On Grades: A Teacher's Perspective

Published: Dec. 11, 2023, 8:28 p.m.

In a HeightsCast episode released in September, headmaster Alvaro de Vicente offered guidance for parents on how to understand, interpret, and respond to their sons\u2019 grades while also nurturing strong and lasting bonds. This week we welcome Tom Steenson to HeightsCast to discuss grading from the teacher\u2019s perspective.

Tom offers practical advice to teachers, framing grades as a means to helping students learn, whether they are relatively strong in a subject or struggling through a class. Approaching grading more as an art than a strict science, Mr. Steenson encourages teachers to be realistic without crushing a student and to challenge students to think beyond the grade, helping them find a real joy in learning.\xa0

Chapters\xa0

  • 2:10 Introduction: Grading from a teacher\u2019s perspective

  • 3:00 How to think about grades

  • 5:05 Dealing with a strong student

  • 7:45 Should you grade different students differently?

  • 10:53 The grade-monger: Kids who are hyper focused on the grade

  • 14:20 Online gradebooks?\xa0

  • 16:20 Practical advice for students struggling with grades

  • 20:00 Grading fairly without crushing the student\xa0

  • 21:45 Advice for the art of grading\xa0

  • 28:10 Closing thoughts\xa0

Mentioned in the episode\xa0

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck\xa0