Raising
Student Expectations
- Hold
standards firm with flextime to achieve
standards.
- Make
meaningful assignments.
- Make
challenging assignments.
- Return
unsatisfactory work for corrections.
- Make
sure parents and students understand
expectations.
- Organize
extra help so that it is available to
students.
- Show
students that assignments are worthwhile.
(Canady, R.L., 1995)
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Instructional Practices
- Use
a variety of teaching strategies to promote
student learning (active learning, peer
teaching, interdisciplinary units).
- Emphasize
upper level thinking skills.
- Teach
organizational skills, study skills,
and test-taking skills.
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Testing
- Use
formative testing.
- Use
pre-testing.
- Allow
students to use notes or textbooks on
some tests.
- Match
testing with teaching.
- Don't
grade prematurely.
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Grading
- Allow
students the opportunity to improve their
level of mastery and to improve their
grades.
- Drop
lowest grade(s).
- Do
not grade first efforts or practice.
- Use
a points system to arrive at grades.
- Use
rubrics to assess performances and projects.
- Use
authentic assessment methods like portfolios.
- Make
sure students have access to materials
needed for projects.
- Encourage
students to keep a running tally
of their grades.
- Prompt
return of graded material is essential.
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Be
Aware of Factors that Create Biases
in Grading
The
following can exert a powerful influence
on grades:
- neatness
of work
- teacher
expectations based on past performance
- the
attractiveness of the student
Also,
gender can create biases in grading.
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