Assessing with Respect: Everyday Practices That Meet Students' Social and Emotional Needs

by Starr Sackstein

Overview

In this timely and thoughtful call to action, author and educator Starr Sackstein examines the critical intersection between assessment and social and emotional learning (SEL), particularly as it affects students of color and other marginalized groups. The book addresses the five SEL competencies identified by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making—and explains how teaching students to develop their abilities in these areas can help them improve their learning and assessment experiences.

Sackstein also raises important considerations for educators, urging them to

* Examine their implicit biases to improve their relationships with students.
* Deepen their understanding of the impact of grades and assessments on students' self-image and their ability to reach their full potential as learners.
* Develop personalized assessment systems that ensure an accurate, fair, and equitable portrayal of what students know and can do.

In addition to presenting the relevant research, Sackstein draws from personal experience and the reflections of students, teachers, and administrators to present a compelling case for approaching assessment through the SEL lens. Educators at all levels who have witnessed the devasting effects that testing can have on students' beliefs in themselves as learners will find Assessing with Respect to be an invaluable guide to ensuring better outcomes—and better emotional health—for all students.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416629979
Publisher:	ASCD
Publication date:	03/24/2021
Pages:	157
Sales rank:	420,374
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Starr Sackstein, a National Board-certified teacher, spent nine years as a high school English and journalism teacher at World Journalism Preparatory School in Flushing, New York, where her students ran the multimedia news outlet WJPSnews.com. She completed her advanced leadership certification at SUNY New Paltz and is a certified Master Journalism Educator through the Journalism Education Association. In 2012, Education Update recognized her as an outstanding educator, and in 2016, she was named one of ASCD's Emerging Leaders. Sackstein is currently a consultant with the Core Collaborative, working with teams on assessment reform and bringing student voice to the front of classroom learning, and publisher at Mimi & Todd Press. She is the host of AuthorED & InspirED, a video program of author interviews, and the author of the ASCD books Teaching Students to Self-Assess and Peer Feedback in the Classroom.

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction 1

1 Building Relationships to Support Learning 7

2 Developing Self-Awareness in the Context of Assessment 28

3 Facilitating Self-Management for Better Learning 55

4 Teaching Responsible Decision Making to Promote Student Ownership of Learning 82

5 Understanding and Improving Emotional Responses to Grades 98

6 Reinforcing Student Dignity Through a Culture of Personalized Assessment 113

Conclusion and Call to Action 131

Appendix: Sample Components of a Course Syllabus 134

References and Resources 144

Index 147

About the Author 153

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Steeped in research but practical for any educator, Assessing with Respect provides clear, student-centered approaches to assessment and grading that are meaningful and edifying for students. Sackstein takes a whole child approach, focusing on so much more than what's on the test. Instead, she takes on hot topics, difficult issues, and outdated thinking by describing powerful, doable practices that accelerate learning and deepen relationships with students. A must-read for any educator!

—Kara Vandas, author and consultant

Starr Sackstein is a reflective practitioner who clearly practices what she so passionately preaches. In this honest and insightful book, she challenges educators to take an honest look at past and current practices used in schools and to rethink why and how we assess students. Masterfully weaving in personal experiences and practitioner vignettes, Sackstein presents innovative ideas and practical strategies to better meet students' emotional and academic needs and make real change in the ways we assess them.

—Evan Robb, principal, author, and speaker

Sackstein's experience, expertise, and commitment to deepening her own self-awareness will serve novice and seasoned educators alike as they begin to consider what assessment can—and should—mean for learners and learning. This book calls on us to move into this work with bravery and humility, so that we may do better—together.

—Angela Stockman, author, teacher, and professional learning service provider

Assessing with Respect addresses the complexities that both teachers and administrators face when it comes to assessment. Too often as educators, we do not discuss the emotional responses that students have to assessment and grading. Sackstein not only unpacks the elements necessary to meet students' social and emotional needs but also provides a framework for providing meaningful feedback that leads to improved academic results. Each chapter provides practical and realistic takeaways and thought-provoking reflection questions. Every teacher and administrator who wants to build better relationships with students and help students take ownership of their learning should have this book in their personal library.

—Dr. Basil Marin, assistant principal, Chamblee Charter High School