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Fair Isn't Always Equal
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| List Price: | $23.00 |
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Product Description
Differentiated instruction is a nice idea, but what happens when it comes to assessing and grading students? What's both fair and leads to real student learning?
Fair Isn't Always Equal answers that question and much more. Rick Wormeli offers the latest research and common sense thinking that teachers and administrators seek when it comes to assessment and grading in differentiated classes. Filled with real examples and “gray” areas that middle and high school educators will easily recognize, Rick tackles important and sometimes controversial assessment and grading issues constructively. The book covers high-level concepts, ranging from “rationale for differentiating assessment and grading” to “understanding mastery” as well as the nitty-gritty details of grading and assessment, such as:
- whether to incorporate effort, attendance, and behavior into academic grades;
- whether to grade homework;
- setting up grade books and report cards to reflect differentiated practices;
- principles of successful assessment;
- how to create useful and fair test questions, including how to grade such prompts efficiently;
- whether to allow students to re-do assessments for full credit.
This thorough and practical guide also includes a special section for teacher leaders that explores ways to support colleagues as they move toward successful assessment and grading practices for differentiated classrooms.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #11582 in Books
- Published on: 2006-01-01
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Paperback
- 224 pages
Customer Reviews
Summer Reading for Teachers (or Weekend Reading, If Summer's Over!)
Just out in 2006, Rick Wormeli's FAIR ISN'T ALWAYS EQUAL has the latest research on teaching (especially middle and high school) pulled together nicely in one 200-page package. For me, a lot of it was necessary review and reaffirmation of differentiated instruction, standards-based instruction, and various strategies I've read about but haven't gotten around to using. For beginning teachers or veteran teachers whose schools are converting to the standards-based and/or differentiated instruction mode of instructing, it is a terrific primer and source of discussion.
That's all well and good (and a terrific learning tool for teachers), but what really appeals is how Wormeli wades into some hot-button topics like grading (he calls it the "elephant in the room" we don't want to discuss). In addition to issues of assessment, fairness, and mastery teaching, Wormeli brings up whether or not we should grade participation, effort, behavior, and attendance. My school has been debating this very topic of late, and Wormeli not only provides both points of view, he dives into the debate fearlessly by taking a stand and giving a well-reasoned defense of his view.
In addition, there's loads of practical stuff on how to teach students of various abilities, how to keep a grade book, how to structure report cards, and how to create fair tests.
This would be a great professional reading "book group" choice for teachers to read, annotate, then discuss. As it uses the "See Inside" feature here at amazon, I recommend you check out the Table of Contents for a look at what's inside. It won't disappoint.
This is a great resource that every educator should read.
This book was fantastic. Rick's style of writing was enjoyable to read and straight to the point. He offered valuable insight with practical examples and did so in a way that made it simple to read and understand. I particularly enjoyed how he approached potential naysayers of DI&A. It was like he stayed one step ahead of what the reader might be (negatively) thinking. He definitely challenged my personal comfort level and brought my immediate attention to many of the problems we face in public education. I've recommended my staff read it.
The Assessment Bible
Wormeli provides guidlelines which should be adopted by all educators and schools as the gold standards for assessment. He is practical with his suggestions and shares wisdom from many educators on a wide variety of assessment topics. This book should be on every educator's desk.
