Skyward is not my grade book.

Skyward is not my grade book.

Skyward is not my grade book.

This has become a mantra in the 180 classroom. I keep saying it, but for some reason kids–and parents–aren’t hearing it.

Formally and informally, I have shared this statement and the sentiment behind numerous times this year, but for some reason, it keeps getting lost in translation.

Some reason. As if I don’t know.

Trouble is, I do know. It is my grade book. It says so. I click on “My Gradebook” every day.

And so do kids and parents most days. Year after year after year.

It is the condition of their conditioning. School, learning–everything–is the grade book.

And I think I am gonna change that with a mantra?

I do. Some day. I got lots of talk in my mouth and lots of walk in my feet. The journey’s not over. It’s only begun. And I will reach my some day. Some day.

But today is in front of me first, so I will face the day. And for me that always begins early, and in my early I wonder about my betters ahead, and I think I found one this morning.

I wonder if I could get them to view the “book” differently. I already tell them it’s simply a tool for recording and reporting learning, but that still’s not enough to get past the wall of their conditioning. And it’s the damn percentage that creates the block.

I have tried for years now to manipulate it with no-counts, “ghost grades,” fewer points, etc., but it’s still there, and it still sticks. I thought maybe this year’s manipulation might have finally “mastered the mark” with a 1 for done, a .7 for “please revise,” and a 0 for missing, but I’m still not there and the percentage is. So, this, then, will be my next better.

Next semester, I will keep my 1, .7, and 0, but I am going to try to sell Skyward differently. Skyward is a gas tank.

Well, a learning tank. It’s a place we fill with learning experiences. It comes with a gauge, so you can check your learning levels at any time. It also comes with 24 hour service, allowing you to add to the tank at all hours of the day. It also comes with a recommendation of keeping your tank at 70% full for optimum performance (Remember, a .7 means they have gotten feedback–fuel–for the next learning experience–revision.)

Will it work? I don’t know. But I hope they come to see the “point” of the fuel to be the means to manage their learning tanks as they drive towards the end, where they get to select and support their grades, which is really the only time I want the “g-word” to enter the conversation.

I want the conversation to steer towards learning. I want them to think about filling their tanks. I want their parents to ask about their tanks, and I want them to share that it’s at F. Full of feedback.

Happy Thursday, all.

Do. Reflect. Do Better.