Grow Beyond Grades
@growbeyondgrades.org
What matters can’t be measured. Join the movement!
Website: growbeyondgrades.org
Support: growbeyondgrades.org/donate
Website: growbeyondgrades.org
Support: growbeyondgrades.org/donate
Pinned
Contest — Grow Beyond Grades
growbeyondgrades.org
✍️ PLEASE SHARE WITH HS & COLLEGE-AGE STUDENTS!
How have grades—or the experience of learning without them—influenced your learning, growth, or personal journey? All genres and formats welcome! @humrespro.bsky.social @gotlearning.bsky.social
#gradeless #growbeyondgrades
growbeyondgrades.org/contest
How have grades—or the experience of learning without them—influenced your learning, growth, or personal journey? All genres and formats welcome! @humrespro.bsky.social @gotlearning.bsky.social
#gradeless #growbeyondgrades
growbeyondgrades.org/contest
Writing can’t be taught 'in general.' To some degree, in each new context, you learn to write all over again. —Megan Von Bergen growbeyondgrades.org/blog/why-i-wont-tell-you-the-answer
Why I Won’t Just Give You The Answer — Grow Beyond Grades
I want you to be able to rely on the skills we practice. But more than that, I want you to be able to make purposeful, savvy decisions about why you are writing in the way that you’re writing. This sk...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Writing can’t be taught 'in general.' To some degree, in each new context, you learn to write all over again. —Megan Von Bergen growbeyondgrades.org/blog/why-i-wont-tell-you-the-answer
In the culture of hovering, you're really relying on this grading system to do the management for you. And grades should never be about classroom management. @mirplo.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/episode-39-plotinsky
Hover-free Teaching w/Miriam Plotinsky — Grow Beyond Grades
Miriam Plotinsky, author of Teach More, Hover Less , breaks down hover-free teaching, showing how teachers can free themselves from helicopter habits and allow students greater control of their own l...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 9:49 PM
In the culture of hovering, you're really relying on this grading system to do the management for you. And grades should never be about classroom management. @mirplo.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/episode-39-plotinsky
The world of ought sometimes beckons to the world of is, and change toward practices that work requires a vision of what that would be. @susandblum.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/my-favo...
My Favorite Thing: Talking to Students About Their Learning — Grow Beyond Grades
Susan D. Blum, editor of the book Ungrading: Why Rating Students Undermines Learning (and What to Do Instead) , shares how she uses conferences to consult learners in their full humanity (as much as ...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 9:39 PM
The world of ought sometimes beckons to the world of is, and change toward practices that work requires a vision of what that would be. @susandblum.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/my-favo...
I love that I am finally comfortable with all my students, even the ones who have been challenging for me, for reasons that may have only to do with me and not with them. @susandblum.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/my-favo...
My Favorite Thing: Talking to Students About Their Learning — Grow Beyond Grades
Susan D. Blum, editor of the book Ungrading: Why Rating Students Undermines Learning (and What to Do Instead) , shares how she uses conferences to consult learners in their full humanity (as much as ...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 9:37 PM
I love that I am finally comfortable with all my students, even the ones who have been challenging for me, for reasons that may have only to do with me and not with them. @susandblum.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/my-favo...
When students and teachers capture learning as it happens—it is no longer an add-on reporting method after a performance task is completed. —Mike Rutherford @learningpulse.bsky.social @gotlearning.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/capturi...
Capturing Learning as it Happens — Grow Beyond Grades
Creating and maintaining portfolio evidence as the learning happens results in richer, more nuanced representations of learning over time. When students and teachers capture learning as it happens, it...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 9:33 PM
When students and teachers capture learning as it happens—it is no longer an add-on reporting method after a performance task is completed. —Mike Rutherford @learningpulse.bsky.social @gotlearning.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/capturi...
I believe that curating evidence of learning over time and partnering with the student in conferencing throughout the learning process are integral to creating a dynamic learning environment. —Mike Rutherford @gotlearning.bsky.social @learningpulse.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/capturi...
Capturing Learning as it Happens — Grow Beyond Grades
Creating and maintaining portfolio evidence as the learning happens results in richer, more nuanced representations of learning over time. When students and teachers capture learning as it happens, it...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 9:31 PM
I believe that curating evidence of learning over time and partnering with the student in conferencing throughout the learning process are integral to creating a dynamic learning environment. —Mike Rutherford @gotlearning.bsky.social @learningpulse.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/capturi...
When students learn to self-assess accurately, it enables them to transfer skills and understanding well beyond the classroom. —Dave Eddy growbeyondgrades.org/blog/science...
How Portfolios and Conferences Transformed My AP Science Classroom — Grow Beyond Grades
Putting agency over one’s grades into the hands of learners allows them to exercise metacognitive skills. When students learn to self-assess accurately, it enables them to transfer skills and understa...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:45 PM
When students learn to self-assess accurately, it enables them to transfer skills and understanding well beyond the classroom. —Dave Eddy growbeyondgrades.org/blog/science...
Although I found the standards-based grading system far superior to the traditional grading system, students were still focused on scores, not on learning. —Dave Eddy growbeyondgrades.org/blog/science-portfolios-and-conferencing
How Portfolios and Conferences Transformed My AP Science Classroom — Grow Beyond Grades
Putting agency over one’s grades into the hands of learners allows them to exercise metacognitive skills. When students learn to self-assess accurately, it enables them to transfer skills and understa...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Although I found the standards-based grading system far superior to the traditional grading system, students were still focused on scores, not on learning. —Dave Eddy growbeyondgrades.org/blog/science-portfolios-and-conferencing
Moving away from traditional conferences shifts the focus from grades and scores to what students know and can do. @mssackstein.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/portfolio-conferences
Getting Students Ready For Portfolio Conferences — Grow Beyond Grades
Learning shouldn't leave the learner out. Empowering students to share their learning through portfolio conferences shifts the dynamic of who's responsible for the learning and highlights what student...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Moving away from traditional conferences shifts the focus from grades and scores to what students know and can do. @mssackstein.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/portfolio-conferences
With regular practice assessing their own progress, students are now better able to articulate that to parents and caregivers. —Bill Velto growbeyondgrades.org/blog/pt-conferences
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Parent-Teacher Conferences — Grow Beyond Grades
Bill Velto recounts how, in shifting toward a gradeless environment, students grew in their ability to articulate their learning, and how that learning related to their grade. Conferences came to rese...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:24 PM
With regular practice assessing their own progress, students are now better able to articulate that to parents and caregivers. —Bill Velto growbeyondgrades.org/blog/pt-conferences
Shifting to a gradeless environment has helped my students understand and articulate what they are learning and how that relates to their grade. —Bill Velto growbeyondgrades.org/blog/pt-conferences
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Parent-Teacher Conferences — Grow Beyond Grades
Bill Velto recounts how, in shifting toward a gradeless environment, students grew in their ability to articulate their learning, and how that learning related to their grade. Conferences came to rese...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Shifting to a gradeless environment has helped my students understand and articulate what they are learning and how that relates to their grade. —Bill Velto growbeyondgrades.org/blog/pt-conferences
We're all one drop. But if we all think that our one drop is the best, then we're no where. @ecleininger.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/episode-40-right-way-to-ungrade
There’s No One Right Way to Ungrade! — Grow Beyond Grades
Lisa Wennerth, welcomes four trailblazing educators, whose article “Why There Isn’t One ‘Right Way’ to Practice Ungrading” posits ungrading as a fundamentally open, welcoming, and responsive practice ...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:15 PM
We're all one drop. But if we all think that our one drop is the best, then we're no where. @ecleininger.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/episode-40-right-way-to-ungrade
Addressing the ways in which standards-based grading can become unmanageable is well worth our collective efforts. @achiaravalli.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/can-sbg-grade-less?1
Can Standards-based Grading Grade Less? — Grow Beyond Grades
Most would consider standards-based grading part of the gradeless continuum. But it has been easier to help people grade less in a traditionally graded system than in a standards-based one. Finding wa...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Addressing the ways in which standards-based grading can become unmanageable is well worth our collective efforts. @achiaravalli.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/can-sbg-grade-less?1
While standards-based grading may have enhanced student opportunity for success, it has often done so through increased labor on the part of teachers. @achiaravalli.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/can-sbg-grade-less?1
Can Standards-based Grading Grade Less? — Grow Beyond Grades
Most would consider standards-based grading part of the gradeless continuum. But it has been easier to help people grade less in a traditionally graded system than in a standards-based one. Finding wa...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:11 PM
While standards-based grading may have enhanced student opportunity for success, it has often done so through increased labor on the part of teachers. @achiaravalli.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/can-sbg-grade-less?1
I keep bumping up against a stubborn, inconvenient truth: It has been easier to help people grade less in a traditionally graded system than in a standards-based one. @achiaravalli.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/can-sbg-grade-less?1
Can Standards-based Grading Grade Less? — Grow Beyond Grades
Most would consider standards-based grading part of the gradeless continuum. But it has been easier to help people grade less in a traditionally graded system than in a standards-based one. Finding wa...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 8:09 PM
I keep bumping up against a stubborn, inconvenient truth: It has been easier to help people grade less in a traditionally graded system than in a standards-based one. @achiaravalli.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/can-sbg-grade-less?1
I need to empower students to be able to build, generate, and create as much as possible. —Mike Rutherford @gotlearning.bsky.social @learningpulse.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/episode-41-rutherford
Capturing Learning as It Happens w/Mike Rutherford — Grow Beyond Grades
Student learning lives in the back and forth interactions between students and teachers. Mike Rutherford designed gotLearning to better capture these stories in his own classroom, providing one place ...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 7:46 PM
I need to empower students to be able to build, generate, and create as much as possible. —Mike Rutherford @gotlearning.bsky.social @learningpulse.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/episode-41-rutherford
Finding ways to de-center the grade and re-energize student interest in the process—not the product—of their education should be driving us all right now. @martc.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/afraid-of-chatgpt
Who’s Afraid of ChatGPT? — Grow Beyond Grades
Who’s afraid of ChatGPT? Martin Compton argues that the machines should herald a dawn of teaching where we can realize a more humanized, compassionate, inclusive, process-focused approach to teaching,...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Finding ways to de-center the grade and re-energize student interest in the process—not the product—of their education should be driving us all right now. @martc.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/afraid-of-chatgpt
Grades are just letters and numbers. But to not acknowledge everything they are beyond this is irresponsible. —Brooklyn Bongiorni growbeyondgrades.org/blog/for-the...
For the Grader Good — Grow Beyond Grades
In her essay, Brooklyn Bongiorno reflects on how grades once ruled her sense of self-worth, turning learning into a source of anxiety and self-doubt. She recalls how constant online grade monitoring b...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Grades are just letters and numbers. But to not acknowledge everything they are beyond this is irresponsible. —Brooklyn Bongiorni growbeyondgrades.org/blog/for-the...
When a person says ‘excellent’ or ‘way to go,’ they may mean well, but they aren't achieving anything beyond a momentary ego-stroke that later results in a lower low. @mssackstein.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/10-tips-on-feedback
10 Tips for Offering Excellent Feedback — Grow Beyond Grades
Feedback is teaching—an opportunity to foster student growth. Whether we are looking to prevent mistakes from becoming ingrained or to build on skills students already have, feedback provides the le...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 5, 2026 at 3:43 PM
When a person says ‘excellent’ or ‘way to go,’ they may mean well, but they aren't achieving anything beyond a momentary ego-stroke that later results in a lower low. @mssackstein.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/10-tips-on-feedback
With the phrase going gradeless, we hope to express the idea of moving—gradually or rapidly—away from the pernicious influence of grades, and toward more humane and effective methods of assessment and feedback. growbeyondgrades.org/start
Start Here — Grow Beyond Grades
growbeyondgrades.org
January 4, 2026 at 12:49 AM
With the phrase going gradeless, we hope to express the idea of moving—gradually or rapidly—away from the pernicious influence of grades, and toward more humane and effective methods of assessment and feedback. growbeyondgrades.org/start
I wondered: Wouldn’t my time be best used helping students understand the material by giving them meaningful feedback rather than entering numbers into a computer? @andrewburnett.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/no-longer-a-data-entry-clerk
No Longer a Data Entry Clerk — Grow Beyond Grades
Prior to going gradeless, math teacher Andrew Burnett felt like a “data entry clerk posing as a teacher.” Now, he has ditched the data entry in favor of meaningful and timely feedback. This shift has ...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 4, 2026 at 12:43 AM
I wondered: Wouldn’t my time be best used helping students understand the material by giving them meaningful feedback rather than entering numbers into a computer? @andrewburnett.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/no-longer-a-data-entry-clerk
Prior to my gradeless classroom, I was a data entry clerk posing as a teacher. @andrewburnett.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/no-longer-a-data-entry-clerk
No Longer a Data Entry Clerk — Grow Beyond Grades
Prior to going gradeless, math teacher Andrew Burnett felt like a “data entry clerk posing as a teacher.” Now, he has ditched the data entry in favor of meaningful and timely feedback. This shift has ...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 4, 2026 at 12:41 AM
Prior to my gradeless classroom, I was a data entry clerk posing as a teacher. @andrewburnett.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/no-longer-a-data-entry-clerk
I just decided then that I was going to be that kind of teacher that students could count on to be an advocate in their corner—believing them, trusting them, and fighting for them. @liznorell.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/episode-42-norell
Centering Joy in the Classroom w/Liz Norell — Grow Beyond Grades
How can we make classrooms more inclusive, engaging, exciting, relevant, and welcoming spaces for learning? Political science professor, Liz Norell, shows how, by embracing pedagogies of equity and ca...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 4, 2026 at 12:32 AM
I just decided then that I was going to be that kind of teacher that students could count on to be an advocate in their corner—believing them, trusting them, and fighting for them. @liznorell.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/episode-42-norell
Too often the legacy of White supremacy causes White people to feel shame or defensiveness when the topic of race comes up—or, indeed, any sort of systematic oppression or privilege. @liznorell.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/how-identities-impact
How Identities Impact Our Pedagogical Practices — Grow Beyond Grades
Progressive pedagogical practices come at the greatest risk for those who would have most benefit from empowering educational structures. Liz Norell, explains why those with more privileged identities...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 4, 2026 at 12:26 AM
Too often the legacy of White supremacy causes White people to feel shame or defensiveness when the topic of race comes up—or, indeed, any sort of systematic oppression or privilege. @liznorell.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/how-identities-impact
Reposted by Grow Beyond Grades
Sharing to remind myself to come back to this later.
How can we reclaim and recenter joy and where do we even start to think about assessing it? @karismjones.bsky.social growbeyondgrades.org/blog/humanizing-assessment
Humanizing Assessment through Culturally Responsive Objectives — Grow Beyond Grades
Assistant Professor of ELA Education, Karis Jones, shares tips and techniques for how teachers can align their assessment practices with Muhammad’s CHRE (Culturally & Historically Responsive Educa...
growbeyondgrades.org
January 4, 2026 at 12:19 AM
Sharing to remind myself to come back to this later.