Standards-Based Learning Feedback: Retakes

During our professional learning on September 25th, some teacher teams learned more about retakes and redos.  With the goal of standards-based grading being student learning, opportunities to 'retake, retry, or redo' are a critical piece of meeting this goal.  This is also one of the shared practices from the Grading and Reporting committee--'multiple attempts at learning.'  Below are key points and themes from the study teams on September 25th.

• Retakes allow mistakes to be learning opportunities.  Mistakes are a part of the learning process.
• Retakes promote a growth mindset-students are not able to master a standard....yet. 
• Grades should reflect what students know and are able to do rather than dates and times. 
• All students should have the choice to improve and explain their thinking.  Everybody should have a chance to improve. 
• Reassessment should not be a 'right' for students without some sort of opportunity cost.  Students may earn the opportunity for reassessment by meeting with a teacher, doing additional work to practice, and demonstrating some evidence of new learning.
• Retakes are evidence of new and improved learning, and this new information replaces old in the gradebook.

These key ideas will be valuable to school teams as you continue to create and refine policies to support retakes and redos as a way to strengthen student learning.