The REAL Assessment

     First of all, does every school district have as great of a grading handbook as Spokane? The homework and the negative impact of zeros are my favorite sections in it. But the whole thing is a very useful and helpful document aimed at informing parents and students of the expectations that are present for grading. The impact of zeros is so eye-opening. I love how the author breaks down what a zero actually does to negatively impact the grade and uses math to help see the difference. At first, I was skeptical of the no-zero policy due to a recent news story about a teacher who refused to comply with a no-zero policy and was fired. I did not see the usefulness of giving a student a grade that they did not earn. But, with this math and section of no-zero policy, it opened my eyes to see it from a different angle. The metaphor with weather was especially persuasive and really hit the concept home and I can see the usefulness for parents and students alike. The homework section is only a page, and it is the last item talked about. The view on homework is one I appreciate, especially the grading part. Something assigned as extra practice should not be graded, since not everyone needs it. Also, this avoids wasting the students' time and for the students that do the homework, the feedback is very useful. This type of feedback helps the student feel like they are getting somewhere and learning the material without the anxiety of a grade. Overall, as a teacher, this handbook is incredibly helpful in guiding their assessment and how to show parents that what they teach is helping. I would include this link in the syllabus for the parents at home as well. This type of understanding is needed for parents to know how their kids are being assessed, and provides the teacher with a resource to keep taking out off and referring to when planning assessments and lessons. The step by step instructions for parents on the online grade book is also helpful to keep parents engaged in their childrens' academic life.