I’ve written before about my ongoing journey toward a gradeless classroom, and after years of trial and error, I’m more convinced than ever that this approach truly empowers students. By focusing less on the pressures of traditional grades, we open up space for genuine learning and growth to flourish. The shift isn’t just theoretical for me—it’s a daily reality that reshapes how I teach and how students engage with the material.
One of my favorite sources of inspiration has always been the insightful Terry Heick over at TeachThought. Every time I dive into their work, it feels like they’re tapping directly into the same frustrations and aspirations I’ve had as a teacher. Terry’s recent article, "How I Eliminated (Almost) All Grading Problems In My Classroom," was no exception. It was one of those pieces that made me stop and think, “Yes, this is exactly what I’ve been doing—and here’s why it works.”
I want to highlight two key ideas from the article that have had the biggest impact on my classroom. If you're trying to find ways to lessen the grading madness while still pushing students toward meaningful learning, these are the ideas worth considering:
1. Choose What to Grade Carefully.
Terry breaks assignments into two categories: measurements and practice—what most teachers would recognize as summative and formative assessments. This approach helps students realize that not every piece of work needs a grade slapped on it. It’s about learning, not just box-checking. When I first implemented a similar system, before I was nudged back toward more traditional grading practices, the shift in student attitudes was immediate. By focusing grades only on measurements, students stop seeing assessments as a gamble. Instead, they begin to internalize the idea that steady practice leads to better performance when it really counts. Less stress, more learning—what’s not to love?
6. Teach Through Micro-Assignments.
This is the heart of building a classroom environment where assessments aren’t intimidating but expected. Terry’s idea of micro-assignments aligns perfectly with the atmosphere I try to create. Frequent, low-stakes opportunities to demonstrate learning give students a clearer picture of their progress. It moves them away from seeing success as the result of one-off moments of brilliance (or luck) and toward understanding that growth happens incrementally. This method fosters confidence and builds the kind of growth mindset we’re all striving to develop in our students. It’s about changing the narrative around assessment—showing students that it’s part of the learning cycle, not the end of it.
If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of radically rethinking grading in your classroom, I get it. But these two strategies are perfect starting points. They won’t solve everything overnight, but they will create a pathway toward a healthier, more learning-focused environment—one where students feel the freedom to explore, grow, and truly engage.