Episode Details

In this episode, Boz and Sharona explore how trauma-informed pedagogy and “teaching with kindness” intersect with alternative grading, especially through the often-overlooked impact of syllabus tone and classroom language. Sparked by Acacia Ackles’ “Teaching Through Trauma” post on the Grading for Growth blog and Cate Denial’s work on kinder syllabus design, they unpack how common “control” policies around devices, academic integrity, and participation can communicate suspicion and unintentionally amplify student anxiety. They connect key trauma-informed principles, such as safety, transparency, support, voice and choice, collaboration, and resilience, to familiar alternative grading practices like feedback loops, multiple opportunities to demonstrate learning, clear expectations, and structures that normalize help-seeking. Along the way, they wrestle with tensions like cold calling and behaviorism, arguing for approaches that reduce surprise, offer opt-outs when needed, and build environments where students want to participate. The episode closes with gratitude for a community willing to be vulnerable about what’s not working, and a reminder that shifting grading can be the “thread” that unravels deeper, more humane teaching practices.

Links

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• Teaching Through Trauma (Grading for Growth Blog)
• What Do Our Syllabi Really Say (Cate Denial's Blog - Pedagogy of Kindness)
• Trauma-Informed Pedagogy, from the University of Oregon
• A Pedagogy of Kindness, Denial, Cate

Resources

The Center for Grading Reform - seeking to advance education in the United States by supporting effective grading reform at all levels through conferences, educational workshops, professional development, research and scholarship, influencing public policy, and community building.

The Grading Conference - an annual, online conference exploring Alternative Grading in Higher Education & K-12.

Some great resources to educate yourself about Alternative Grading:

• The Grading for Growth Blog
• The Grading Conference
• The Intentional Academia Blog

Recommended Books on Alternative Grading:

• Grading for Growth, by Robert Talbert and David Clark

• Listen Now