17 - Grade Expectations: Resetting the Rules for a New Year

Creativity isn’t a bonus skill for a lucky few — it’s a core competency every student needs to thrive in an unpredictable future. In this episode, Tom and Nat break down why creativity deserves a place in your assessment plan and, more importantly, exactly how to make that happen without stifling student imagination. You’ll learn practical strategies for defining creativity, building student-friendly criteria, and making both the process and product visible. Along the way, they share examples to show that creative thinking belongs in every classroom. Whether you’re looking for small tweaks or a complete rethink, you’ll leave with tools that empower students to take bold risks and produce original work they’re proud of. Assessing creativity isn’t just possible — it’s one of the most powerful ways to prepare your learners for the world ahead.     🍁CANADIAN ASSESSMENT CENTRE Join our mailing list for assessment strategies, new podcast episodes, upcoming events, and all things Canadian Assessment. Join Here CAC on Instagram CAC on Facebook CAC on X EMAIL: [email protected]     PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS -Sep 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  (Atlanta, GA) -Oct 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out (San Diego, CA) -Oct 23-24 (Natalie) Grading from the Inside Out (Spokane, WA) -Dec 2-3, 2025 (Tom) Standards-Based Learning in Action (Auston, TX) -April 9-10, 2026 Canadian Assessment Spring Conference (Vancouver, BC)     NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT Rehumanizing Assessment     CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG

In this bonus episode of Assess THAT with Tom & Nat, we’re excited to introduce the Canadian Assessment Centre (CAC) — a new national hub dedicated to helping schools modernize their assessment and grading practices with clarity, credibility, and care.   We share the story of why CAC was created, outline our Charter, Vision, and Mission, and highlight what’s coming: free webinars, mini-courses, on-site PD, and national conferences. We also announce our first-ever national conference, taking place on April 9–10, 2026, in Vancouver, BC — a coast-to-coast gathering designed for Canadian educators to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of assessment. While CAC is built by Canadians, for Canadians, we warmly invite our U.S. and international colleagues to join us in learning and leading together.   🍁CANADIAN ASSESSMENT CENTRE Join our mailing list for assessment strategies, new podcast episodes, upcoming events, and all things Canadian Assessment. Join Here CAC on Instagram CAC on Facebook CAC on X EMAIL: [email protected]   PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS -Sep 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  (Atlanta, GA) -Oct 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out (San Diego, CA) -Oct 23-24 (Natalie) Grading from the Inside Out (Spokane, WA) -Dec 2-3, 2025 (Tom) Standards-Based Learning in Action (Auston, TX) -April 9-10, 2026 Canadian Assessment Spring Conference (Vancouver, BC)   NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT Rehumanizing Assessment   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]      

As a new school year begins, it’s the perfect time to revisit the grading habits we’ve carried forward, sometimes without question. In this episode, Tom and Nat unpack five common grading “rules” that may be doing more harm than good. With a mix of mindset shifts and actionable tips, they invite educators to hit reset and design grading practices that actually support learning. Whether you’re just starting or looking to go deeper, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and a fresh perspective for the year ahead. PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS Sep 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  (Atlanta, GA) Oct 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out (San Diego, CA) Oct 23-24 (Natalie) Grading from the Inside Out (Spokane, WA) Dec 2-3, 2025 (Tom) Standards-Based Learning in Action (Auston, TX)   NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT Rehumanizing Assessment   Unleash YES Unleash YES Instagram   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]      

In this back-to-school episode, Tom and Nat dive into the often-overlooked reality that your first assessments and grading decisions send powerful messages to students that can shape the classroom culture for the entire year. They unpack how early assessment choices communicate your values, influence student confidence, and either build or erode trust. From designing low-stakes, feedback-rich tasks to avoiding common grading traps, you’ll discover practical ways to set a learning-focused tone from day one. Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned pro, this episode will help you start the year with clarity, intention, and an assessment culture that inspires growth.   PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS September 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  Atlanta, GA October 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  San Diego, CA October 23-24 (Natalie) Grading from the Inside Out  Spokane, WA December 2-3, 2025 (Tom) Standards-Based Learning in Action  San Diego, CA   NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT Rehumanizing Assessment   Unleash YES Unleash YES Instagram   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]    

As the school year winds down, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and refine. In this episode, Tom and Nat walk you through five powerful questions to guide an end-of-year assessment audit—no data deep dives or compliance checklists required. Just clear, practical ways to decide what assessment strategies to keep, adjust, or let go. Whether you’re packing up your classroom or planning for next year, this episode will help you carry forward what works and ditch what doesn’t.   PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institute  Madison, WI   September 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  Atlanta, GA October 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  San Diego, CA December 2-3, 2025 (Tom) Standards-Based Learning in Action  San Diego, CA   NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT Rehumanizing Assessment   Unleash YES Unleash YES Instagram   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Tom and Nat continue the discussion about their new book, "Rehumanizing Assessment: Gathering Evidence of Student Learning through Storytelling." This episode takes a deeper dive into how, through various story structures, students can tell the story of WHAT they're learning and HOW they're learning.   PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institute  Madison, WI   September 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  Atlanta, GA October 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  San Diego, CA December 2-3, 2025 (Tom) Standards-Based Learning in Action  San Diego, CA   NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT Rehumanizing Assessment   Unleash YES Unleash YES Instagram   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Tom and Nat introduce listeners to their new book, "Rehumanizing Assessment: Gathering Evidence of Student Learning through Storytelling." While subsequent episodes will focus on specific aspects and strategies, this episode is an overview of why they wrote the book and who the target audience is.   PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institute  Madison, WI   September 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  Atlanta, GA October 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  San Diego, CA December 2-3, 2025 (Tom) Standards-Based Learning in Action  San Diego, CA   NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT Rehumanizing Assessment   Unleash YES Unleash YES Instagram   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Tom and Nat explore the intersection between assessment and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Specifically, they highlight five important connections: UDL means designing assessments from the start with flexibility in mind.  Assessment must reflect the UDL principles of engagement, representation, and expression.  Formative assessment is essential—it guides flexible, responsive design.  Clear learning goals allow you to separate the what from the how.  Self-assessment and reflection develop agency and expert learners.    PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institute  Madison, WI   September 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  Atlanta, GA October 22-23 (Tom) Grading from the Inside Out  San Diego, CA December 2-3, 2025 (Tom) Standards-Based Learning in Action  San Diego, CA NEW BOOK FROM TOM & NAT Rehumanizing Assessment   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Tom and Nat play the game "Would You Rather," exploring five assessment dilemmas that teachers and schools often face:   Would You Rather: #1: Allow students to redo assessments right up to report card deadlines, or cut off revisions two weeks early to protect your feedback quality and mental health?  #2: Suppress a student’s grade when evidence is insufficient, or assign a best-estimate level using professional judgment to avoid blank spaces on reports?  #3: Use a single holistic score to reflect overall proficiency on a standard, or break it down into multiple component scores for clarity — even if it overwhelms families?  #4: Prioritize the accuracy of the final report card by using only summative tasks, or include some formative data to recognize effort and encourage student morale?  #5: Give more weight to recent evidence to honor growth, or consider the full body of work to avoid inflated grades from last-minute surges?    PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institute  Madison, WI     RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]

Tom and Nat explore some important reminders about how to ensure that the assessment of both Project- and Inquiry-Based Learning are meaningful, cognitively complex, and substantive. Just "doing" PBL or Inquiry is not enough. The promise of these approaches to learning is deeper learning so our assessment practices need to reach that promise.   PROFESSIONAL LEARNING EVENTS MAR. 24-25 (Tom) SBLA 2-Day   New Orleans, LA  APR. 5-6 (Tom & Nat) NESA Learning Futures Summit  Athens, Greece   June 25-27 (Tom & Nat) ST Assessment Collaborative Institue  Madison, WI     RECENT BOOKS: "Redefining Student Accountability" "Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading" "Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"   CONNECT WITH TOM & NATALIE   Podcast on X Tom on X Natalie on X Podcast on IG Tom on IG Natalie on IG Email: [email protected]