Your Morning Boost

The Non-Negotiable: How to Partner with Parents on Grading Reform

Are your grading conversations stuck in the "old paradigm"? In today's episode of Your Morning Boost, authors and grading experts Dr. Chad Lang and Dr. Matt Townsley (of The Parent's Guide to Grading and Reporting) reveal the most effective non-negotiable communication strategy for districts: equipping parents with new questions. They discuss how shifting parental communication from asking about a grade ("What can my child do to improve their grade?") to focusing on standards ("Which standards can my child still improve upon?") helps students own their learning and fosters a powerful home-school partnership. This shift transforms grades into meaningful communication about specific proficiency, rather than a permanent "tattoo."
Key Takeaways:
Parents typically want to know: "How is my kid doing?" but they often ask the wrong questions.
The critical communication strategy is to provide parents with a "new question bank" (like a T-chart or one-pager) to guide conversations about standards mastery.
This approach reinforces the concept that the grade is a form of communication, not a punitive measure.
It directly ties to research showing student self-identification of learning gaps leads to major growth.
You can find out more about our guests by visiting https://www.awbeducation.org/contributors-lineup. Pick up their book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or bloomsbury.com! Listen, subscribe, and share this episode to build true partnerships with your school families.
Find out more about what we do:AWB Education - awbeducation.orgGrundmeyer Leader Services - grundmeyerleadersearch.comGot a mailbag question?  Reach out to us at adam@awbeducation.org

The Non-Negotiable: How to Partner with Parents on Grading Reform

Are your grading conversations stuck in the "old paradigm"? In today's episode of Your Morning Boost, authors and grading experts Dr. Chad Lang and Dr. Matt Townsley (of The Parent's Guide to Grading and Reporting) reveal the most effective non-negotiable communication strategy for districts: equipping parents with new questions. They discuss how shifting parental communication from asking about a grade ("What can my child do to improve their grade?") to focusing on standards ("Which standards can my child still improve upon?") helps students own their learning and fosters a powerful home-school partnership. This shift transforms grades into meaningful communication about specific proficiency, rather than a permanent "tattoo."
Key Takeaways:
Parents typically want to know: "How is my kid doing?" but they often ask the wrong questions.
The critical communication strategy is to provide parents with a "new question bank" (like a T-chart or one-pager) to guide conversations about standards mastery.
This approach reinforces the concept that the grade is a form of communication, not a punitive measure.
It directly ties to research showing student self-identification of learning gaps leads to major growth.
You can find out more about our guests by visiting https://www.awbeducation.org/contributors-lineup. Pick up their book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or bloomsbury.com! Listen, subscribe, and share this episode to build true partnerships with your school families.
Find out more about what we do:AWB Education - awbeducation.orgGrundmeyer Leader Services - grundmeyerleadersearch.comGot a mailbag question?  Reach out to us at adam@awbeducation.org

The Fatal Flaw of Grading: Why Your Averages Lie

Are you unknowingly using a grading system that actively punishes student growth? In this episode of Your Morning Boost, we continue our deep dive into grading reform with experts Dr. Chad Lang and Dr. Matt Townsley. They expose the mathematical flaw of traditional averaging—specifically, the disproportionate, damaging impact of the zero on a student's final grade, which often represents a lack of submission, not a lack of learning. The discussion tackles why "Hodge Podge grading" obscures the truth about student progress.
The Crucial Question: What's the clearest step you can take to stop averaging from diluting competency?
Key Takeaways:
The zero has a six times more disproportionate, negative impact than a perfect score has a positive one.
Why a grade based on an average of compliance, effort, and knowledge is not true communication.
An immediate, actionable step: Replace the numerical zero with a non-numerical "missing evidence indicator" to preserve the integrity of the academic grade.
The clear alternative: Disaggregate the data and use descriptors (like Beginning, Developing, Proficient) to communicate mastery of specific standards.
You can find out more about our guests by visiting https://www.awbeducation.org/contributors-lineup. Don't let flawed math misrepresent your students' learning! Listen, subscribe, and share this episode to communicate student progress accurately.
Find out more about what we do:AWB Education - awbeducation.orgGrundmeyer Leader Services - grundmeyerleadersearch.comGot a mailbag question?  Reach out to us at adam@awbeducation.org

Stop Lowering the Bar: Rethinking the Core Misconceptions of Grading Reform

Are you wrestling with the myths around modern grading? In this critical episode of Your Morning Boost, we dive deep with leading grading experts, Dr. Chad Lang and Dr. Matt Townsley (co-authors of A Parent's Guide to Grading and Reporting). They tackle the single most critical philosophical misconception leaders must address: the notion that changing grading practices lowers the bar or reduces accountability. Learn why standards-based and standards-referenced grading actually raise the stakes for competency, focus on enduring learning, and provide students with clearer pathways to proficiency through structured reassessment opportunities. This conversation is a must-listen for leaders ready to move beyond tradition and establish a clear, modern purpose for grading.
Key Takeaways:
The difference between a "retake" and a meaningful reassessment requiring corrective work.
Why traditional grading can create an "inflated grade" that masks a lack of true competency.
The critical need to define the purpose of grading in your school or district (Hint: It’s communication!).
You can find out more about our guests by visiting https://www.awbeducation.org/contributors-lineup. Listen, subscribe, and share this episode to kickstart a meaningful conversation about equitable and effective grading practices in your school.
Find out more about what we do:AWB Education - awbeducation.orgGrundmeyer Leader Services - grundmeyerleadersearch.comGot a mailbag question?  Reach out to us at adam@awbeducation.org

Honoring Diverse Voices and Measuring Archival ROI

How can your school's history truly reflect your community? In this final installment, we tackle the values-driven core of digital preservation: using archives to honor diverse voices and underrepresented narratives. Dr. Kristen Gwinn-Becker, CEO of History IT, emphasizes that while archives only tell the stories they hold, a comprehensive digital project makes all voices—even those previously less prominent—accessible and ready to be celebrated. Dr. Gwinn-Becker also shares how teachers can leverage a digital archive as a repository of primary source evidence to teach research methodology, making learning resonate deeply by placing students within their own historical context. Finally, on the crucial topic of budget, she urges leaders to view digital preservation not as a "nice-to-have" silo project, but as an essential tool for ROI. The return is measured in tangible results: bolstering marketing, alumni engagement, and fundraising through automated, personalized content (like sending alumni their class photos in a birthday email) that dramatically increases connection and donation likelihood.
Key Takeaways: Learn how accessibility highlights diverse histories; discover how archives serve as personalized primary sources for classroom instruction; and understand how to calculate the ROI for digital preservation by tracking engagement and fundraising dollars.
Action: Dive deeper into preservation planning! Contact our guest Dr. Kristen Gwinn-Becker at www.historyIT.com or on social media at HistoryIT and #savehistory.
Find out more about what we do:AWB Education - awbeducation.orgGrundmeyer Leader Services - grundmeyerleadersearch.comGot a mailbag question?  Reach out to us at adam@awbeducation.org

External Relations and The Essential First Step to Digital Archives

Want to immediately boost alumni engagement? The secret is personalization, and your archives hold the key. In this concluding episode, Dr. Kristen Gwinn-Becker, CEO of History IT, explains how schools can effectively use a truly accessible digital archive for alumni and donor relations. The strategy is simple: connect donors and alumni with content about their personal experience—their photos, class events, or specific interests—to "move the needle further than a cold, general email." For schools ready to start, Dr. Gwinn-Becker emphasizes the essential first step: a strategic plan that begins with a comprehensive collection assessment. Don't just "jump in" and scan files only to lose them later; prioritize true preservation and accessibility through meticulous cataloging and tagging. Her final, most crucial advice for school leaders: start early and ensure your investment is focused on making materials searchable and meaningful, as this is where the real value lies.
Key Takeaways: Learn how personalized archival content drives donor relations; understand the critical role of a collection assessment and strategic plan; and prioritize accessibility—the tagging and cataloging—to ensure your archive brings new value.
Action: Dive deeper into preservation planning! Contact our guest Dr. Kristen Gwinn-Becker at www.historyIT.com or on social media at HistoryIT and #savehistory.
Find out more about what we do:AWB Education - awbeducation.orgGrundmeyer Leader Services - grundmeyerleadersearch.comGot a mailbag question?  Reach out to us at adam@awbeducation.org

Archives as a Tool for Vision Setting and Strategic Planning

Can your past define your future? Absolutely. In this episode of The AWB Education Podcast, we shift our focus from preservation to strategic utility, asking how archives can actively drive vision setting and strategic planning at the school leadership level. Dr. Kristen Gwinn-Becker, CEO of History IT, shares her historical expertise, affirming the cliché: "you can't know where you're going without knowing where you've been." A robust, accessible archive fosters a sense of shared community and identity by letting stakeholders understand they are part of a continuous narrative. Dr. Gwinn-Becker provides specific examples, like the McCauley School's five-year anniversary project, and discusses how surfacing hidden stories—the everyday lives, lesser-known figures, and social movements—can inspire current students and staff far more powerfully than just spotlighting celebrities and major successes.
 
Key Takeaways: Discover how archives inform successful initiatives and flag potential pitfalls; learn how surfacing "hidden stories" inspires a broader community; and understand how major milestones drive comprehensive digital archive projects.
Action: Dive deeper into preservation planning! Contact our guest Dr. Kristen Gwinn-Becker at www.historyIT.com or on social media at HistoryIT and #savehistory.
Find out more about what we do:AWB Education - awbeducation.orgGrundmeyer Leader Services - grundmeyerleadersearch.comGot a mailbag question?  Reach out to us at adam@awbeducation.org

Digital Preservation: The Strategic Investment for Leaders

Is your budget shrinking, but your history still growing? School leaders often view digital preservation as a costly technical task, but it's actually a powerful strategic investment. In this episode of The AWB Education Podcast, Dr. Kristen Gwinn-Becker, CEO of History IT, explains how to shift this mindset. She details how integrating your school's digitized archival content into a single, searchable framework can immediately support strategic initiatives across your institution, from marketing and alumni engagement to governance and executive speechwriting. Stop thinking of preservation as a silo and start seeing it as a dynamic asset that enhances efficiency and storytelling.
Key Takeaways: Learn how a digital archive supports marketing, fundraising, and governance; discover practical ways to use archival material for quick, curated content; and understand the roadmap for building this strategic asset.
Action: Dive deeper into preservation planning! Contact our guest Dr. Kristen Gwinn-Becker at www.historyIT.com or on social media at HistoryIT and #savehistory.
Find out more about what we do:AWB Education - awbeducation.orgGrundmeyer Leader Services - grundmeyerleadersearch.comGot a mailbag question?  Reach out to us at adam@awbeducation.org

Digital Preservation The Strategic Necessity for Educational Institutions

Is your school's history locked away in a dusty box? It's time to unlock its potential! In this essential episode of The AWB Education Podcast, we welcome Dr. Kristen Gwinn-Becker, CEO of History IT, to discuss why digital preservation is no longer a "nice-to-have" but a strategic necessity for every educational institution. Dr. Gwinn-Becker, an expert historian and software innovator, reveals how safeguarding your unique story is paramount to being a good steward, and how a properly cataloged digital archive transforms into a dynamic content engine that actively supports your school’s future and distinguishes it from others.
Key Takeaways: Learn the mission to "save history," understand the strategic roadmap for building a digital collection, and discover how accessibility turns your past into a powerful tool for your future.
Action: Dive deeper into preservation planning! Contact our guest Dr. Kristen Gwinn-Becker at www.historyIT.com or on social media at HistoryIT and #savehistory.
Find out more about what we do:AWB Education - awbeducation.orgGrundmeyer Leader Services - grundmeyerleadersearch.comGot a mailbag question?  Reach out to us at adam@awbeducation.org

The Educator's Superpower Mastering the Art of Reading the Room

Do you wish you could stop disruptions before they start? This episode dives into the essential educator superpower: the ability to read the room and decode students' nonverbal cues. We argue that nearly every classroom disruption gives off secret signals that can be identified through careful, proactive observation.
Learn to identify and respond to three types of subtle cues: Physical Shifts (like slumped posture signaling overload), Vocal Shifts (sudden changes in tone or volume), and Environmental Cues (clutter or detachment signaling mental escape). Discover powerful strategies, such as proximity interrupts, that reset student focus. This isn't just about classroom management; it's about proactive care and fostering a harmonious, trusting learning environment.
Ready to refine your observational skills and enhance student engagement? Subscribe, share this vital episode with a colleague, and visit awbeducation.org and grundmeyerleadersearch.com for more resources on effective teaching techniques.
Find out more about what we do:AWB Education - awbeducation.orgGrundmeyer Leader Services - grundmeyerleadersearch.comGot a mailbag question?  Reach out to us at adam@awbeducation.org