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Concise Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Assessment and Grading

If you have ever asked, “What are the best practices in grading and assessment?” then look no further. Your most challenging questions are answered through this FAQ dialogue that covers how to implement effective and strong assessment practices quickly and easily.

Benefits

  • Understand the six tenets of assessment and grading.
  • Gain confidence in effective assessment and grading practices.
  • Access concise answers to common questions about assessment and grading.
  • Help implement schoolwide best practices through effective collaboration.

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Concise Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Assessment and Grading

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Hope, Efficacy, and Achievement
Chapter 2: A Culture of Learning
Chapter 3: Assessment Purpose
Chapter 4: Assessment Architecture
Chapter 5: Communication of Results
Chapter 6: Accurate Interpretation
Chapter 7: Instructional Agility
Chapter 8: Student Investment
Table of Contents by Topic
Glossary of Terms
A Comprehensive Resource List From the Solution Tree Assessment Center (STAC)

STUDY GUIDE

REPRODUCIBLES

SUGGESTED RESOURCES

BOOKS

  • Bailey, K., & Jakicic, C. (2012). Common formative assessment: A toolkit for Professional Learning Communities at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Bailey, K., & Jakicic, C. (2017). Simplifying common assessment: A guide for Professional Learning Communities at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Bailey, K., Jakicic, C., & Spiller, J. (2014). Collaborating for success with the common core: A toolkit for Professional Learning Communities at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Buffum, A., Mattos, M., & Malone, J. (2018). Taking action: A handbook for RTI at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Calderón, M. (2012). Why we need a new way of schooling language-minority children. In Calderón, M. (Ed.), Breaking through: Effective instruction and assessment for reaching English learners (pp. 7–26). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Davies, A. (2007). Involving students in the classroom assessment process. In D. Reeves (Ed.), Ahead of the curve: The power of assessment to transform teaching and learning (pp. 31–57). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Davies, A. (2011). Making classroom assessment work (3rd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Depka, E. (2015). Bringing homework into focus: Tools and tips to enhance practices, design, and feedback. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Depka, E. (2017). Raising the rigor: Effective questioning strategies and techniques for the classroom. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Dimich, N. (2009). Inspiring and requiring action. In T. Guskey (Ed.), The teacher as assessment leader (pp. 203–226). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Dimich, N. (2015). Design in five: Essential phases to create engaging assessment practice. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • DuFour, R. (2015). In praise of American educators: And how they can become even better. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • DuFour, R., & DuFour, R. (2015). Deeper learning for students requires deeper learning for educators. In J. Bellanca (Ed.), Deeper learning: Beyond 21st century skills (pp. 21–52). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • DuFour, R., DuFour, R., & Eaker, R. (2008). Revisiting Professional Learning Communities at Work: New insights for improving schools. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • DuFour, R., DuFour, R., Eaker, R., Many, T. W., & Mattos, M. (2016). Learning by doing: A handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work (3rd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • DuFour, R., Reeves, D., & DuFour, R. (2018). Responding to the Every Student Succeeds Act with the PLC at Work process. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Erkens, C. (2016). Collaborative common assessments: Teamwork. Instruction. Results. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Erkens, C. (2019). The handbook for collaborative common assessments: Tools for design, delivery, and data analysis. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Erkens, C., Schimmer, T., & Dimich, N. (2017). Essential assessment: Six tenets for bringing hope, efficacy, and achievement to the classroom. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Erkens, C., Schimmer, T., & Dimich, N. (2018). Instructional agility: Responding to assessment with real-time decisions. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Erkens, C., Schimmer, T., & Dimich, N. (2019). Growing tomorrow’s citizens in today’s classrooms: Assessing 7 critical competencies. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Erkens, C., & Twadell, E. (2012). Leading by design: An action framework for PLC at Work leaders. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2015). Unstoppable learning: Seven essential elements to unleash student potential. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Francis, E. M. (2022). Deconstructing depth of knowledge: A method and model for deeper teaching and learning. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Gobble, T., Onuscheck, M., Reibel, A. R., & Twadell, E. (2016). Proficiency-based assessment: Process, not product. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Gobble, T., Onuscheck, M., Reibel, A. R., & Twadell, E. (2017). Pathways to proficiency: Implementing evidence-based grading. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Gregory, K., Cameron, C., & Davies, A. (2011). Setting and using criteria (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Guskey, T. R. (2007). Using assessments to improve teaching and learning. In D. Reeves (Ed.), Ahead of the curve: The power of assessment to transform teaching and learning (pp. 15–30). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Guskey, T. R. (2015). On your mark: Challenging the conventions of grading and reporting. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Guskey, T. R. (2020). Get set, go! Creating successful grading and reporting systems. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Heflebower, T., Hoegh, J. K., & Warrick, P. B. (2014). A school leader’s guide to standards-based grading. Bloomington, IN: Marzano Resources.
  • Herbst, S., & Davies, A. (2014). A fresh look at grading and reporting in high schools. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Hierck, T., & Freese, A. (2018). Assessing unstoppable learning. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Marzano, R. J. (2010). Formative assessment and standards-based grading. Bloomington, IN: Marzano Resources.
  • Reeves, D. (Ed.). (2007). Ahead of the curve: The power of assessment to transform teaching and learning. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Reeves, D. (2016a). Elements of grading: A guide to effective practice (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Reeves, D. (2016b). FAST grading: A guide to implementing best practices. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Schimmer, T. (2016). Grading from the inside out: Bringing accuracy to student assessment through a standards-based mindset. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Schimmer, T., Hillman, G., & Stalets, M. (2018). Standards-based learning in action: Moving from theory to practice. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Solution Tree. (2018). The handbook for embedded formative assessment. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • White, K. (2017). Softening the edges: Assessment practices that honor K–12 teachers and learners. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • White, K. (2019). Unlocked: Assessment as the key to everyday creativity in the classroom. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • White, K. (2022). Student self-assessment: Data notebooks, portfolios, and other tools to advance learning. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Wiliam, D. (2011). Embedded formative assessment. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
  • Wiliam, D. (2018). Embedded formative assessment (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.

WEBSITES