187 Does Your Grading System Match Your Growth Mindset?

Let’s chat—send me a text!

We often tell students:

"Progress matters more than perfection."

But does our assessment system communicate the same message?

In this episode, we're continuing our Math Therapy summer book study with Chapter 7, where Vanessa Vakharia explores the connection between assessment, growth mindset, and mathematical identity.

This chapter challenged me to reflect on my own grading practices, my experience with competency-based learning, and the conversations my department is currently having as we continue implementing our new curriculum.

In This Episode

✨ Why assessment communicates more than grades

✨ My journey from competency-based grading to teaching within a traditional grading system

✨ The difference between formative and summative assessment

✨ Why reassessment should reflect new learning—not simply offer another attempt

✨ Connecting "progress over perfection" to grading practices

✨ SMART goals that focus on habits, confidence, and growth

✨ Breaking learning into "dopamine bites"

✨ A student progress tracker I'm building for Geometry Proficiency Lab

✨ Helping students collect evidence of their own growth

Key Takeaway

Assessment isn't just about measuring what students know.

It's about communicating what we believe learning looks like.

When our grading practices align with our beliefs about growth, students receive a much more consistent message about what it means to learn mathematics.

This Week's Reflection

Ask yourself:

• If students only experienced your assessment system, what would they believe about learning?
• Does your grading system leave room for growth?
• How do students measure their own progress?
• What evidence do students collect that shows they're becoming stronger mathematicians?

Community Challenge

Join us inside the Facebook group and share:

✨ One assessment practice that helps students recognize their own progress.

✨ One way you intentionally celebrate growth before the final unit assessment.

Let's build a collection of ideas that help students see learning as a process rather than a single performance.

Read Along With Us

📖 Physical Book: https://amzn.to/42VJRl6

🎧 Audiobook: https://amzn.to/49nV55D

There's still time to join our summer book study!

Coming Next Week

Next week we'll continue exploring Math Therapy as we move into the final chapters and begin bringing together the big ideas we've explored throughout the series.

Until then, keep reflecting, keep growing, and remember that math is Moore than just solving for X.

This podcast is a member of the Teach Better Podcast Network. Better Today. Better Tomorrow. And the Podcasts to Help You Get There.

Connect with Kristen:

• Follow on Instagram @moorethanjustx
• Join the Facebook Community: The Modern Math Teachers Movement

More About the Modern Math Teacher Podcast

Kristen Moore, classroom teacher and instructional coach at Moore Than Just X, empowers modern secondary math teachers to transform the student experience with the strategies and the confidence to implement project-based learning, mastery-based assessment, and student engagement strategies in their classrooms.

Whether you're a math education newbie or a seasoned veteran, you'll find something new and inspiring in every episode. You’re already a listener, why not join the Movement inside ✨The Modern Math Teachers Movement Facebook group. Join the community of math teachers who are not afraid to shake things up and make math class the best part of the day for our students. So tune in each Tuesday, have some fun, and let's elevate our math teaching game together!

*Amazon orders may provide a small affiliate payout at no extra cost to you. These payouts help keep the podcast free for all!