One questions most good teachers ask themselves daily is "How do I know what my students are learning?". The answer to this question has always been "By grading them on work and giving a test on the material in a unit or chapter.". The question that follows is almost always "Well what will you grade on?". This question is much harder to answer and will vary between teachers.
I liked how they explained that teachers will grade based on what they find important and valuable. For example, if a teacher doesn't feel spelling is important anymore because most writing is done electronically and that has spell check, then they will probably not spend time correcting grammar or spelling on assignments.
For me personally, I want to spend time focusing on multiple things. I would love to have students keep a journal and require them to write in it at least weekly, but only grade on participation so they can learn that writing is a form of expression and if they enjoy writing for personal expression is doesn't have to be polished. The other strategies for assessing student learning mentioned in the text was the use of feedback. The first time I had a teacher give me feedback on a draft was freshman year of college and it changed how I brainstormed, wrote, edited and felt about my writing. I could get feedback about how to make my writing better and still have time to change it. It was also the first time I was given the opportunity to produce multiple drafts before turning in a final draft. As a student, I wish my high school teachers had done this more because I never felt fully confident in my writing when my teachers were reading my work for the first time when I turned it in to be graded.
Writing can be used countless ways of expressing, informing, explaining and enjoying the world around us and the thoughts in us, and I think the grading of all these different forms of writing should be just as unique and beautiful.
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