Denise Pope, senior lecturer at Stanford University and cofounder of Challenge Success, recalls her days as an English teacher, spending hours writing meticulous comments on student papers, only to have them ignored.
“The first thing kids would do is go to the back of the paper, look at the grade, and never read my comments,” Pope says.
A 2021 study confirms this phenomenon, finding that students are more likely to ignore teacher feedback when grades are provided first.
Advocates for traditional A-F or percentage grading argue that grades provide a simple measure of academic achievement and facilitate communication between institutions.
However, research suggests that grades may not accurately reflect learning and can harm student motivation.
Here are nine reasons to reconsider traditional grading practices:
1. Less Feedback is Better Feedback
Researchers found that excessive feedback is often ignored or misunderstood. Focus on targeted, high-impact feedback.
2. Fewer Grades Mean Less Stress
Reducing grading obligations can alleviate teacher stress and promote student well-being.
3. Grading Obligations Reduce Teacher Creativity and Innovation
Grading consumes significant teacher time, limiting opportunities for innovative lesson planning and collaboration.
4. Grades are Inherently Unstable Indicators
Research shows that grades often fail to align with standardized test scores and are susceptible to bias.
5. Grading Conveys an Artificial Sense of Completion
Delaying grades can encourage students to reflect on their progress and improve.
6. Grading Reduces Opportunities for Student Practice
Emphasizing practice over grading fosters mastery and develops essential skills.
7. Grades are Less Motivating Than You Might Think
Research suggests that grades don’t motivate average or struggling students.
8. Peer Grading Helps
Student-led grading promotes better academic performance, metacognitive skills, and self-reflection.
9. More Types of Data are Better
Diverse assessment strategies provide a more accurate picture of student progress.
By reevaluating grading practices, educators can promote student learning, well-being, and success.