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( Poetry )
( Memoir )
( Literary Criticism )
And the rest:
Ungrading: Why Rating Students Undermines Learning by Susan D. Blum
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am convinced by the evidence that grading causes problems (it's not objective, it demotivates students, it doesn't truly measure learning--it doesn't account for the student who comes into the course writing A material and learns nothing or for the student who comes into the course writing F material and improves to a D, and a whole host of other issues).
I am not necessarily convinced that dispensing with grades solves those problems.
This book certainly gives me a great deal to think about and some good idea for how to adjust self- and peer-assessment exercises; I am all about the metacognition in my classes.
View all my reviews
The Massarenes by Ouida
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is such a fantastic book; I reread it for a conference presentation I'm giving this week, and I had forgotten how witty and funny it is. I think I will teach this book next time I teach an upper division level course; unlike many of her other books, it has very little French and other languages mixed in which makes reading easier for the students. The plot is also riveting--the nouveau riche Massarenes attempting to break into upper class society with the help of the scheming Lady Kenilworth--and truly suspenseful. It's perfect for a discussion of 19th-century class issues.
View all my reviews
Songbroken by Heather Osborne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I don't think I can recommend this highly enough.
I don't want to spoil any of the plot, so I'll say very little about that here; instead I'll just note that the character work and the world building is so well done and interesting. I would happily read a billion stories set in this universe.
This novel also hits me right in all the feels. I spent most of it really emotionally moved at the depictions of people who are frustrated at their inability to live as their authentic selves.
View all my reviews
( Memoir )
( Literary Criticism )
And the rest:
Ungrading: Why Rating Students Undermines Learning by Susan D. BlumMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am convinced by the evidence that grading causes problems (it's not objective, it demotivates students, it doesn't truly measure learning--it doesn't account for the student who comes into the course writing A material and learns nothing or for the student who comes into the course writing F material and improves to a D, and a whole host of other issues).
I am not necessarily convinced that dispensing with grades solves those problems.
This book certainly gives me a great deal to think about and some good idea for how to adjust self- and peer-assessment exercises; I am all about the metacognition in my classes.
View all my reviews
The Massarenes by OuidaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is such a fantastic book; I reread it for a conference presentation I'm giving this week, and I had forgotten how witty and funny it is. I think I will teach this book next time I teach an upper division level course; unlike many of her other books, it has very little French and other languages mixed in which makes reading easier for the students. The plot is also riveting--the nouveau riche Massarenes attempting to break into upper class society with the help of the scheming Lady Kenilworth--and truly suspenseful. It's perfect for a discussion of 19th-century class issues.
View all my reviews
Songbroken by Heather OsborneMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I don't think I can recommend this highly enough.
I don't want to spoil any of the plot, so I'll say very little about that here; instead I'll just note that the character work and the world building is so well done and interesting. I would happily read a billion stories set in this universe.
This novel also hits me right in all the feels. I spent most of it really emotionally moved at the depictions of people who are frustrated at their inability to live as their authentic selves.
View all my reviews
