FAST Grading: A Guide to Implementing Best Practices

by Douglas Reeves

Embrace effective grading procedures that have the power to reduce failure rates, improve student discipline, encourage learning, and enhance morale. In this three-part guide, the author presents practical strategies teachers and administrators can use to ensure their grading practices center on four essential fairness, accuracy, specificity, and timeliness. Apply case studies, real-world feedback models, and interactive reflection questions gain support for grading reform, navigate implementation challenges, and more.

Benefits

Discover effective guides to resolving student behavior problems, tardiness, and academic dishonesty.Learn about the five mistakes educators often make that cause grading reform to fail.Understand how to gain the support of stakeholders for grading reform, even when opinions differ.Study how bad grading practices waste teachers’ time and how improved practices can save time.Consider the experiences of schools that have tackled grading challenges.Reflect on grading practices and plan improvements using exercises in every chapter. 

Contents

Introduction       FAST Fair, Accurate, Specific, and Timely

Part I     Building Relationships with Teachers, Parents, and Communities

1              Preparing for FAST Grading

2              Finding Common Ground in the Grading Debate

3              Gaining Teachers’ Perspectives on Grading

Part II    Implementing FAST Grading and Improving Best Practices

4              Establishing FAST Grading

5              Implementing Time-Saving Strategies for Busy Teachers

6              Grading Student Behavior

Part III   Considering FAST Feedback Throughout Schools, Systems, and Communities

7              Learning from Physical Education and the Arts

8              Considering the Contexts of Teaching and Leading

194 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 8, 2016

Reviews

[Roni Jennings · Rating 3 out of 5]

not what I was expecting, but I am meeting with teaching colleagues to discuss some of what I picked up from the book. Maybe we can help our students better by starting a small revolution about our mindset. The analogy I took to heart was that of students as musicians. Symphony members spend many hours and rehearsals practicing and preparing pieces for an up-coming program. These musicians are not 'graded' on their practices as they are expected to work toward a strong final product- the performance. What if we could fashion a manner of grading/ evaluating students- especially high school freshmen- in a similar way. Not allowing a 'do-it-all-at-the-last-minute' approach (that would not work for the symphony musician either), but an approach that gives students (especially struggling students) the chance to learn and build that knowledge (also referenced 'Standards-based' learning). A good book for a faculty reading group/ book study, I think. And better if teachers begin and buy in first rather than having it come from admin.