FIAE Chapter 7

This chapter was really about learning about grading and what it really is.

I can honestly say that I had all these preconceived notions that rubrics were the best tool to use in a classroom and that they keep the bias out of grading, they help push students and motivate them to do better. After reading this chapter I am unconvinced. Though I still think that rubrics are a fabulous idea, I have to say that there is clearly always bias in any classroom, especially in grading. As teachers we give ourselves the right to judge other people and how biases can play into how we judge our students.

Making grades reflect less of our ideas of how well they’ve completed work it makes sense to “build their learning and achieve mastery throughout the grading period” (100). Making grades feedback instead of a finalization of the material helps create an atmosphere that cultivates learning. It can help students find motivation while keeping them on track. Feedback can give students something to think about, and it creates a respect between the teachers have with their students. If students feel like the teacher is giving them opportunities for improvement and is leaving the learning open ended, which feedback can do, it’s much more effective for the student. Showing students their improvement helps focus on the positive and lets the student know that teachers can appreciate the work that went into getting as far as the student did. As many teachers know from personal experiences, students are already really critical on themselves, so feedback can help boost their feeling of self-worth, while helping them see the things that need  improvement.