How to Stop Point-Chasing & Start Learning
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
10/17/22
•44m
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In this S2E6 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, Sarah M. Zerwin reveals why traditional grading systems are failing our students and how to create classrooms where real learning thrives. Discover how one master educator transformed her classroom by eliminating the "points for compliance" system that's been damaging student motivation and engagement for decades. Sarah shares practical strategies that work across all grade levels and content areas.
🔥 What You'll Learn:
• Why traditional grading systems reward compliance over learning
• The historical origins of our broken educational measurement system
• How to shift from evaluation to meaningful feedback that inspires students
• Practical strategies for managing the gradebook without destroying student motivation
• The coaching metaphor that will revolutionize your teaching approach
• How to navigate district requirements while prioritizing student engagement
Sarah's approach addresses low engagement by focusing on intrinsic student motivation rather than external rewards. Her methods support culturally responsive teaching, equity in education, and creating inclusive classrooms where every student can thrive.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Sarah M. Zerwin
2:19 The Problem with Point-Chasing Behaviors
5:11 Historical Origins of Traditional Grading
8:14 Compliance vs. Proficiency in Education
10:47 Navigating District Obstacles to Change
13:12 The Myth of Standards-Based Grading
15:16 The Coach-Athlete Teaching Metaphor
18:14 What's Actually Required vs. Phantom Policy
20:48 Reimagining Assignments Without Reinventing Everything
24:59 How to Use Your Gradebook Differently
31:56 Redefining Feedback as Description, Not Evaluation
35:46 Sharing the Feedback Load with Students
39:29 Spreading Pointless Grading Across Content Areas
42:15 Final Thoughts on Process Over Product
Episode Mentions:
- Sarah’s Website Resource Page: Point-less Grading in General, Language Arts, Science, and Math; Teaching Writing; Teaching Reading; Workshop
- Alfie Kohn - The Case Against Grades
- Phantom Policy
- Learning Goals (AP Lit / 9th-12th Grades)
- Grading Explanations (LA 12 / AP Lit)
- For Students and Caregivers:
- Infinite Campus Gradebook
- Developing Grading and Reporting Systems for Student Learning
- Point-Less: An English Teacher’s Guide to More Meaningful Grading (2020)
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
I Watched Kids Learn to Read (and it was beautiful)
October 10, 2022
•25m
In this S2E5 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, reading intervention specialist Linda Farrell reveals the assessment-driven approach that's helping struggling readers across America. From her unique journey as a former investment banker turned reading expert, Linda shares game-changing strategies that every educator and parent needs to know.
What You'll Learn:
✅ The critical difference between teaching typical vs. struggling readers
✅ How proper assessment drives effective teaching (not guessing!)
✅ Why early intervention before age 8 is crucial for student success
✅ The Simple View of Reading that transforms instructional strategies
✅ Free assessment tools you can use immediately
Perfect for: teachers, education coaches, school administrators, parents, homeschoolers, teacher mentors, instructional leaders, school counselors seeking effective teaching methods and professional development.
Linda's work demonstrates how proper assessment leads to targeted instruction, improved student engagement, and lasting student success. Her Reading Rockets video series shows real results with real kids, proving that with the right approach, we can help every child become a thriving student.
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Linda Farrell
1:26 Inspiring Educator: Rossi King
4:24 Linda's Journey: From Investment Banking to Reading
9:49 Red Flags for Parents
11:29 Reading Rockets Video Series
16:59 What Would You Change About Education?
19:42 Favorite Assessment Tools
22:07 Success Stories That Change Lives
Episode Mentions:
- Louisa C. Moats, Ed.D.
- Decoding Dyslexia
- Looking at Reading Interventions Video Series on Reading Rockets
- The Simple View of Reading
- Readsters® Complimentary Assessment Resources
Articles by Linda Farrell:
- The Simple View of Reading
- First Rule of Reading: Keep Your Eyes on the Words
- Helping Students Keep Their Eyes on the Words
Webinars by Linda Farrell:
- The Simple View of Reading
- Using Decodable Books and Early Leveled Readers Appropriately
- Using Decodables and Leveled Readers
- Linda Farrel Balanced literacy vs systematic reading on Vimeo
- CCSS Reading Foundational Skills: What’s There and What’s Missing? - Linda Farrell on Vimeo
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
When to Quit: Pulitzer Winner Explains
October 24, 2022
•25m
When should you quit? Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and UC Berkeley Dean Geeta Anand shares the Buddhist-inspired framework that transformed her career and can revolutionize yours.
In this powerful interview, Geeta reveals how "wise seeing, wise being, and wise effort" helped her make impossible decisions - from quitting swimming as a national champion to leaving the New York Times to care for family. Her story offers profound insights for teachers, education coaches, school administrators, parents, homeschoolers, teacher mentors, instructional leaders, and school counselors facing burnout and difficult choices.
Perfect for educators struggling with:
➡️Student engagement and student motivation challenges
➡️Classroom management and behavior strategies with difficult students
➡️Professional development and teacher support decisions
➡️Education transformation and school improvement initiatives
➡️Parent communication and family partnerships
➡️Inclusive teaching and culturally responsive teaching approaches
Geeta's journey from swimming champion to foreign correspondent to dean demonstrates how effective teaching and instructional leadership require knowing when to persist and when to pivot. Her pro-kid mindset and whole child approach offers teaching tips for inspiring students and creating thriving students.
Key Topics:
➡️Buddhist wisdom for decision-making
➡️Teacher coaching and mentor teachers' strategies
➡️School leadership and education leadership insights
➡️Student success through empowered educators
➡️Innovative teaching and instructional strategies
➡️School culture transformation
➡️Teacher impact and inspired teaching
Whether you're dealing with classroom behavior issues, low engagement, or considering major career changes, this conversation provides the framework for making wise decisions that honor both your calling and your well-being.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Meeting Geeta Anand
02:48 The Magic Carpet Story
03:04 Inspiring Educator: Mary Kelly
04:18 The Quitting Confession
05:25 Wise Seeing, Wise Being, Wise Effort Explained
07:26 Quitting Swimming as National Champion
09:04 Parenting and Wise Seeing
12:02 Seeing Truth as Caregivers and Educators
13:36 $25 Million Grant Success Story
15:44 Leaving New York Times for Family
17:20 Becoming Berkeley Journalism Dean
18:46 Teaching Writing Without Formulas
19:12 Curiosity Over Opinion
20:03 Seeing Through Our Own Prisms
21:52 Information Literacy in Dangerous Times
23:00 Why Assessing All Sides Matters
24:09 Hope for Educators at Breaking Point
24:25 Closing and Gratitude
Episode Mentions & Publications:
- Mary Kelley
- Dartmouth Commencement 2020 on the Green (in July 2022)
- State funds Berkeley Journalism $25 million to strengthen California’s local news coverage By Ivan Natividad| SEPTEMBER 7, 2022
- School of Journalism Graduation and Commencement 2022 UC Berkeley
Book:
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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