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 and retaining the content at a fast clip.

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:

• Learn more about this episode
• A Year of No Tests
• Will Students Engage if there are No Grades? A Review of the Evidence
• The Proven Benefits of Grading Less
• The Evidence-Backed Grader
• Do No Harm: Flexible and Smart Grading Practices
• Why Teachers Should Grade Less Frequently
• When Grading Harms Student Learning