Welcome to Skills Based Classroom!
We help math departments and teachers eliminate grading blind spots, refine rubrics and assessments, and transition to a more effective performance-based grading system—while still using the traditional 100-point scale. Our data-backed approach has improved outcomes in Carterville and other districts we've coached. We offer both online and in-person support.
Upcoming Events
Catch us at the 2025 Williamson County Educators Learning Camp on October 31st. We will host two breakout sessions:
Toxic Grading: Time for a Clean Break - We need to talk. Breaking up is hard to do, but it’s time to part ways with toxic grading habits—like late penalties, participation points, and one-shot assessments—that undermine learning and student growth. A key focus of this session will be identifying which traditional grading practices do more harm than good and why. Educators ready for a clean break will leave with practical, student-centered alternatives that promote equity, mastery, and meaningful feedback. It's time to call it quits and start fresh.
Classroom Sidekicks: Teaching Smarter with A.I. - Every math hero needs a sidekick — in your classroom, that’s AI. This beginner-friendly session is designed just for grades 6–12 math teachers and shows how to team up with AI to plan lessons, create practice problems, give feedback, and boost student engagement. You'll walk away with easy, ready-to-use tools that enhance your teaching superpowers.
Check us out on the Making Math Moments That Matter Podcast.
Click HERE to get directly to the podcast website. Catch our episode HERE.
We met with Bill Davidson, host of the podcast Centering the Pendulum. We discussed eliminating homework from the classroom. Listen to that episode HERE.
Here's a link to our recent article in the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) Journal.
Recent Activity
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District Professional Development: We are working with an Illinois school district in late August to discuss grading practices and assessment strategies to create better student accountability.
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Collaboration with Local Math Educators: We've recently teamed up with a dedicated team of math teachers at a local middle school to introduce the Skills Based Classroom initiative.
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Professional Development Conference: We had a great time presenting at the Williamson County Professional Development Conference this fall.
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Illinois Principal Association Conference: Recently, we presented at the Illinois Principal Association Conference this October.
