Podcast appearances and mentions of Sarah M Zerwin

Today we're delving into a transformative approach to grading and assessment in education with our special guest, Sarah M. Zerwin. Sarah is a high school English teacher at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, with three decades of experience, and the author of the eye-opening book "Pointless, an English Teacher's Guide to More Meaningful Grading." In this episode, we explore radical yet practical strategies for shifting grading power from teachers to students. Sarah shares her unique practice of allowing students to select their final grades based on collaboratively created grade descriptions, promoting transparency, student agency, and self-reflection. We'll discuss the profound impact this approach has had on student satisfaction and engagement, as well as the inspiring future she envisions for grading and assessments—away from mandated testing and towards equity and student empowerment. Together, we'll delve into the intricate challenges of traditional grading systems, the cultural and racial biases they perpetuate, and alternatives like labor-based contract grading. Sarah's insights reveal the profound potential for structured choice, goal setting, and ongoing reflection in fostering life skills and deeper teacher-student connections. Join us as we uncover the joy and hope in teaching, the importance of strategic implementation in grading reforms, and the invaluable resources available for educators on this journey. Plus, get a sneak peek into Sarah's upcoming book "Step Aside," set for a December release. Whether you're an educator, parent, or student advocate, this episode is packed with powerful insights and inspiring ideas you'll want to hear.

For too long, the purpose of assessment has been to collect points for a gradebook. As a high school English teacher, Sarah Zerwin decided to uphold a better purpose for assessment: learning. On the episode, Sarah discusses many “point-less” assessment practices such as emphasizing reflection, dialogue, and process. Listen to learn how to shift from a culture of compliance towards a culture of authentic engagement.  Sarah's book: "Pointless: An English Teachers Guide to More Meaningful Grading" View full show notes here!

In this episode of Writer Answers, Liz Reilly and Noah Waspe talk to Sarah Zerwin about the thought processes behind her new book Point-less: an English Teacher’s Guide to More Meaningful Grading. Find today’s guest on Twitter: @SarahMZerwin Order Point-less: An English Teacher’s Guide to More Meaningful Grading https://www.heinemann.com/products/e10951.aspx Sarah’s website: https://sarahmzerwin.wordpress.com/ ----- Learn more about the Ohio Writing Project: http://miamioh.edu/cas/academics/departments/english/academics/graduate-studies/ohio-writing-project/ Want to be kept in the loop for future OWP events? Email us here: ohiowritingproject@MiamiOH.edu Submit a poem to be featured in a future episode: noah.waspe@gmail.com Find Noah on Twitter: @MrWteach Find Liz on Twitter: @ms_liz_reilly_ Find Beth on Twitter: @BethRimer Find OWP on Twitter: @OWPMU

https://amandawritenow.com/how-to-quit-grading-so-much/ So, you want to know how to quit grading so much? Or maybe you just want your grading process to be more systematic and meaningful for students. Well, listening to this episode is the first step to making both of these things happen! My mission is to make teachers' lives easier. I resigned from teaching because of COVID-19. After making this huge decision one question has been on my mind constantly…how can I help teachers? Let's get honest here. Teaching during a pandemic is mind-numbing, tedious, and terrible! Sitting on a screen with students or having to teach with a mask on…this is an awful time to be a teacher. If you are continuing to have a positive attitude, you amaze me! One of the ways to ease teachers' stress is by reducing the grading burden. Below, you'll find 6+tips for how to stop grading so much. Some of the tips are obvious but that's okay. Teachers need reminders just like students. You'll also find ideas I gleaned from an amazing book called Point-less An English Teacher's Guide to More Meaningful Grading by Sarah M. Zerwin. This book is a game changer for teachers because Zerwin documents exactly how teachers can work within their school's grading policies to make grading more meaningful. I believe we can both stop grading so much and make the way we grade more meaningful!

Sarah M. Zerwin teaches Senior Language Arts and AP Lit at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, and author of the book Point-Less: An English Teacher's Guide to More. You can follow her blog The Paper Graders and on twitter at @SarahMZerwin Topics include: What led to the idea that points get in the way of learning. How to identify learning targets and communicate them to students. How to establish a culture of feedback and maintain it throughout the year. How to report a final grade at the end of a term. Resources: Sarah's book Point-Less: An English Teacher's Guide to More. Sarah's blog The Paper Graders

This is the second episode of the podcast as a panel of discussion with Aaron Mathieu, Lee Ferguson, Tanea Hibler, and Ryan Lacson. Show Notes: - We discussed how the office is going to change as a result of the pandemic. - Ryan pointed out the issue of rural internet access. - While not getting bogged down in a conversation about politics, we discussed the origins of Gerrymandering. - We also brought up how the inequities of education are being highlighted by the pandemic. - We had lots of LMS talk. - Lee lamented the fact that she can’t use her 3D Molecular designs models this year. - Lee also discussed the appropriateness of the RockyIV 2020 Meme. - Tanea brought up how teachers are making wills as part of back to school work. - Aaron worries about how the pandemic might be an ACE. - Lee is the queen of the interactive notebook and this year and this year she is going digital with one of her groups. - Ryan is looking forward to trying out NGSS Storylining this year. - Lee is excited to try out Pivot Interactives. - Tanea is excited her school is going to take the biggest leap forward towards creating an anti-racist culture and campus. - Aaron is looking forward to continuing his pointless grading journey inspired by My Classes Are Pointless by Paul Strode and Point-Less By Sarah M. Zerwin We would love feedback! DM or Tweet @lifeoftheschool and share what your fears are about the upcoming school year? What are you excited about/looking forward to? Credits: - Please subscribe to Life Of The School on your podcast player of choice! - Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/LOTS - Music by: https://exmagicians.bandcamp.com/ - Show Notes at Lifeoftheschool.org - You can follow on twitter @lifeoftheschool