Rick Wormeli: The Right Way to Do Redos

12/6/2017

https://www.middleweb.com/31398/rick-wormeli-the-right-way-to-do-redos/

I love Rick Wormeli’s thinking.  I was introduced to him in my middle level classes at the University of Northern Iowa and have never looked back.  I own all his books.  I have seen him at 4 or 5 conferences.  I have watched webinars.  I have his videos about standards-based grading saved.  He’s smart, he’s ‘real-world’ savvy, he’s funny, and he’s on-point.  I’ve talked to him, I’ve tweeted with him. He even told me at my last AMLE conference, that I needed to BE the change when it came to my grading concerns.

This article kept me nodding all the way through, with the occasional question or moment of hesitation, just as Rick’s work always does.  There is always another level to push me to, and his writing always makes it a common sense step to take.  

Take aways and/or thought-starters:

• Retakes aren’t a given.  Hmmm.  I like them being an automatic, and yet - many of the naysayers to the retake policy would cite his example of the kid who leaves it til the last minute because, “Mr Wormeli always lets me take it again,” as a reason NOT to do retakes.  On the other hand, who am I to refuse a child the option to doing the work twice if they choose.  And Rick pretty much says that he reserves the right...but….

“If it’s a character issue, such as integrity, self-discipline, maturity, and honesty, the greater gift may be to deny the redo option. We have to weigh that choice every time we consider allowing students to redo work.”

That opens up some new thinking.  I need to remember that the opportunity to learn has to be offered, but there are times when it isn’t the right lesson.  I already told my students that my ‘on time’ rule for formative retakes will be in play next semester.  I have to teach myself the habit of following my own rules.  It should be simple enough, Google Classroom tells me if something was submitted late….

• Ask the parents to sign the original and request for redo.  Oh man. I had planned to do that long ago.  They can’t do that online, but there is no reason why I can’t develop a form that the parents have to sign.  Shoot.  I meant to do that long ago.  That’s why you have to read and reread these great articles.  The good ideas don’t go away, but I definitely need some reminding!

• Pat on the back for this one - I have been working really hard at being more realistic.  Talking through the standard - do they have mastery - rather than checking their compliance in the completion of some major project or other.  Rick says:

“There are times when it’s not worth students’ going through the whole project or assessment from the beginning for a redo. For time and sanity’s sake, we may just want to assess the student orally and record the new grade right away.”  

Precisely.

This all links back to some of my thinking of late - that kind of blew some minds when I brought it up at the lunch table.  But how much to we buy into this grading culture ourselves?  How many times does a teacher make something a summative because there's so much work...so in other words, make it a reward.  Shouldn’t the formative be more work?  Practice, learning, practice - should be much more time consuming than a summative, when you think about it.  After all, a summative is just quantifying mastery.

• Make a plan.  Create a plan for completion.  Yes.  I have started doing that more - but it needs to become a consistent habit.  There can be an overall plan, but I must be prepared to personalize that plan dependent on the work to be done and the student doing the work.  From Internet at home to ability, there is a lot to keep in mind. 

• No redos during the last week of the grading period:  ✔  This year, I am sticking to this!

• Our world is full of redos.  Yes it is.  And we don’t average them either!

Thank you as always, Rick.  You make me think, and you give me outlines. I appreciate it.