In this episode, I talk with Arthur Chiaravalli, an educator at the heart of an organization called Grow Beyond Grades. Arthur shares his deeply personal journey away from traditional grading, revealing how it can undermine learning, sideline classroom relationships, and lead to passivity and apathy. He also talks about how freeing it is to deep six grades while focusing attention on meaningful, collaborative assessment — that is, on truly human-centered teaching.

We talk about:* grades as handcuffs to products; how can we honor our students’ (and teachers’) processes?* the calamity of students who (for good reasons) simply chase the grade* the passivity that has taken over so many students and teachers* the question of who tells the story of student learning and how that story gets told* ways teachers can grow beyond grades in their own teaching

Would you go grade-less or move beyond grades? Would you find it helpful or more challenging for your classroom?

For my non-teachers out there: listen to a compelling vision of what your schooldays could have been like!

External Links:Explore resources and stories at: growbeyondgrades.orgFind my podcast and writing at teachingthroughemotions.com

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Credits:Founder and Host: Betsy BurrisProducer: Jullian AndrokaeMusic: Tom Burris

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