As a homeschooler, I have seen first hand what pursuing a love of learning looks like. We don't have grades and our kids are allowed to study what interests them. Isn't this what learning is supposed to be? I agree with you wholeheartedly that grades stymie the best of intentions. I wish schools could somehow get rid of grades and just let kids learn for the sake of learning.
I do think it is crucial to grade our souls, but not with letter grades. Ideally, at the end of every day, we should take ourselves to account. Were we kind? Did we say anything we regret? Some of my most precious, Muslim female teachers made us take ourselves to account since one day we will be taken to account by the Lord of the Worlds.
Thank you again for these very important thoughts! Always the best part of my week! :)
Also, below are some interesting links and questions about the Growth mindset and the importance of being ok making mistakes, which teachers and parents can share with their children/students:
Questions:
a) Why does having a growth mindset or fixed mindset matter in mathematics/statistics, and do you think you have a growth mindset or a fixed mindset? How do you know?
b) How does your own experience of learning mathematics/statistics connect to the idea in this video?
c) What is one thing that is mentioned in this video, which you will implement in this class this semester, and potentially other classes?
d) Anything else that you found insightful/interesting about the video(s)?
Jazak Allah Khayran Br Hamzah for another great post!
Very interesting insights about making mistakes and ungrading!
Episodes 2 and 3 of the podcast below are about “what the Ungrading movement is, why it is effective for teaching, and how Perusall assists in making it possible” and “additional best practices they find useful within Perusall”). Perusall is a free social learning platform that I recommend to all teachers:
This truly touched my heart. I struggle everyday as a science teacher to help my students research critically, think about the process instead of getting the "right" answer, listen to each other respectfully without saying "wrong" and reward perseverance rather than end result. Your Vermont experience seems amazing and I would love to hear more about alternative methods of assessments that inspires curiosity rather than the desire to be on top of the class. I am so glad that you are using this forum to inspire others with your knowledge and experiences. May God reward your time and efforts.
I really like all you wrote here. And I love your return to SIT with your children. I was esp. Struck by the QUEST BRIDGE list as every one of those qualities fits Mahdi.
As a homeschooler, I have seen first hand what pursuing a love of learning looks like. We don't have grades and our kids are allowed to study what interests them. Isn't this what learning is supposed to be? I agree with you wholeheartedly that grades stymie the best of intentions. I wish schools could somehow get rid of grades and just let kids learn for the sake of learning.
I do think it is crucial to grade our souls, but not with letter grades. Ideally, at the end of every day, we should take ourselves to account. Were we kind? Did we say anything we regret? Some of my most precious, Muslim female teachers made us take ourselves to account since one day we will be taken to account by the Lord of the Worlds.
Thank you again for these very important thoughts! Always the best part of my week! :)
Also, below are some interesting links and questions about the Growth mindset and the importance of being ok making mistakes, which teachers and parents can share with their children/students:
Questions:
a) Why does having a growth mindset or fixed mindset matter in mathematics/statistics, and do you think you have a growth mindset or a fixed mindset? How do you know?
b) How does your own experience of learning mathematics/statistics connect to the idea in this video?
c) What is one thing that is mentioned in this video, which you will implement in this class this semester, and potentially other classes?
d) Anything else that you found insightful/interesting about the video(s)?
-------------------
Video1:
Study Skills - Make Mistakes by Michael Starbird
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yYQ-1X2ocU
Video2:
The Power of Not YET by Carol Dweck
Video3:
Grit by Angela Lee Duckworth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14bBuluwB8
Video4:
Sal Khan interviews Carol Dweck on Growth Mindset
https://youtu.be/wh0OS4MrN3E
Video5:
Michael Jordan about "Failure"
https://youtu.be/JA7G7AV-LT8
Video6:
Growth Mindset Animation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_oqghnxBmY
Video7:
Four Boosting Messages
https://www.youcubed.org/resources/four-boosting-messages-jo-students/
Jazak Allah Khayran Br Hamzah for another great post!
Very interesting insights about making mistakes and ungrading!
Episodes 2 and 3 of the podcast below are about “what the Ungrading movement is, why it is effective for teaching, and how Perusall assists in making it possible” and “additional best practices they find useful within Perusall”). Perusall is a free social learning platform that I recommend to all teachers:
Podcasts:
https://www.perusall.com/sociallearningamplified
This truly touched my heart. I struggle everyday as a science teacher to help my students research critically, think about the process instead of getting the "right" answer, listen to each other respectfully without saying "wrong" and reward perseverance rather than end result. Your Vermont experience seems amazing and I would love to hear more about alternative methods of assessments that inspires curiosity rather than the desire to be on top of the class. I am so glad that you are using this forum to inspire others with your knowledge and experiences. May God reward your time and efforts.
I really like all you wrote here. And I love your return to SIT with your children. I was esp. Struck by the QUEST BRIDGE list as every one of those qualities fits Mahdi.