At one high school in Tennessee, Mrs. Murphy recently made a bold shift in her grading practices, and the difference has been incredible—not just for her students, but for herself as well. She used to spend hours wading through stacks of assignments, trying to balance points for effort, late penalties, and extra credit, only to feel like the grades didn’t truly reflect what her students had learned. But since switching to a standards-based approach, grading has become faster, easier, and more meaningful. Now, she focuses on what students actually know rather than tracking compliance, and instead of spending time justifying point deductions, she spends it helping students improve.

One student in particular stands out. Jason, a dedicated but sometimes hesitant learner, demonstrated mastery of most of the biology standards he was assessed on—except for photosynthesis, specifically the role of chloroplasts in plant cells. According to Tennessee’s academic standard BIO1.LS1.8, students must model photosynthesis to demonstrate the flow of matter and energy into a cell, and this was the one area where he struggled. Instead of redoing an entire test or retaking material he had already mastered, he was able to focus solely on improving his understanding of this one concept. This made the retake process more manageable for him and much easier for Mrs. Murphy, who could provide targeted support instead of grading an entire reassessment. When he finally demonstrated mastery, his grade reflected what he knew—not where he started, but where he finished. The pride on his face when he saw his progress was proof that healthy grading isn’t just about numbers—it’s about empowering students to grow. And for Mrs. Murphy, it was proof that grading doesn’t have to be a frustrating, time-consuming burden—it can be a powerful tool for learning.

If you’re looking to shift to a healthier approach to grading, check out The Grade Cleanse – A Roadmap to Healthy Grading. This book provides practical strategies to help teachers simplify their grading process, focus on mastery, and create a system that truly supports student learning.