Teachers compassionately grade with smiley stickers
Online schooling and the coronavirus pandemic have led to increased stress for students at Aragon. While some students may be returning to campus, for the nearly 60% staying at home, the pressures of college decisions, Advanced Placement tests and finals will remain an obstacle. Recognizing that keeping the same standards of normal in-person curriculum for online classes, the district has urged teachers to practice “compassionate grading” this school year. A trend has emerged from the teachers in response to this instruction; now, teachers are beginning to practice compassionate grading by screensharing smiley stickers and happy faces while screen sharing students’ test grades. “When I picture ‘compassionate grading,’ I think of a kindergarten teacher,” said teacher Cloo Less. “Because aren’t kindergarten teachers the epitome of needing to have patience and compassion? And what do kindergarten teachers do on student tests and homework? Smiley stickers!” A few teachers ...