Rewarding collaboration, character, and mastery is key at Cheshire Academy
In a November episode of the podcast “The Brighter Side of Education,” Cheshire Academy Dean of Academics Marc Aronson imagined a school where grades reward collaboration, character, and genuine mastery—not just memorization and speed. He shared with teachers across the country how Cheshire Academy rethought assessment through Grading What Matters, a framework focused on authentic learning, student agency, and mission-aligned outcomes.
The episode explored CA’s use of Final Demonstrations of Learning (FDoL) instead of exams, a Community of Learners model that grades students on contribution and engagement, and a fully open honors pathway where any student can earn honors inside their regular class.
And, teachers, there’s even more to gain from listening than just some fascinating insights. According to The Brighter Side of Education, “This episode is CPD accredited! Educators can now earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) minutes by listening.”
Check out this thoughtful discussion of research-based practices on one of the options below:
🎧 Audio version (Buzzsprout)
🔗 Grading What Matters: Rethinking Student Learning and Assessment | Marc Aronson
📺 YouTube video
🔗 Grading What Matters: Rethinking Student Learning and Assessment | Marc Aronson, Video
📺 YouTube reel
