Rachel Johnson
@rachelmjohnson.bsky.social
Rethinking grading for real learning in the age of AI. Mastery-based, student-centred, classroom-tested. Sharing what’s working—and what isn’t.
Reassess. Revise. Repeat. That’s learning.
#MasteryLearning #EduSky #RethinkTheGrade
Reassess. Revise. Repeat. That’s learning.
#MasteryLearning #EduSky #RethinkTheGrade
Pinned
I used to dread handing back tests.
I’d brace myself for the rush of:
→ “Why didn’t I get one more mark?”
→ “Can you check this again?”
→ “I don’t think this should be wrong.”
It wasn’t about the learning. Most hadn’t even looked at the feedback - just the number. 🧵
#EduSky #MasteryBasedGrading
I’d brace myself for the rush of:
→ “Why didn’t I get one more mark?”
→ “Can you check this again?”
→ “I don’t think this should be wrong.”
It wasn’t about the learning. Most hadn’t even looked at the feedback - just the number. 🧵
#EduSky #MasteryBasedGrading
Just finished doing all my safety training for the beginning of the school year and I’m left wondering what job I actually do… am I a teacher or a nurse?
August 31, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Just finished doing all my safety training for the beginning of the school year and I’m left wondering what job I actually do… am I a teacher or a nurse?
Hot take: AI can support learning, but it shouldn’t be doing the grading.
Grading done right builds trust and connection. Traditional grading breaks it. Alternative grading restores it.
Where (if anywhere) do you see AI fitting into grading?
#AlternativeGrading #GradingReform #EduSky
Grading done right builds trust and connection. Traditional grading breaks it. Alternative grading restores it.
Where (if anywhere) do you see AI fitting into grading?
#AlternativeGrading #GradingReform #EduSky
July 28, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Hot take: AI can support learning, but it shouldn’t be doing the grading.
Grading done right builds trust and connection. Traditional grading breaks it. Alternative grading restores it.
Where (if anywhere) do you see AI fitting into grading?
#AlternativeGrading #GradingReform #EduSky
Grading done right builds trust and connection. Traditional grading breaks it. Alternative grading restores it.
Where (if anywhere) do you see AI fitting into grading?
#AlternativeGrading #GradingReform #EduSky
I’m teaching a new course in Sept and I know I don’t want to do traditional grading but I’ve been struggling with coming up with a structure. Luckily my brain has continued to work on this problem in my dreams because I got the most brilliant idea in my sleep! Now to figure out the details. #EduSky
July 27, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I’m teaching a new course in Sept and I know I don’t want to do traditional grading but I’ve been struggling with coming up with a structure. Luckily my brain has continued to work on this problem in my dreams because I got the most brilliant idea in my sleep! Now to figure out the details. #EduSky
What if students aren’t "checked out". What if the system is?
I’ve spent the past couple years rethinking grading: what mastery means, how to make feedback matter, and how to stop chasing points.
What’s one grading shift that’s actually worked for you?
#AlternativeGrading #GradingReform #EduSky
I’ve spent the past couple years rethinking grading: what mastery means, how to make feedback matter, and how to stop chasing points.
What’s one grading shift that’s actually worked for you?
#AlternativeGrading #GradingReform #EduSky
July 24, 2025 at 3:32 PM
What if students aren’t "checked out". What if the system is?
I’ve spent the past couple years rethinking grading: what mastery means, how to make feedback matter, and how to stop chasing points.
What’s one grading shift that’s actually worked for you?
#AlternativeGrading #GradingReform #EduSky
I’ve spent the past couple years rethinking grading: what mastery means, how to make feedback matter, and how to stop chasing points.
What’s one grading shift that’s actually worked for you?
#AlternativeGrading #GradingReform #EduSky
What if grades empowered learning?
I've seen students thrive when they can revisit concepts + reassess without penalty. It's not endless chances, but strategic opportunities for true mastery & confidence.
What growth have you seen? 👇
#GradingReform #MasteryLearning #StudentConfidence #EduSky
I've seen students thrive when they can revisit concepts + reassess without penalty. It's not endless chances, but strategic opportunities for true mastery & confidence.
What growth have you seen? 👇
#GradingReform #MasteryLearning #StudentConfidence #EduSky
July 23, 2025 at 7:41 PM
What if grades empowered learning?
I've seen students thrive when they can revisit concepts + reassess without penalty. It's not endless chances, but strategic opportunities for true mastery & confidence.
What growth have you seen? 👇
#GradingReform #MasteryLearning #StudentConfidence #EduSky
I've seen students thrive when they can revisit concepts + reassess without penalty. It's not endless chances, but strategic opportunities for true mastery & confidence.
What growth have you seen? 👇
#GradingReform #MasteryLearning #StudentConfidence #EduSky
Grading wasn’t designed for real learning OR for AI like ChatGPT. After 15+ years teaching science, I see mastery grading helping, but AI changes everything. We need clear, honest grading that adapts to this new reality. What are you seeing in your classroom?
#RethinkTheGrade #EduSky
#RethinkTheGrade #EduSky
July 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Grading wasn’t designed for real learning OR for AI like ChatGPT. After 15+ years teaching science, I see mastery grading helping, but AI changes everything. We need clear, honest grading that adapts to this new reality. What are you seeing in your classroom?
#RethinkTheGrade #EduSky
#RethinkTheGrade #EduSky
I followed all the best practices.
Clear rubrics. Detailed feedback.
But something still felt off.
What if the problem wasn’t me or my systems, but the grading structure itself?
#EduSky #GradingReform
Clear rubrics. Detailed feedback.
But something still felt off.
What if the problem wasn’t me or my systems, but the grading structure itself?
#EduSky #GradingReform
July 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I followed all the best practices.
Clear rubrics. Detailed feedback.
But something still felt off.
What if the problem wasn’t me or my systems, but the grading structure itself?
#EduSky #GradingReform
Clear rubrics. Detailed feedback.
But something still felt off.
What if the problem wasn’t me or my systems, but the grading structure itself?
#EduSky #GradingReform
I don’t write much on student work anymore.
I circle, I question... I prompt.
Because the more I say, the less they think.
Now they correct first, then we talk.
Because whoever does the work, does the learning.
#gradingreform #masterylearning #EduSky
I circle, I question... I prompt.
Because the more I say, the less they think.
Now they correct first, then we talk.
Because whoever does the work, does the learning.
#gradingreform #masterylearning #EduSky
July 9, 2025 at 1:25 PM
I don’t write much on student work anymore.
I circle, I question... I prompt.
Because the more I say, the less they think.
Now they correct first, then we talk.
Because whoever does the work, does the learning.
#gradingreform #masterylearning #EduSky
I circle, I question... I prompt.
Because the more I say, the less they think.
Now they correct first, then we talk.
Because whoever does the work, does the learning.
#gradingreform #masterylearning #EduSky
3 signs your grading system might be hurting learning:
→ Students obsess over part marks
→ Feedback is ignored
→ “What can I do to boost my grade?” becomes the norm
Sound familiar?
#EduShift #MasteryLearning #EduSky
→ Students obsess over part marks
→ Feedback is ignored
→ “What can I do to boost my grade?” becomes the norm
Sound familiar?
#EduShift #MasteryLearning #EduSky
July 8, 2025 at 7:20 PM
3 signs your grading system might be hurting learning:
→ Students obsess over part marks
→ Feedback is ignored
→ “What can I do to boost my grade?” becomes the norm
Sound familiar?
#EduShift #MasteryLearning #EduSky
→ Students obsess over part marks
→ Feedback is ignored
→ “What can I do to boost my grade?” becomes the norm
Sound familiar?
#EduShift #MasteryLearning #EduSky
My students wrote their IB Chemistry HL exams this spring - most barely studied (senioritis!)… and over 65% scored a Level 5 or higher. Only 4% were below Level 4.
We used mastery-based grading all year.
Turns out, deep learning sticks.
#gradingreform #IBTeaching #EduSky
We used mastery-based grading all year.
Turns out, deep learning sticks.
#gradingreform #IBTeaching #EduSky
July 7, 2025 at 10:26 PM
My students wrote their IB Chemistry HL exams this spring - most barely studied (senioritis!)… and over 65% scored a Level 5 or higher. Only 4% were below Level 4.
We used mastery-based grading all year.
Turns out, deep learning sticks.
#gradingreform #IBTeaching #EduSky
We used mastery-based grading all year.
Turns out, deep learning sticks.
#gradingreform #IBTeaching #EduSky
I used to spend hours splitting hairs over taking off a mark vs a half mark.
Now I use 3–5 level scales. I grade faster, give clearer feedback, and rarely bring work home.
The 0–100 scale isn’t rigourous. It’s exhausting.
Who else has felt this?
#teacherburnout #gradingreform #EduSky
Now I use 3–5 level scales. I grade faster, give clearer feedback, and rarely bring work home.
The 0–100 scale isn’t rigourous. It’s exhausting.
Who else has felt this?
#teacherburnout #gradingreform #EduSky
July 4, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I used to spend hours splitting hairs over taking off a mark vs a half mark.
Now I use 3–5 level scales. I grade faster, give clearer feedback, and rarely bring work home.
The 0–100 scale isn’t rigourous. It’s exhausting.
Who else has felt this?
#teacherburnout #gradingreform #EduSky
Now I use 3–5 level scales. I grade faster, give clearer feedback, and rarely bring work home.
The 0–100 scale isn’t rigourous. It’s exhausting.
Who else has felt this?
#teacherburnout #gradingreform #EduSky
“Mastery grading lowers standards.”
❌ FALSE.
It RAISES them because students don’t get to move on until they actually understand.
#GradingReform #EdThoughts #EduSky #AlternativeGrading
❌ FALSE.
It RAISES them because students don’t get to move on until they actually understand.
#GradingReform #EdThoughts #EduSky #AlternativeGrading
July 3, 2025 at 7:25 PM
“Mastery grading lowers standards.”
❌ FALSE.
It RAISES them because students don’t get to move on until they actually understand.
#GradingReform #EdThoughts #EduSky #AlternativeGrading
❌ FALSE.
It RAISES them because students don’t get to move on until they actually understand.
#GradingReform #EdThoughts #EduSky #AlternativeGrading
When I started changing my grading practices, some colleagues told me I was being too soft.
Some even emailed me to suggest I go back to “real grading.”
It was frustrating—but I kept going.
Why? Because I could see what traditional grades were doing to my students.
#EduSky #GradingReform
Some even emailed me to suggest I go back to “real grading.”
It was frustrating—but I kept going.
Why? Because I could see what traditional grades were doing to my students.
#EduSky #GradingReform
July 2, 2025 at 8:00 PM
When I started changing my grading practices, some colleagues told me I was being too soft.
Some even emailed me to suggest I go back to “real grading.”
It was frustrating—but I kept going.
Why? Because I could see what traditional grades were doing to my students.
#EduSky #GradingReform
Some even emailed me to suggest I go back to “real grading.”
It was frustrating—but I kept going.
Why? Because I could see what traditional grades were doing to my students.
#EduSky #GradingReform
I use NotebookLM to generate my course learning outcomes quickly and accurately.
Here's how I do it ⬇️
#EduSky #AIinEducation #MasteryBasedGrading #GoogleEDU
Here's how I do it ⬇️
#EduSky #AIinEducation #MasteryBasedGrading #GoogleEDU
July 1, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I use NotebookLM to generate my course learning outcomes quickly and accurately.
Here's how I do it ⬇️
#EduSky #AIinEducation #MasteryBasedGrading #GoogleEDU
Here's how I do it ⬇️
#EduSky #AIinEducation #MasteryBasedGrading #GoogleEDU
I used to catch students cheating all the time.
Not out of laziness, but stress.
One shot to get it right. No revisions.
Points > learning.
Since switching to mastery-based grading?
The pressure’s gone.
Cheating? Rare now.
More chances = better choices
#MasteryLearning #RethinkGrading #EduSky
Not out of laziness, but stress.
One shot to get it right. No revisions.
Points > learning.
Since switching to mastery-based grading?
The pressure’s gone.
Cheating? Rare now.
More chances = better choices
#MasteryLearning #RethinkGrading #EduSky
June 30, 2025 at 1:55 PM
I used to catch students cheating all the time.
Not out of laziness, but stress.
One shot to get it right. No revisions.
Points > learning.
Since switching to mastery-based grading?
The pressure’s gone.
Cheating? Rare now.
More chances = better choices
#MasteryLearning #RethinkGrading #EduSky
Not out of laziness, but stress.
One shot to get it right. No revisions.
Points > learning.
Since switching to mastery-based grading?
The pressure’s gone.
Cheating? Rare now.
More chances = better choices
#MasteryLearning #RethinkGrading #EduSky
My students now ask:
“Can I try that again?” “Can you tell me what I missed?”
Not: “How many marks is this worth?”
That shift is everything.
#AlternativeGrading #SecondarySTEM #EduSky
“Can I try that again?” “Can you tell me what I missed?”
Not: “How many marks is this worth?”
That shift is everything.
#AlternativeGrading #SecondarySTEM #EduSky
June 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
My students now ask:
“Can I try that again?” “Can you tell me what I missed?”
Not: “How many marks is this worth?”
That shift is everything.
#AlternativeGrading #SecondarySTEM #EduSky
“Can I try that again?” “Can you tell me what I missed?”
Not: “How many marks is this worth?”
That shift is everything.
#AlternativeGrading #SecondarySTEM #EduSky
Reposted by Rachel Johnson
Teachers see it all the time: students (and parents) who are obsessed with grades. Here are 4 strategies that can shift the focus from “What grade did I get?’ to “What did I learn?” 🌟 💯
#EduSky #education
#EduSky #education
How to Get Students to Focus on Learning—Not Grades
With a few shifts in the classroom, teachers can encourage students to pay more attention to the skills they are building than to a number or letter score.
www.edutopia.org
June 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Teachers see it all the time: students (and parents) who are obsessed with grades. Here are 4 strategies that can shift the focus from “What grade did I get?’ to “What did I learn?” 🌟 💯
#EduSky #education
#EduSky #education
Hot take:
Allowing retakes isn’t “soft” - it’s scientific. Mastery takes time.
Reassessment isn’t a second chance. It’s a better snapshot of learning.
#AlternativeGrading #RethinkTheGrade #EduSky
Allowing retakes isn’t “soft” - it’s scientific. Mastery takes time.
Reassessment isn’t a second chance. It’s a better snapshot of learning.
#AlternativeGrading #RethinkTheGrade #EduSky
June 26, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Hot take:
Allowing retakes isn’t “soft” - it’s scientific. Mastery takes time.
Reassessment isn’t a second chance. It’s a better snapshot of learning.
#AlternativeGrading #RethinkTheGrade #EduSky
Allowing retakes isn’t “soft” - it’s scientific. Mastery takes time.
Reassessment isn’t a second chance. It’s a better snapshot of learning.
#AlternativeGrading #RethinkTheGrade #EduSky
Reposted by Rachel Johnson
Education is and always will be about growth not getting a good grade. This is why the push towards ungrading is growing. It is so important to remember what school is really for! If your classroom is a place of learning the grades will fall into place if you give them the opportunity to show growth
If a student can’t redo an assessment, is it really about learning?
Let’s stop pretending “real life doesn’t allow retakes.”
Most of adult life IS retakes.
#AlternativeGrading #EduSky
Let’s stop pretending “real life doesn’t allow retakes.”
Most of adult life IS retakes.
#AlternativeGrading #EduSky
June 25, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Education is and always will be about growth not getting a good grade. This is why the push towards ungrading is growing. It is so important to remember what school is really for! If your classroom is a place of learning the grades will fall into place if you give them the opportunity to show growth
Grading tip:
Swap: “What grade did you get?”
For: “What did you learn, and what are you working on next?”
The language we model matters.
#MasteryBasedGrading #FeedbackMatters #EduSky
Swap: “What grade did you get?”
For: “What did you learn, and what are you working on next?”
The language we model matters.
#MasteryBasedGrading #FeedbackMatters #EduSky
June 25, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Grading tip:
Swap: “What grade did you get?”
For: “What did you learn, and what are you working on next?”
The language we model matters.
#MasteryBasedGrading #FeedbackMatters #EduSky
Swap: “What grade did you get?”
For: “What did you learn, and what are you working on next?”
The language we model matters.
#MasteryBasedGrading #FeedbackMatters #EduSky
If a student can’t redo an assessment, is it really about learning?
Let’s stop pretending “real life doesn’t allow retakes.”
Most of adult life IS retakes.
#AlternativeGrading #EduSky
Let’s stop pretending “real life doesn’t allow retakes.”
Most of adult life IS retakes.
#AlternativeGrading #EduSky
June 24, 2025 at 5:19 PM
If a student can’t redo an assessment, is it really about learning?
Let’s stop pretending “real life doesn’t allow retakes.”
Most of adult life IS retakes.
#AlternativeGrading #EduSky
Let’s stop pretending “real life doesn’t allow retakes.”
Most of adult life IS retakes.
#AlternativeGrading #EduSky
I used to dread handing back tests.
I’d brace myself for the rush of:
→ “Why didn’t I get one more mark?”
→ “Can you check this again?”
→ “I don’t think this should be wrong.”
It wasn’t about the learning. Most hadn’t even looked at the feedback - just the number. 🧵
#EduSky #MasteryBasedGrading
I’d brace myself for the rush of:
→ “Why didn’t I get one more mark?”
→ “Can you check this again?”
→ “I don’t think this should be wrong.”
It wasn’t about the learning. Most hadn’t even looked at the feedback - just the number. 🧵
#EduSky #MasteryBasedGrading
June 24, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I used to dread handing back tests.
I’d brace myself for the rush of:
→ “Why didn’t I get one more mark?”
→ “Can you check this again?”
→ “I don’t think this should be wrong.”
It wasn’t about the learning. Most hadn’t even looked at the feedback - just the number. 🧵
#EduSky #MasteryBasedGrading
I’d brace myself for the rush of:
→ “Why didn’t I get one more mark?”
→ “Can you check this again?”
→ “I don’t think this should be wrong.”
It wasn’t about the learning. Most hadn’t even looked at the feedback - just the number. 🧵
#EduSky #MasteryBasedGrading
Reposted by Rachel Johnson
Trading a one-size-fits-all approach to #assessment for individualized mastery checks allows students to progress at their own rates, says Robert Barnett of the Modern Classrooms Project. 📝✨
Using Mastery Checks to Assess Student Learning
Unlike simultaneous, class-wide tests or exit tickets, Mastery Checks allow students to demonstrate learning at their own pace.
buff.ly
February 16, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Trading a one-size-fits-all approach to #assessment for individualized mastery checks allows students to progress at their own rates, says Robert Barnett of the Modern Classrooms Project. 📝✨