This read was a very inspiring one, especially chapter 3 - Giving An A. I loved the author’s statement, “When you give an A you find yourself speaking to people from a place of respect that gives them room to realize themselves.” We are instructing and educating a very different generation of students who are very focused on peer competition and measurement. The author stresses the fault of this comparison by grades as it does not give a true account of a students ability. When you show a student a universe of possibilities by allowing them to create that universe it becomes more rewarding for them.
The “A Letters” demonstration by one professor, which he called a poetry of self-invention, was wonderful. He decided to give his students an A for the course if they wrote a letter as if it would be a year from that initial start day of class. The letters were awesome because students’ letters were written as though they had already accomplished their dream and universe. They were able to create their own future just by having the opportunity to be creative. That is truly a practice many of us should adopt in our classes.
Karen,
The idea of "giving an A" to the students by virtually having them determine their own goals is truly uplifting. I particularly like the idea that each student identifies where they are now in their development as a musician, and as a person, then determines where they wish to be in one years time. Through this method, the student is fully invested in the true goad - his development, rather than the artificial goal of a grade.
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