
Assess THAT with Tom & Nat! (Assessment, Feedback, Grading, and Learning)
The Tom Schimmer Podcast is a show about learning, leadership, and life. Primarily, it’s a podcast that focuses on current topics in K-12 education. Each week, Tom Schimmer (a best-selling education author, keynote speaker, and consultant) will lean on his 30 years of experience to keep listeners informed and entertained on the prevailing stories dominating the conversations about teaching and learning. This podcast also focuses on educational leadership by exploring how leaders can truly engineer a culture of continued professional growth. Occasionally, this podcast will explore the pursuit of success and happiness as it relates to any walk of life. Through a mix of interviews, commentary, current news stories, questions from listeners, and other segments, listeners will be well-equipped to meet the needs of learners regardless of what role they serve.
Latest episodes

Oct 9, 2023 • 56min
Why Not Me? | Jon Orr | Implementation Errors
In the Mindset Minute (1:58), Tom shares the mantra "Why not me?" as one way of trying to combat imposter syndrome. Then (5:50) Tom is joined by Math expert and podcast host Jon Orr to discuss the state of the Math Wars and all things mathematics. Finally, in Assessment Corner (47:35), Tom discusses why it's important for us to distinguish between the non-negotiables of change and implementation errors.
Jon on "X" (Twitter)
MMM on"X" (Twitter)
Jon on Instagram
MMM on Instagram
MMM on Facebook
MMM on LinkedIn
MMM - Podcast
www.makemathmoments.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
Grading from the Inside Out
Charleston, SC (Oct. 11-12)
Standards-Based Learning in Action
Seattle, WA (Oct. 16-17)
Grading from the Inside Out
St. Louis, MO (Dec. 6-7)
NEW BOOKS BY TOM:
"Redefining Student Accountability" (NEW)
"Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading"
"Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"
CONNECT WITH TOM SCHIMMER
Podcast on Twitter
Tom on Twitter
Podcast on Instagram
Podcast on TikTok
Podcast on Facebook
www.tomschimmer.com
Email: tomschimmerpod@gmail.com

Sep 25, 2023 • 59min
Allow the Negative | Alex Kajitani | Assessment Dilemma
In the Mindset Minute (1:53), Tom shares his thoughts on why we must allow our negative thoughts to flow through us. Then (6:18) Tom is joined by author, speaker, and trapping Mathematician Alex Kajitani to discuss his latest book, "Owning It: Proven Strategies to Ace and Embrace Teaching. Finally, in Assessment Corner (47:20), Tom discusses a common assessment dilemma.
Alex on "X" (Twitter)
Alex on Facebook
Alex on Instagram
www.alexkajitani.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
Grading from the Inside Out
Charleston, SC (Oct. 11-12)
Standards-Based Learning in Action
Seattle, WA (Oct. 16-17)
Grading from the Inside Out
St. Louis, MO (Dec. 6-7)
NEW BOOKS BY TOM:
"Redefining Student Accountability" (NEW)
"Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading"
"Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"
CONNECT WITH TOM SCHIMMER
Podcast on Twitter
Tom on Twitter
Podcast on Instagram
Podcast on TikTok
Podcast on Facebook
www.tomschimmer.com
Email: tomschimmerpod@gmail.com

Sep 11, 2023 • 27min
Act Toward | Discipline as Noun | Judge Holistically
Mindset Minute (2:11) focuses on why we need to "act toward" what we want. Then (5:35), Tom describes how his view of school discipline evolved to one where "discipline" is something we help students become, not what we do to them. Finally, in Assessment Corner (17:47), Tom suggests that when we assess for the summative purpose, we need to judge holistically.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Grading from the Inside Out
Jonesboro, AR (Sep. 25-26)
Grading from the Inside Out
Charleston, SC (Oct. 11-12)
Standards-Based Learning in Action
Seattle, WA (Oct. 16-17)
Grading from the Inside Out
St. Louis, MO (Dec. 6-7)
NEW BOOKS BY TOM:
"Redefining Student Accountability" (NEW)
"Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading"
"Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"
CONNECT WITH TOM SCHIMMER
Podcast on Twitter
Tom on Twitter
Podcast on Instagram
Tom on Instagram
Podcast on TikTok
www.tomschimmer.com
Email: tomschimmerpod@gmail.com

Aug 28, 2023 • 28min
Act as If | Relationships through Learning | Levels to %
Mindset Minute (2:23) focuses on the concept of "act as if" where we create present emotions that match how we want to feel when what we want manifests. Then (7:24), Tom asserts that building relationships with students comes through their learning, not before. Finally, in Assessment Corner (17:44), Tom answers a listener's question about converting proficiency levels to percentage-based grades.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Grading from the Inside Out
Jonesboro, AR (Sep. 25-26)
Grading from the Inside Out
Charleston, SC (Oct. 11-12)
Standards-Based Learning in Action
Seattle, WA (Oct. 16-17)
Grading from the Inside Out
St. Louis, MO (Dec. 6-7)
NEW BOOKS BY TOM:
"Redefining Student Accountability" (NEW)
"Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading"
"Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"
CONNECT WITH TOM SCHIMMER
Podcast on Twitter
Tom on Twitter
Podcast on Instagram
Tom on Instagram
Podcast on TikTok
www.tomschimmer.com
Email: tomschimmerpod@gmail.com

Aug 7, 2023 • 53min
Spot Upfront | Cale Birk | Know Your Purpose
In the Mindset Minute (2:13), Tom shares a mantra that he's used to create a mindset that everything always works out for him. Then (6:06) Tom is joined by author, speaker, and friend Cale Birk to talk about why leaders need to plan for impact, not just change. Finally, in Assessment Corner (44:01), Tom reminds listeners about the importance of knowing your assessment purpose in advance of any assessment.
Cale on "X" (Twitter)
Cale on Facebook
Cale on Instagram
Cale on LinkedIn
www.birklearns.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
Grading from the Inside Out
Jonesboro, AR (Sep. 25-26)
Grading from the Inside Out
Charleston, SC (Oct. 11-12)
Standards-Based Learning in Action
Seattle, WA (Oct. 16-17)
Grading from the Inside Out
St. Louis, MO (Dec. 6-7)
NEW BOOKS BY TOM:
"Redefining Student Accountability" (NEW)
"Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading"
"Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"
CONNECT WITH TOM SCHIMMER
Podcast on Twitter
Tom on Twitter
Podcast on Instagram
Podcast on TikTok
Podcast on Facebook
www.tomschimmer.com
Email: tomschimmerpod@gmail.com

Jul 24, 2023 • 55min
Biology of Belief | Nikta Afonso | Time to Pushback
In the Mindset Minute (2:36) Tom highlights the book, “The Biology of Belief” by Dr. Bruce Lipton. It is one of the most influential books in terms of Tom’s mindset and outlook on life. Then (8:36) Tom is joined by singer, songwriter, and former student Nikita Afonso to talk about her growing music career. Finally, in Assessment Corner (44:51), Tom asserts that it’s time to ask those who resist assessment and grading reform to substantiate their resistance with research, not just their opinion.
Nikita on Facebook
Nikita on Instagram
www.nikitaafonso.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
Grading from the Inside Out
Jonesboro, AR (Sep. 25-26)
Grading from the Inside Out
Charleston, SC (Oct. 11-12)
Standards-Based Learning in Action
Seattle, WA (Oct. 16-17)
Grading from the Inside Out
St. Louis, MO (Dec. 6-7)
NEW BOOKS BY TOM:
"Redefining Student Accountability" (NEW)
"Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading"
"Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"
CONNECT WITH TOM SCHIMMER
Podcast on Twitter
Tom on Twitter
Podcast on Instagram
Podcast on TikTok
Podcast on Facebook
www.tomschimmer.com
Email: tomschimmerpod@gmail.com

Jul 10, 2023 • 50min
Mindset Minute | Julie Schmidt Hasson | Now is the Time
In the Mindset Minute (2:22) - a new segment - Tom asserts that the power of positive thinking is as much about the present as it is about the future. Then (6:35) Tom is joined by educator and author Julie Schmidt Hasson to discuss her latest offering, "Pause, Ponder, and Persist in the Classroom: How Teachers Turn Challenges into Opportunities for Impact." Finally, in Assessment Corner (44:48), Tom makes the case for why now - the summer - is the perfect time to build your assessment literacy.
Julie on Twitter
Julie on Instagram
Julie on LinkedIn
Chalk & Chances on Facebook
www.chalkandchances.com
"Pause, Poner, & Persist"
"Safe, Seen, & Stretched"
UPCOMING EVENTS
Grading from the Inside Out
Jonesboro, AR (Sep. 25-26)
Grading from the Inside Out
Charleston, SC (Oct. 11-12)
Standards-Based Learning in Action
Seattle, WA (Oct. 16-17)
Grading from the Inside Out
St. Louis, MO (Dec. 6-7)
NEW BOOKS BY TOM:
"Redefining Student Accountability" (NEW)
"Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading"
"Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"
CONNECT WITH TOM SCHIMMER
Podcast on Twitter
Tom on Twitter
Podcast on Instagram
Podcast on TikTok
Podcast on Facebook
www.tomschimmer.com
Email: tomschimmerpod@gmail.com

Jun 7, 2023 • 52min
BONUS: New BC Reporting Order
In this bonus episode, Tom offers his perspective on the New Reporting Order in British Columbia set to be implemented in the 2023-24 school year. In PART 1, Tom highlights the backstory and development (and poor messaging) surrounding the implementation of the new curriculum when it was first developed several years ago. In PART 2 (15:15), Tom takes aim at the obsession some have with percentage-based grading and why it is an unreliable, inaccurate, and incomplete way of assessing. In PART 3 (35:04), Tom offers his critiques of the new reporting order, specifically at the assertion made in documents to families from the BC Ministry of Education that "Proficient is the goal for your child" and that "Extending is not the goal for all students in every area of learning."
New BC Curriculum
New BC Reporting Order
Information for Parents & Caregivers
UPCOMING EVENTS
Grading from the Inside Out
Jonesboro, AR (Sep. 25-26)
Grading from the Inside Out
Charleston, SC (Oct. 11-12)
Standards-Based Learning in Action
Seattle, WA (Oct. 16-17)
Grading from the Inside Out
St. Louis, MO (Dec. 6-7)
NEW BOOKS BY TOM:
"Redefining Student Accountability" (NEW)
"Concise Answers to FAQs about Assessment & Grading"
"Jackpot: Nurturing Student Investment through Assessment"
CONNECT WITH TOM SCHIMMER
Podcast on Twitter
Tom on Twitter
Podcast on Instagram
Podcast on TikTok
Podcast on Facebook
www.tomschimmer.com
Email: tomschimmerpod@gmail.com

17 snips
May 22, 2023 • 1h 11min
Reset on Failure | Dylan Wiliam (Pt. 2) | Fake Grading War
In this podcast, Tom Schimmer is joined by Dylan Wiliam, an expert in classroom assessment. They discuss the need for a societal reset on failure, the importance of feedback and its impact on learning, collaborative learning and promoting collaboration, exploring the definition of curriculum, and challenging arguments against standards-based grading.

10 snips
May 8, 2023 • 60min
Exceptions Prove the Rule | Dylan Wiliam | Cumulative Effect
Dylan Wiliam, Expert in classroom assessment, joins Tom Schimmer to discuss the irony of formative assessment, providing tools to teachers, maintaining students' enthusiasm, and evaluating understanding for grading. They emphasize the cumulative effect of instruction on students' progress and achievement.
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