Softening the Edges

“Softening the Edges beautifully entwines narrative and practical processes, tools, and questions to inspire a new vision for assessment—its design, its use, and its scope. It is practical and nuanced to reflect the important influence of context, the teacher’s voice, and the student’s whole self. White positions reflection at the center of this softening that shifts assessment from a solely technical endeavor to one that captures its power to transform both teacher and student. This is an essential read for educators intentionally traveling down the path to reimagining assessment, and it is a much-needed voice in the arena of classroom assessment.”

—Nicole Dimich Vagle, educator and author, Minnetonka, MN

“While accounting for the importance of data collection, Katie White makes room for a more compassionate view of assessment—one that accounts for the lived experiences of students as well as teachers. She explains how to create softer-edged yet academically rigorous assessments that return the focus of school to where it belongs: the curious, creative, vulnerable human beings who are learning and teaching in schools.”

—Lauren Porosoff, teacher, ethical culture, Fieldston School, Bronx, NY

“Katie White’s Softening the Edges reminds all of us of the purposefulness of the work that we do every day and the joy that mindfulness brings to true learning. White’s work lays the groundwork for powerful professional development for teachers. It gives hope that discovering and uncovering curriculum learning is far more powerful than simply covering it. Teachers and students are on this incredible learning journey together.”

—Louise Gel, principal, North East School Division, Saskatchewan, Canada

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