Podcast: I Stopped Giving Tests. Here’s What I Do Instead

It started with a student writing a joke on a sticky note: “I hope we have no tests this year.” 

Five years later, high school teacher Jodie Deinhammer’s science classroom remains test-free—and her students are still learning at a fast clip and retaining the content. 

In this episode, host Kristin Leong talks with Jodie about why and how she replaced high-stakes testing with projects, labs, open-note checks, and daily formative assessments. She’ll offer advice on handling this major shift with parents, and explain why she listens closely to her students’ feedback. Plus, she’s got deeply vetted takeaways for teachers who are ready to rethink their approach to grading—while keeping rigor high and stress low.

Related Resources:

• A Year of No Tests  Removing summative assessments from instructional practice can make class more interesting, engaging, and stress free for students.
• Will Students Engage if there are No Grades? A Review of the Evidence Research evidence suggests that grades reduce motivation and are not effective tools for measuring learning.
• The Proven Benefits of Grading Less By shifting the focus from letter grades to meaningful feedback, teachers can unlock deeper learning, foster motivation, and minimize bias in the classroom.
• The Evidence-Backed Grader Help students focus on learning—not the grade—with these research-based tips.
• Do No Harm: Flexible and Smart Grading Practices Have students take responsibility for their grades and behavior by strategically offering opportunities to redo assignments, retake tests, and reflect on their performance.
• Why Teachers Should Grade Less Frequently Excessive grading stresses out kids and teachers, stifles innovative teaching, and fails to deliver as a true measurement of learning.
• When Grading Harms Student Learning Instead of issuing zeros, penalizing late work, and grading formative assessments, teachers should make the classroom a place of hope instead of fear.