Let's be honest: Traditional grading persists because of inertia rather than pedagogical merit. Students stress over every point, chase grades instead of understanding, and shut down when they fall behind.
Though many resources provide the rationale for grading reform, few offer the day-to-day strategies necessary for success. Veteran educators Howard Yank and Maika Yeigh help you reimagine grading so it fosters motivation, cultivates a positive mindset, and builds cultural responsiveness.
Along the way, they show how you can anticipate and overcome common challenges, provide realistic and practical options for grading reform, and transform your classroom into a space where students take ownership of their learning.
In Equitable Grading Unlocked, you'll discover how to
* Uncouple practice from grading without sacrificing student engagement.
* Provide valuable feedback students actually use to improve their work.
* Create transparent rubrics and track progress efficiently.
* Implement retakes and redos that genuinely support learning.
* Handle late work without punitive policies that harm struggling students.
* Enhance your gradebook to accurately reflect student learning.
* Build schoolwide consistency in equitable grading practices.
Each chapter combines research-backed rationale with hard-won wisdom from educators across subjects and grade levels. You'll find specific protocols and scenarios that showcase the real experiences of teachers who have already navigated these waters-complete with their mistakes, breakthroughs, and refined approaches.
Whether you're just beginning to question traditional grading or are already implementing reforms, this book helps you create a classroom where every student can succeed-not because standards are lowered but because learning finally takes center stage.
Yank, Howard: -
Howard Yank is faculty emeritus at Portland State University's College of Education and brings more than 25 years of secondary teaching experience across California, Oregon, Washington, and international schools in Latin America. From the outset of his career, Howard has been committed to social justice and inquiry-based learning. As a curriculum administrator, instructional coach, and teacher mentor, Howard has advanced equitable practices in schools throughout the United States and Mexico. Howard taught in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Chile, and his articles have appeared in the Feminist Press, NEA Today, California Monthly, and Oregon Education. He is the co-author of Equitable Grading Unlocked.
Yeigh, Maika: -
Maika Yeigh is an associate professor in the Graduate School of Education & Counseling at Lewis & Clark College, where she works with teacher candidates seeking initial licensure. Many passions feed her work as a teacher educator: preparing teachers who are ready to meet the needs of learners, improving clinical preparation practices for novice teachers, and supporting teachers as they develop and implement humane assessment practices. She is also the managing editor of the Northwest Journal of Teacher Education, is the president of the Oregon Association of Teacher Education, has published articles in regional and national journals, and is the co-author of Equitable Grading Unlocked.
