A Colorado School District Does Away With Grade Levels

[jojo7]

I know this is an old thread but just had to say "RIGHT ON" Colorado. I wish every school across the country would try the "no gradings" concept for just one academic year. Parents would be shocked to actually see that their children were more engaged and enjoyed learning if you take the pressure off of having to "make the grade". For anyone interested in researching this subject further, read one of Alfie Kohns' books. This author knows his stuff on our education system with studies to back up what he writes about in his books. Highly suggest reading his books as well as listening to one of his dvd's or youtube videos. You will be enlightened! AMEN! Yes, thinking outside the box is a refreshing change.

[Ivorytickler]

The charter my kids attended had multiple grade classrooms. The rooms had names instead of grade numbers associated with them. Within the rooms, kids were further grouped high, medium and low. You'd have 3rd and 4th grades in the same room with the high 3rd graders working with the 4th graders and the low 5th graders with the 4th graders. You also had a low 4th and a high 5th grouping. This made my dd's grade skip very easy to accomodate.

[John23]

The original link is dead, here's the article (I think it says basically the same thing).

A Colorado School District Says No to Grade Levels-and Grades. Thoughts? | Working Mothers

I bet those kids are learning better, with higher self esteem. Wouldn't your self esteem be better if you could learn at your own pace until you mastered the material?

The goal of any schooling should be to build competency at the end. Regardless of age, class size, grade level, test score, $ spent per pupil.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by John23

....
I bet those kids are learning better, with higher self esteem. Wouldn't your self esteem be better if you could learn at your own pace until you mastered the material?

The goal of any schooling should be to build competency at the end. Regardless of age, class size, grade level, test score, $ spent per pupil.

Yes, and while we're at it... forget the 'schooling' and get back to education.

(Which I think the USA should 'Outsource' education (especially higher edu) to a foreign country that is showing results and retaining workers in value added positions for national economic growth. There are plenty who are doing this better than us(US).) We have less than 20% retention after 5 yrs in fields of Math and Science.

I never was one for 'grade-level' (or age level) segregation. I learned the most important things in life from my grandparents and their friends. (their young AND old friends).