Differentiated instruction is a nice idea, but what happens when it comes to assessing and grading students? What's both fair and leads to real student learning? An internationally recognized expert on grading practices, Rick Wormeli first examined these questions 10 years ago in the first edition of Fair Isn’t Always Equal. In this thoroughly updated second edition, Rick provides a catalyst for serious reflection on current grading and assessment practices in differentiated classrooms. Coherent and effective standards-based grading practices for a high-stakes, accountability-focused world is also outlined. Recognizing the importance of having a shared school vision for assessment and grading, Rick addresses the challenges for teachers and administrators alike. Middle- and high-school educators will easily recognize real examples and gray areas of grading. Rick tackles important and sometimes controversial assessment and grading issues, constructively, incorporating modern pedagogy and the challenges of working with diverse groups of students. New sections address sports eligibility, honor roll, descriptive feedback techniques, and gifted/talented students, and chapters on test questions, redos/retakes, grading scales, and grading effort and behavior have been revised extensively. This important book clearly explains the principles behind best grading practices so that you're ready for all grading questions or scenarios that you may encounter in your classrooms and schools.

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Section 1: Differentiation and mastery -- Chapter 1. Fair to All: The Mind-Set for Differentiated Instruction -- Chapter 2. Principled Assessment and Grading -- Chapter 3 Mastery -- Section 2: Assessment: Chapter 4 . Assessment: Begin with the End in Mind -- Chapter 5. Descriptive Feedback and Student Self-Assessment -- Chapter 6. Principles of Effective Assessments for the Differentiated Classroom -- Chapter 7. Assessment Integral to Lesson Design -- Chapter 8. Tiering Assessments -- Chapter 9. Rubrics -- Chapter 10 Creating Good Test Questions -- Section 3: Grading: Chapter 11. The Relative Nature of Grades and Their Definitions -- Chapter 12. Why Do We Grade, and What About Effort, Attendance, and Behavior? -- Chapter 13. Honor Roll? -- Chapter 14. It's Time to Stop Averaging -- Chapter 15. Ten Grading Practices to Avoid -- Chapter 16. Redos and Retakes -- Chapter 17. Five Burning Grading Issues -- Chapter 18. Grading Scales -- Chapter 19. Gradebooks and Report Cards -- Chapter 20. Putting It All Together: How Do Differentiating Teachers Assess and Grade Differently? -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index.