Fair Isn't Always Equal

Differentiated instruction is a nice idea, but what happens when it comes to assessing and grading students? How can you capture student progress, growth, and soft skill development and still provide an equitable grading environment?' An internationally recognized expert on grading practices, author Rick Wormeli revisits these questions in this thoroughly updated second edition of Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom.' Wormeli reflects on current grading and assessment practices and how they can exist with high-stakes, accountable classrooms. Important and sometimes controversial issues are tackled constructively in this book, incorporating modern pedagogy and addressing the challenges of teaching diverse groups of students across all learning levels.' Middle- and high-school educators will easily recognize' gray areas of grading and how important it is to have a shared school vision. In this second edition, new sections address sports eligibility, honor roll, descriptive feedback techniques, and gifted/talented students.' Previous chapters on test questions, redos/retakes, grading scales, and grading effort and behavior have been revised extensively. This important book clearly explains the principles behind best grading practices so that you' re ready for all grading questions or scenarios that you may encounter in your classrooms and schools.

Rick Wormeli is a National Board Certified Teacher and a columnist for Middle Ground magazine. The winner of Disney's American Teacher Award for English in 1996, Rick is an internationally known speaker on middle-level education, innovation, and teacher professionalism. Rick offers a wealth of experience having worked as a middle grades teacher, human growth and development teacher, and staff development educator. He is also an educational consultant to National Public Radio, USA Today, and the Smithsonian Institute. Rick has presented at the White House, has appeared on Good Morning America, and has worked with school districts all across the country.

Section I: Differentiation and Mastery; Chapter 1: Fair to All; Chapter 2: Principled Assessment and Grading; Chapter 3: Mastery; Section II: Assessment; Chapter 4: Assessment; Chapter 5: Descriptive Feedback and Student Self-Assessment; Chapter 6: Principles of Effective Assessments for the Differentiated Classroom; Chapter 7: Assessment Integral to Lesson Design; Chapter 8: Tiering Assessments; Chapter 9: Rubrics; Chapter 10: Creating Good Test Questions; Section III: Grading; Chapter 11: The Relative Nature of Grades and Their Definitions; Chapter 12: Why Do We Grade, and What About Effort, Attendance, and Behavior?; Chapter 13: Honor Roll?; Chapter 14: It's Time to Stop Averaging; Chapter 15: Ten Grading Practices to Avoid; Chapter 16: Redos and Retakes; Chapter 17: Five Burning Grading Issues; Chapter 18: Grading Scales; Chapter 19: Gradebooks and Report Cards; Chapter 20: Putting It All Together