Bright green heart -shaped leaves.

Wild ginger, unfolding its leaves!

The original also given to me by a nun, a source of a surprising amount of my garden.

Tiny white and pink striped flowers.

Spring Beauties! Plus the popsicle stick I used to mark them. Another lovely native in my shade garden.

Small blue conical flowers.

Virginia Bluebells, living their best life in this very wet spring.

A bright yellow daffodil in sunlight.

Not everything in my garden is native, because I'm also a huge sucker for spring bulbs.

I'm enjoying this daffodil ahead of a week of storms that will likely spell the end for it

Let me know, I'd love to hear!

Mastery Exams A timed test of proof and logic without (as much) anxiety

Today on Grading for Growth, I talk about something new(-ish) I'm trying in an upper-level class.

A small yellow flower above deeply divided green leaves

Next up, a Celandine Poppy (no, not that Celandine, this one is native).

I was gifted the original by a nun, and it has happily spread into various corners of my yard.

Everything is awful, so it's time for a Things In My Garden That Make Me Happy thread. Hope you enjoy it.

Let's start with this Bloodroot, a native wildflower that volunteered in my (city!) shade garden.

I think that's a sign that I'm doing it right.

Finding Meaningful Moments in a Merger A Shift in Grading in a Smaller Classroom

Today on Grading for Growth, our guest poster Katie Baker reflects on the practice and meaning of grading while her college is in the midst of a merger.

Ahh, I see what you mean. Might be hard to get good examples (and permission) in a week, though.

We talk a lot about feedback and revisions... do you mean a particular process?

What would you like to see me write a blog post about? (Alternative-grading related, of course!)

I'm at odd ends for my next post and would love to hear your ideas.

Throwback: Rigor Seriously, what does that even mean? Anything?

Today on Grading for Growth, an update on one of our oldest posts (from 2021): Rigor -- what is it, does it really mean anything, and how does alternative grading support it?

This is pretty much as close as you can get to a controlled experiment in alternative grading: All sections were coordinated and used the same assessments, with the only variable being grading. Lots of interesting data and advice!

A/B Testing Alternative Grading Using data science to evaluate a new grading system

Want data about how well alternative grading works? Erin Coffman at Indiana University compares data from traditionally graded and alternatively graded sections of a coordinated business course.

One week of grading Thoughts, details, and philosophy of grading from one of my classes

Today on Grading for Growth, I lead you through a week of grading in one of my classes. Philosophy and nitty-gritty details, together!

Grading for Growth: A Guide to Alternative Grading Practices that Promote Authentic Learning and Student Engagement in Higher Education Are you satisfied with your current and traditional grading system? Does it accurately reflect your students’ learning and progress? Can it be gamed? Does it lead to grade-grubbing and friction ...

News! Grading for Growth is now available as an audiobook!

If you prefer listening to case studies, advice, and history of grading, check it out!

If you ever want to read a paper for free and can't find it otherwise, email the lead author and politely ask for a copy. You will not be bothering the person. You will in fact make their whole entire day. I have had scientists get so excited I asked they sent me everything they ever published.

Building Community as a Catalyst Advancing Alternative Grading in Speech-Language Pathology from the Ground Up

Today on Grading for Growth, Kerry Mandulak shares her path into alternative grading while considering the admissions process for a professional program.

gradingforgrowth.com/p/building-c...

Pairs well with alternative grading Supporting productive struggle by sending a consistent message

Today on Grading for Growth, I write about the importance of sending a consistent message throughout your course design.

Here are some ways to support the message of alternative grading.

Removing the Training Wheels How I shifted toward student self-assessment and collaborative grading in a pre-professional program

Today on Grading for Growth, a guest post by Ainsley Vergara about her path to using alternative grading in Speech Pathology. gradingforgrowth.com/p/removing-t...

Teaching through trauma How Grading for Growth Helped Save my Sanity

Today on Grading for Growth, a guest post from Acacia Ackles about her own experience of teaching through trauma.

gradingforgrowth.com/p/teaching-t...

Communicating Effectively with Students about Alternative Grading Helping students track their grade and understand its meaning

Today on Grading for Growth: Halley McCormick describes how she introduces students to the ideas of alternative grading and reinforces those ideas throughout the semester.

Anyhow, you have stumbled on one of my Hobbies and I am always up for talking about it.

I've tried this and liked it! But squash is such a space hog compared to corn and beans that I gave up on it.

Try peas early and several varieties of beans later. I bet if you stagger them you'll have coverage all summer.

Are you putting together a new garden? Add some peas too!

I've never *intentionally* dried them, but it happens by accident all the time right in the garden. I usually freeze mine instead.

I grow plain old Blue Lake pole beans. Grow great in my area, taste good. Undoubtedly something else is better adapted to your climate though.

I grow green beans, both bush and pole. The pole beans climb up my cornstalks and I love that. What would you like to know?

Thoughts for the new year Bite-sized ideas on alternative grading in 2026

It's a new year, and I'm in school planning today. Here are six bite-sized alternative grading ideas for the new year: gradingforgrowth.com/p/thoughts-f...