Student-Centered Learning
A student-centered school culture nurtures each student’s unique potential, self-esteem, and strong Jewish identity. Key elements of this environment include:
Intrinsic Motivation: Encouraging students to engage with Judaic studies for personal satisfaction and spiritual growth, rather than relying on tests and grades.
Alternative Assessment: Using engaging and accurate methods to ensure accountability and progress while fostering intrinsic motivation.
Unmarked: Amplifying Jewish Potential through
Alternative Assessment
“How do you grade Judaic studies? It should be about connecting to God — Hakadosh Baruch Hu — and spirituality. To grade that is really difficult and it can really turn a kid off.”
—Rabbi Joshua Wald, Associate Principal, The Frisch School
Unmarked tells the story about four Jewish day schools that are developing alternative assessment methodologies in order to remove grades from Judaic Studies:
Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School of the Nation’s Capital: Student-led conferencing
The Frisch School: Mindmapping
Luria Academy of Brooklyn: Benchmarking
Fedration CJA Montreal: Journaling
Watch Unmarked for inspiring ideas of how to implement alternative assessment in Judaic Studies in your school.