A focus on growth and failure as part of the learning journey.
In a traditional grading system, a failing grade signifies to the student that learning has ended – and there are limited, if any, opportunities to retake assessments. Students are expected to take the same test, at the same time, regardless of readiness, and are rarely able to recover from a failing grade.
In a standards-based grading system, educators cultivate a growth mindset: failure and making mistakes are part of the learning journey. Students are given multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery and have input on how they show what they’ve learned.
