to

!
!
‘ LikeRequest
I’d tooto Try
Retest
Again…
Name _______________________________________ Topic(s) to retest
___________________ ___________________
Period ________ Today’s Date _________
___________________ ___________________
Date requested for retest ____________________

Reflect
Previous score: _____________
Why did you earn this score? ________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
What concepts and/or skills did you struggle with most? _______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
!
!
Noving Forward
! I have completed all the classwork and homework related to this assessment
! I have completed the quiz/test corrections for this assessment

Three other activities I will do to improve my understanding of this concept:

1. _____________________________ 2. ______________________________ 3. _____________________________

In either your phone or your planner, schedule when you will do these activities.
!
!
Attach !
! Completed classwork and homework related to this assessment that was incomplete or missing!
! Proof of the three activities you completed to improve your understanding!
!
!
Request !
I request the opportunity to retest this concept/these concepts. I have worked hard to improve my
understanding.
Student signature __________________________ Parent/Guardian signature __________________________
 Why Retakes and Redos?
“Making students redo their learning until it meets high expectations demands far more of both students
and teachers than letting them take a failing grade— but it also results in far more learning. Maturation
occurs in the fully credited recovery from unsuccessful attempts, not by labeling those attempts as failures. If
!
our! mission is to teach so that students learn, we don’t let their immaturity dictate their destiny. Irresponsible,
forgetful,
! and inattentive students need us to be in their face more, not less.” –Rick Wormeli
!
!

M Perseverance
!
!
!
!

M Growth mindset
!
!!
!
!
!

M Grit
!
! !
!
!
!
!

Allowing Students to Try Again Promotes:

!
!
!
!
!
*Increased student motivation
!
!
*A sense of hope for lower-achieving students
!
!
!
*The belief that we can learn from our mistakes
!
!
!
*A focus on learning and mastery
!

Some common concerns…

1. Students need to be held accountable: Requiring students to master their learning through redos and retakes until they
meet your high expectations demands far more of students than allowing them to accept a failing grade.
2 Students will take advantage: Participating in redos/retakes requires extra work, time, and commitment. Students will quickly
learn that it’s not a good plan to bank on a redo. Also, redos/retakes are up to the teacher’s discretion, so you could always
manage this situation if it does arise.
3 There aren’t redos/retakes in the real world: Actually, there are. Some things we can try again, and again, and again
(think driver’s tests, GREs, inventions, etc.). Of course, there are other things that we don’t get multiple attempts at. You can
model your policy so that these realities are mirrored.
4 This policy won’t prepare them for next year or college: If allowing retakes and redos helps students to master the
content and skills of your class, then retakes and redos probably will better prepare them for the next step.
5 It’s not fair to students who do well the first time: Remember, fair and equal are not synonymous. Fair is everyone
getting what they need in order to be successful. Think about it: Are we in the grade-giving business or in the business of
providing students an education?