Conference to Restore Humanity! 2025: Quest for Connection

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Making the Grades: MY MISADVENTURES IN THE STANDARDIZED TESTING INDUSTRY

Farley

2011

A journey of over a decade in the testing industry. Starting as a simple scorer, Farley works his way through the ranks to reigning as a testing consultant — despite all of the deplorable events he witnesses.

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Chris McNutt An image of a white man with a black goatee and glasses.

An image of a white man with a black goatee and glasses.

Chris McNutt is the co-founder and executive director of Human Restoration Project, a nonprofit organization focused on student engagement, well-being, and motivation. His work centers on realizing systems-based change, examining how progressive pedagogical shifts (e.g. PBL, ungrading) reimagine school to best suit the needs of students and teachers alike. He was a public high school digital media & design educator who focused on experiential learning, portfolio-driven assessment, and community involvement.

An image of the lighthouse with the text Third Coast Learning Collaborative.

Reimagining public middle schools in Western Michigan.

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Listening and learning from 400+ young people & educators.

Monte Syrie

he/him

Monte's motto: Do. Reflect. Do Better. HS ELA Teacher, Project 180 Founder.

You Can…Until You Can’t

February 22, 2019

Can they turn that in late? Can they retake the test? Can they use resources? Can they demonstrate differently? In many classrooms, yes. But in the “other many,” kids confront cannots.

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Something There Is That Doesn’t Love a Grade

January 17, 2019

We give our kids opportunities to show, to demonstrate that they are growing, that they are learning. And then, at some point, the chase has to come to an end, and we have to try to make sense of it all. We have to turn it into a grade. But…

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Lies on Their Shoulders

January 10, 2019

Whether we think it or say it, when we warn kids with the “real world,” it is an affront to their existence, to their humanity, to their reality.

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The Way of Things

December 11, 2018

Somewhere along the way we got our wires crossed. What I expected and what she thought I wanted were two different things, and, consequently, it affected her performance.

Wires.

Work's Worth

November 20, 2018

And while I didn’t always appreciate the lessons from work when I was younger, I proudly acknowledge the impact they had on shaping the person I am today. Hard work matters.

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A Different Sort

November 7, 2018

Maybe instead of clinging to the “some-win-and-some-lose” approach to education, we should embrace the “all-need” approach.

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I've read a lot about it being called a zero-sum game, right? This idea that we cannot both win. It's just not possible. I'm like, who said? There are all kinds of games and activities you play where you think someone has to lose, and then you realize, did you have to? The sharing of the orange. You all have seen these activities, but wow. I don't want to talk about where it came from, but I am curious. It's so ingrained in this country, and probably other countries, but I don't know.

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