom to culturally responsive teaching techniques through the lens of critical race theory. Her ongoing scholarship and practitioner-based work are driven by creating equitable learning opportunities through the inclusion of multicultural literature, media, and curricula. Topics include: How an equitable, inclusive, culturally competent classroom is a departure from the status quo Why an equitable, inclusive education is important in our global society What role assessment plays in fostering an equitable learning environment How we can use data to better serve our students Why the “story” told by standardized testing data misses the mark How deemphasizing grades can align with the goals of equitable instruction Why we should assess students holistically, realizing that “everything is assessment” Resources Everything is Assessment⁠ (TG2 blog post) ⁠Equitable Instruction, Empowered Students: A Teacher’s Guide to Inclusive and Culturally Competent Classrooms⁠ (book by Dr. Carissa McCray) ⁠Mirrors and windows: Using the five senses and more to plan culturally responsive instruction⁠ (interview for the Yes and Know podcast) ⁠Five things we need to stop saying about our students⁠ (interview for the Leading Equity podcast) ⁠Multicultural Literature as Critical Literature: Redefine the Trajectory for Students of Color⁠ (chapter in the anthology Research Anthology on Racial Equity, Identity, and Privilege)

    44 min

  6. 10/21/2023

    Episode 50 - Leveling Up w/Fabiola Torres

    Fabiola "Fabi" Torres is an online Ethnic Studies professor and Certified Faculty Developer at Glendale Community College. During the pandemic, she has led nationwide workshops and courses on applying equity-minded methods such as culturally responsive teaching in the online environment, humanizing online teaching and learning as well as ungrading practices. With dual M.A. degrees in Chicana/o Studies and Learning Technology, Fabi was featured at InstructureCon 2019 for her work in humanizing online education. In 2020, she received the Online Learning Consortium Advocate Award for Diversity and Inclusion and the Distinguished Faculty Award at Glendale Community College. In the summer of 2023, Fabi was named one of the top 30 education technology influencers for EdTech Magazine. Fabiola is a fur-mommy of Luke, Leia and Wookie. Topics include What inspired Fabiola to become a community college professor How current events influenced Fabi to stop ‘policing’ her students by moving toward ungrading How Fabi used the summer of 2020 to develop and design her own approach to ungrading How ungrading caused Fabi’s curriculum and assignments to change Why Fabi believes grades “detonate” in the souls of our students, and how her form of ungrading eliminates or at least buffers students from this experience How Fabi’s students use her REDO process—Reflect, Edit, Discover and Observe—to articulate their own learning patterns and strategies, as well as identify obstacles How technology supports—and, in some cases, impedes—teaching and learning How AI is currently influencing teaching and learning in Fabi’s classes and where she thinks it’s all headed Other resources Discovering The Spark Of Teaching & Learning Through Equitable Grading (article for California Virtual Campus Online Network of Educators) Grades Suck: Fabi’s video representing her core beliefs about learning and the problems with grades. The implementation of UnGrading will be provided in the Orientation Module is Canvas. UnGrading In Ethnic Studies 121: Fabi’s webpage for explaining ungrading to her students.

    1 hr

  7. 09/25/2023

    Episode 49 - Undoing the Grade w/Jesse Stommel

    Jesse Stommel is a faculty member in the Writing Program at University of Denver. He is also co-founder of Hybrid Pedagogy: the journal of critical digital pedagogy and Digital Pedagogy Lab. He has a PhD from University of Colorado Boulder. He is co-author of An Urgency of Teachers: the Work of Critical Digital Pedagogy. Jesse is a documentary filmmaker and teaches courses about pedagogy, film, digital studies, and composition. Jesse experiments relentlessly with learning interfaces, both digital and analog, and his research focuses on higher education pedagogy, critical digital pedagogy, and assessment. He’s got a rascal pup, Emily, a clever cat, Loki, and a badass daughter, Hazel. Originally aired as a live Community Gathering, where Vanessa Ellis interviewed Jesse on his book, Undoing the Grade: Why We Grade, and How to Stop, and then opened the floor to questions for participants. Topics include Do we need the word 'ungrading'? Why can this term be problematic? What ungrading has looked like throughout Jesse’s career How the work of scholars like bell hooks, Kevin Gannon, and Paulo Freire have influenced Jesse’s ungrading philosophy Why ungrading is not ideologically neutral work How ungrading can empower students and support their agency Why ungrading is less about shifting policies and more about building community The "necessary practices" educators must implement to make teaching and learning more equitable Other resources Blog posts included in Jesse’s book: An Introduction to Ungrading Toward a Cointentional Approach to Assessment Ungrading for Equity

    50 min

  8. 09/09/2023

    Episode 48 - The Mastery Transcript w/Mike Flanagan

    Mike Flanagan is the CEO of the Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC), a growing group of high schools creating a digital high school transcript that opens up opportunity for each and every student—from all backgrounds, locations, and types of schools—to have their unique strengths, abilities, interests, and histories fostered, understood, and celebrated. Mike oversaw the design and development of Mastery Transcript software products, connecting with members and advisors to manage the MTC product roadmap until May 2021. He is an experienced education technology executive, most recently having served as CEO of the Services Division at the National Association of Independent Schools, where he led a complete redesign and relaunch of their School and Student Services financial aid platforms. Topics include How Mike’s background in education and technology influenced his interest and involvement in the Mastery Transcript Consortium The genesis and history of the Mastery Transcript, as well as some of the troubling statistics behind the traditional measures of grades, GPA, and test scores What the Mastery Transcript is and what schools in the Mastery Transcript Consortium have in common What mastery learning is and how it accelerates and enhances equity How schools or districts might know if they are ready to work with MTC What colleges, admissions offices, and admissions officers have to say about the Mastery Transcript Other resources What We Do: Key principles, features, and benefits of the Mastery Transcript MTC Community Talkback: Competency-based Credentials: This topical, cross-sector discussion features insights from representatives of America Succeeds, CAPS Network, Education Reimagined, Envision Learning Partners and Jobs for the Future. Mastery Transcript Tour: Susie Bell, Senior Director of Member School Engagement, explains Mastery Learning and how the Mastery Transcript facilitates and propels it.

    43 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

This is the podcast of Grow Beyond Grades. Each episode we speak to educators who are transforming teaching and learning by grading less. Tune in and learn with us!

Information

  • Creator
    Teachers Going Gradeless
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Teachers Going Gradeless
  • Show Website
    Grow Beyond Grades

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