Customer Reviews:
 Summer Reading for Teachers (or Weekend Reading, If Summer's Over!) July 12, 2007
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Just out in 2006, Rick Wormeli's FAIR ISN'T ALWAYS EQUAL has the latest research on teaching (especially middle and high school) pulled together nicely in one 200-page package. For me, a lot of it was necessary review and reaffirmation of differentiated instruction, standards-based instruction, and various strategies I've read about but haven't gotten around to using. For beginning teachers or veteran teachers whose schools are converting to the standards-based and/or differentiated instruction mode of instructing, it is a terrific primer and source of discussion.
That's all well and good (and a terrific learning tool for teachers), but what really appeals is how Wormeli wades into some hot-button topics like grading (he calls it the "elephant in the room" we don't want to discuss). In addition to issues of assessment, fairness, and mastery teaching, Wormeli brings up whether or not we should grade participation, effort, behavior, and attendance. My school has been debating this very topic of late, and Wormeli not only provides both points of view, he dives into the debate fearlessly by taking a stand and giving a well-reasoned defense of his view.
In addition, there's loads of practical stuff on how to teach students of various abilities, how to keep a grade book, how to structure report cards, and how to create fair tests.
This would be a great professional reading "book group" choice for teachers to read, annotate, then discuss. As it uses the "See Inside" feature here at amazon, I recommend you check out the Table of Contents for a look at what's inside. It won't disappoint.
Teachers: Read This! May 12, 2007
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is a good read for all teachers. It will make you think as well as give strategies for differentiating.
The Assessment Bible March 30, 2007
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
Wormeli provides guidlelines which should be adopted by all educators and schools as the gold standards for assessment. He is practical with his suggestions and shares wisdom from many educators on a wide variety of assessment topics. This book should be on every educator's desk.
Differentiation and grading January 4, 2007
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
Excellent book. This book covers alot of different perspectives on how to "grade" or evaluate student progress. I recommend it.
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