Concise Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Assessment and Grading

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Hope, Efficacy, and Achievement
Chapter 2: A Culture of Learning
Chapter 3: Assessment Purpose
Chapter 4: Assessment Architecture
Chapter 5: Communication of Results
Chapter 6: Accurate Interpretation
Chapter 7: Instructional Agility
Chapter 8: Student Investment
Table of Contents by Topic
Glossary of Terms
A Comprehensive Resource List From the Solution Tree Assessment Center (STAC)

STUDY GUIDE

• Concise Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Assessment and Grading Study Guide

REPRODUCIBLES

• Questions to Elicit Evidence of Student Learning

SUGGESTED RESOURCES

BOOKS

• Bailey, K., & Jakicic, C. (2012). Common formative assessment: A toolkit for Professional Learning Communities at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Bailey, K., & Jakicic, C. (2017). Simplifying common assessment: A guide for Professional Learning Communities at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Bailey, K., Jakicic, C., & Spiller, J. (2014). Collaborating for success with the common core: A toolkit for Professional Learning Communities at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Buffum, A., Mattos, M., & Malone, J. (2018). Taking action: A handbook for RTI at Work. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Calderón, M. (2012). Why we need a new way of schooling language-minority children. In Calderón, M. (Ed.), Breaking through: Effective instruction and assessment for reaching English learners (pp. 7–26). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Davies, A. (2007). Involving students in the classroom assessment process. In D. Reeves (Ed.), Ahead of the curve: The power of assessment to transform teaching and learning (pp. 31–57). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Davies, A. (2011). Making classroom assessment work (3rd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Depka, E. (2015). Bringing homework into focus: Tools and tips to enhance practices, design, and feedback. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Depka, E. (2017). Raising the rigor: Effective questioning strategies and techniques for the classroom. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Dimich, N. (2009). Inspiring and requiring action. In T. Guskey (Ed.), The teacher as assessment leader (pp. 203–226). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Dimich, N. (2015). Design in five: Essential phases to create engaging assessment practice. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• DuFour, R. (2015). In praise of American educators: And how they can become even better. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• DuFour, R., & DuFour, R. (2015). Deeper learning for students requires deeper learning for educators. In J. Bellanca (Ed.), Deeper learning: Beyond 21st century skills (pp. 21–52). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• DuFour, R., DuFour, R., & Eaker, R. (2008). Revisiting Professional Learning Communities at Work: New insights for improving schools. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• DuFour, R., DuFour, R., Eaker, R., Many, T. W., & Mattos, M. (2016). Learning by doing: A handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work (3rd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• DuFour, R., Reeves, D., & DuFour, R. (2018). Responding to the Every Student Succeeds Act with the PLC at Work process. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Erkens, C. (2016). Collaborative common assessments: Teamwork. Instruction. Results. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Erkens, C. (2019). The handbook for collaborative common assessments: Tools for design, delivery, and data analysis. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Erkens, C., Schimmer, T., & Dimich, N. (2017). Essential assessment: Six tenets for bringing hope, efficacy, and achievement to the classroom. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Erkens, C., Schimmer, T., & Dimich, N. (2018). Instructional agility: Responding to assessment with real-time decisions. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Erkens, C., Schimmer, T., & Dimich, N. (2019). Growing tomorrow’s citizens in today’s classrooms: Assessing 7 critical competencies. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Erkens, C., & Twadell, E. (2012). Leading by design: An action framework for PLC at Work leaders. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2015). Unstoppable learning: Seven essential elements to unleash student potential. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Francis, E. M. (2022). Deconstructing depth of knowledge: A method and model for deeper teaching and learning. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Gobble, T., Onuscheck, M., Reibel, A. R., & Twadell, E. (2016). Proficiency-based assessment: Process, not product. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Gobble, T., Onuscheck, M., Reibel, A. R., & Twadell, E. (2017). Pathways to proficiency: Implementing evidence-based grading. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Gregory, K., Cameron, C., & Davies, A. (2011). Setting and using criteria (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Guskey, T. R. (2007). Using assessments to improve teaching and learning. In D. Reeves (Ed.), Ahead of the curve: The power of assessment to transform teaching and learning (pp. 15–30). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Guskey, T. R. (2015). On your mark: Challenging the conventions of grading and reporting. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Guskey, T. R. (2020). Get set, go! Creating successful grading and reporting systems. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Heflebower, T., Hoegh, J. K., & Warrick, P. B. (2014). A school leader’s guide to standards-based grading. Bloomington, IN: Marzano Resources.
• Herbst, S., & Davies, A. (2014). A fresh look at grading and reporting in high schools. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Hierck, T., & Freese, A. (2018). Assessing unstoppable learning. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Marzano, R. J. (2010). Formative assessment and standards-based grading. Bloomington, IN: Marzano Resources.
• Reeves, D. (Ed.). (2007). Ahead of the curve: The power of assessment to transform teaching and learning. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Reeves, D. (2016a). Elements of grading: A guide to effective practice (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Reeves, D. (2016b). FAST grading: A guide to implementing best practices. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Schimmer, T. (2016). Grading from the inside out: Bringing accuracy to student assessment through a standards-based mindset. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Schimmer, T., Hillman, G., & Stalets, M. (2018). Standards-based learning in action: Moving from theory to practice. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Solution Tree. (2018). The handbook for embedded formative assessment. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• White, K. (2017). Softening the edges: Assessment practices that honor K–12 teachers and learners. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• White, K. (2019). Unlocked: Assessment as the key to everyday creativity in the classroom. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• White, K. (2022). Student self-assessment: Data notebooks, portfolios, and other tools to advance learning. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Wiliam, D. (2011). Embedded formative assessment. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
• Wiliam, D. (2018). Embedded formative assessment (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.

WEBSITES

• Initiate-Response-Evaluate method