To the right is the grade distribution that describes how my students did last fall on the multiple choice exam over their summer reading books. What would you conclude if presented with that set of data from your students: did … Continue reading
One reason I go to NCTE every year is to listen. There are people I try to see every year, just to hear what they are thinking about and working on. Just to hear what they think the rest of … Continue reading
Were you aware that for the last very many years, people who love writing poetry have been getting together Saturday night at NCTE to read poetry, workshop poetry, and talk about writing? Going to Fountain of the Muse was the … Continue reading
Whoever says teachers don’t work in the summer has no idea what they’re talking about. I’ve spent most of the last week at my computer in various locations working to wrap my head around my new prep for next year: … Continue reading
I don’t actually know what the best way is to take notes on my reading and writing conferences with my students. But a new method (to me) has recently descended upon me that is working pretty well. It all came about … Continue reading
I’ve had this post on my to-do list for months. To be honest, this is the piece of this whole process that I have the most questions about, so I just kept putting off writing it. I’m in a book … Continue reading
In conversations with teachers about alternatives to traditional assessment, especially skeptical teachers, I often hear, “there’s no way my students will work without points.” I get it. I do. My journey to here has been lengthy. Paradigm shift does not … Continue reading
You know the drill. Parent sits down for a conference at parent/teacher conferences. You pull up your grade records for the student. You walk the parent through the grade data, pointing out what the student is doing well and what … Continue reading
Back-to-school night was this past Wednesday, the evening where parents walk through their students’ schedules with ten minutes for each class. This is not enough time to tell them very much, especially if I want to leave time for a … Continue reading
When people find out I don’t put points or grades on individual pieces of writing, one of the first questions I get is what I do instead. I focus on feedback–as much as I can provide, and conferences are a key … Continue reading
