Husband, Father, Author, Speaker, Director of Prof. Services @1stEdResources, Co-Host of The Fires in Grading: https://teapaw.org/t.co/9JmF5Tn8Bg
Wisconsin
Joined February 2011
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I’m excited to share the release of The Confidence to Lead, a new book I co-authored with Jenni Donohoo.
It focuses on principal efficacy, collective efficacy, and how leaders can build belief in themselves and their staff, not just manage initiatives.
amazon.com/dp/B0H1JQJ8CM
Don Smith retweeted
Standards-based grading is one thing. Figuring out how to make it all work together? That's where things can get complicated.
If your school is navigating those implementation questions, we'd love to have you join us!
📍 Woodridge, IL
📅 October 27–28, 2026
Two days of learning, collaboration and dedicated time to plan your next steps.
Learn. Plan. Implement.
@larsongarth @donsmithedu @beckypeppler
bit.ly/47KIUOS
Don Smith retweeted
💬 Maybe “But what about college?” isn’t the question we should be asking.
In Episode 34, special guests Sharona Krinsky and Robert Bosley from The Grading Podcast join us to challenge some common assumptions about grading in higher education.
Maybe college readiness isn’t about preparing students for a particular grading system.
Maybe it’s about preparing students to use feedback, advocate for themselves, persist and know how to learn.
🎧 Listen to the full conversation: bit.ly/4xDGU5s
#FiresInGrading #StandardsBasedGrading #HigherEducation #Assessment #GradingReform
@otusk12 @donsmithedu @beckypeppler @larsongarth
Don Smith retweeted
🎙️ Episode 34 is LIVE — with two special guests!
How Are Colleges and Universities Handling SBG?
We’re joined by Sharona Krinsky and Robert Bosley, hosts of The Grading Podcast, to tackle the question we hear all the time:
“But what about college?”
We talk about what’s actually happening with grading in higher education, reassessment, alternative grading, college admissions and whether preparing students for college should really mean preparing them for traditional grading.
This is a conversation we’ve been looking forward to sharing!
🎧 Listen now: bit.ly/3SW1ccs
#FiresInGrading #StandardsBasedGrading #HigherEducation #Assessment #GradingReform
@otusk12 @donsmithedu @beckypeppler @larsongarth
Don Smith retweeted
🔥 This Friday on Fires in Grading...“But what about college?”
It might be one of the most common questions we hear when talking about Standards-Based Grading.
For Episode 34, we’re bringing in two special guests who can help us dig into that question: Sharona Krinsky and Robert Bosley, hosts of The Grading Podcast.
What is actually happening with grading in higher education? Are professors rethinking traditional grading practices too? And are some of our assumptions about “preparing students for college” actually helping students become better learners?
🎙️ How Are Colleges and Universities Handling SBG?
Drops Friday, October 2!
🎧 bit.ly/4xJ3KJc
#FiresInGrading #StandardsBasedGrading #HigherEducation #Assessment #GradingReform
@otusk12 @donsmithedu @beckypeppler @larsongarth
Don Smith retweeted
Most books on improving grading and assessment practices (including my own!) dedicate a couple of paragraphs or a chapter to the important topic of reassessments, and so as I finish up this book by @BeckyPeppler, it's easy to agree with @kenoc7 's foreword that
(con't)
Don Smith retweeted
💬 Standards-Based Grading isn’t sustained by policies. It’s sustained by leadership.
Episode 32 is all about the role principals play in creating the conditions for grading reform to thrive — without needing to have all the answers.
If you’re leading this work in your school, this conversation is for you.
🎧 Listen here: hubs.la/Q04w0hHf0
#FiresInGrading #StandardsBasedGrading #SchoolLeadership #GradingReform
@otusk12 @donsmithedu @beckypeppler @larsongarth
Don Smith retweeted
It’s almost here! Join us this Wednesday for our FREE Reassessment That Works webinar!
We’ll dig into the 5 biggest reassessment mistakes we see schools make and share practical shifts that can make reassessment work better for both students and teachers.
📅 Wednesday, September 9
⏰ 3:30 PM CT
💻 FREE
There’s still time to register! 👇
bit.ly/4cr227t
Don Smith retweeted
Four books to support your journey to better K-12 grading practices!
🔗 mctownsley.net/publications/
#grading #K12 #sblchat
Don Smith retweeted
🎙️ Episode 32 is LIVE!
Leading the Shift: The Principal’s Role in Standards-Based Grading
Standards-Based Grading isn’t just teacher work. Leadership matters.
In this episode, Becky, Don and Garth dig into what principals can do to create clarity, avoid common leadership mistakes and build a culture where grading reform can last.
Plus, Don shares insights from his new book with Jenni Donohoo, The Confidence to Lead.
🎧 Listen now: hubs.la/Q04v-X2b0
#FiresInGrading #StandardsBasedGrading #SchoolLeadership #GradingReform #EducationalLeadership
@otusk12 @donsmithedu @beckypeppler @larsongarth
Thank you for the kind words, and thoughtful insight, @mctownsley!
❗️ The job has never been heavier. The stakes have never been higher.
I have enjoyed reading this book by @DonSmithEdu. Here's why this resource is so important for school leaders.
Publisher link: firsteducation-us.com/the-co…
Amazon affiliate link: amzn.to/46qrk1V
Don Smith retweeted
Is your school or team is reading one these grading books during the current school year?
📹 I would love to setup a (free!) 30 minute Zoom/Google Meet Q&A to support your group's understanding and planning next steps.
This is a must read for anyone working on reassessment!
One of the most anticipated grading and assessment books for me in 2026, this one was written by @BeckyPeppler.
📘 amzn.to/3ShwBFU
#grading #reassessment #ad #k12 #sblchat
Don Smith retweeted
Implementing Standards-Based Grading isn't about finding the perfect grading scale.
It's about making intentional decisions that align assessments, instruction, grading and communication around student learning.
That's why we created the Standards-Based Grading Implementation Conference.
Over two days, we'll walk through the work in the order schools should actually do it. Each session builds on the last, and dedicated action planning ensures you leave with more than ideas—you leave with a plan.
📅 October 27–28, 2026
📍 Chicago Area
Registration is now open:
bit.ly/4qyt5Dz
#StandardsBasedGrading #SBG #EducationalLeadership #Assessment #TeacherLeadership @larsongarth @donsmithedu @beckypeppler
Don Smith retweeted
Check out the latest K-12 grading research.
JSARD is thrilled announce the publication of our 10th anniversary special issue: Current and Future Grading Practices in K-12 Schools!
As always, no paywalls to access PDFs.
🔗 doi.org/10.32674/t35h5a19
Don Smith retweeted
As a new school year gets underway, many schools are continuing conversations around assessment and grading reform.
And if you’ve been doing this work for any length of time, you know the hard part isn’t always knowing what you want to change. It’s navigating all the challenges that come with actually changing it.
If assessment and grading reform is part of your work this year, this might be a great resource to keep close by, whether you’re just getting started or have been at it for a while.
Here’s to a great school year and fewer grading fires to put out! 🔥
firsteducation-us.com/exting… @mctownsley @DonSmithEdu @LarsonGarth @1stEdResources @RickWormeli
Don Smith retweeted
🔥 This Friday on Fires in Grading...
You can spend years building a strong grading system...
...and slowly lose it.
In Episode 30, Don Smith, Becky Peppler, and Garth Larson discuss one of the most overlooked challenges in grading reform: how to protect your grading culture as new staff join your district.
If your onboarding process is "find someone to ask," this conversation is for you.
🎙️ New episode drops this Friday! bit.ly/4hG0g5K
#FiresInGrading #StandardsBasedGrading #Assessment #EducationalLeadership #ProfessionalLearning #GradingReform
@otusk12 @larsongarth @donsmithedu @beckypeppler
Don Smith retweeted
The strongest schools are built by leaders who intentionally shape culture every day.
If you're ready to strengthen your leadership, inspire your staff and create a school where students thrive, this institute is for you.
📍Houston, TX | September 21
hubs.la/Q04qV8890
#SchoolLeadership #Culturize #Education
Don Smith retweeted
One of the biggest questions schools ask during grading reform is:
"But what about students with IEPs?"
In Episode 29, @beckypeppler @donsmithedu and @larsongarth are joined by special guest Danica Lewis to unpack one of the most important and misunderstood conversations in grading today.
🎧 New episode drops this Friday
👉 bit.ly/3Run0Lp
Thanks to our sponsor @otusk12 for supporting the conversation.
#FiresInGrading #SpecialEducation #SBG #Assessment
Don Smith retweeted
A grade tells students where they are.
Feedback helps them know where to go next.
In Episode 28, @beckypeppler @donsmithedu and @larsongarth share practical ways to make feedback more meaningful and keep learning moving forward.
🎧 Catch the full conversation
👉 bit.ly/4bzxXSx
Appreciation to @otusk12 for supporting conversations that move this work forward.
#FiresInGrading #Feedback #StudentLearning
Don Smith retweeted
🔥 Episode 28 is LIVE!
Feedback is More Than a Score
@beckypeppler @donsmithedu and @larsongarth discuss why grades alone don't improve learning and how meaningful feedback helps students move from "What did I get?" to "What do I need next?"
🎧 Listen now
👉 bit.ly/4w5mJNZ
Thanks to @Otusk12 for supporting educator-focused conversations like this one.
#FiresInGrading #AssessmentReform #Feedback
