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Dr. Grauer's Column - What Does It Mean To Do Well In School?

In this week's column, Dr. Grauer asks his students to consider other way to measure their success instead of focusing routinely on their grades.

What Does It Mean To Do Well In School?

The Grauer School's weekly assemblies are a special part of the school's community when we gather all the students and staff together. Since we can't gather in large groups due to the pandemic, the school holds virtual assemblies in smaller Core Value Portfolio (CVP) groups every Tuesday. Assemblies always begin with a message from Dr. Stuart Grauer, and this was his message to the students for Tuesday, February 23. You can read the text of his message in this column, or watch Dr. Grauer's video message by clicking on the image below.


What does it mean to do well in school? Is that the same as “doing well on some tests” or homework?

When you're students, you get graded on things all year. You get the percentages and letter grades reported back to you. Are those grades the same as school wellness and success?

When we look at your grades, what insight do we get about your resilience, enthusiasm, joy, curiosity, collaboration, honesty, generosity and leadership? Do the grades show us when you showed courage, …or who you helped this week? What if that was a homework assignment: “Tonight, go help someone, get an A.”

Grauer 8th grade students Ennis and Mia skating together during their Roller Skate Club meeting - February 10, 2021


At the Grauer School, we have a Core Values Portfolio (CVP) class for an hour a week to talk exclusively about qualities like those, because they seem far more important than whether or not you remembered something long enough to repeat it back on a test.

What is the relationship between Grade Point Average (GPA) and the sense of wonder we have for the natural world? Why can’t we put that into your GPA? What is the relationship between GPA and empathy you have for others around you, how much you care? (By the way, for many people, empathy equates closer to business and career success than GPA).

What is the relationship between Grade Point Average and the sense of wonder we have for the natural world?

Grauer Middle School students competing in the school's annual Spelling Bee - February 11, 2021


Are higher grades the same as passionate and joyful learning? They can be. And are they associated with stress and sleep deprivation, too? Maybe.

What does it mean to do well in school?

Grauer 8th grade students Charlie and Khyber playing "Capture the Flag" in Physical Education class - February 12, 2021

What does our school think it means? I would love to learn how you think The Grauer School defines “doing well!” Please let me know.


Dr. Grauer wants to hear from his readers. Please click on the "Comments" drop-down box below to leave a comment about this column!

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Photos for Dr. Grauer's Column

Grauer 8th grade students Ennis and Mia skating together during their Roller Skate Club meeting - February 10, 2021

Grauer Middle School students competing in the school's annual Spelling Bee - February 11, 2021

Grauer 8th grade students Charlie and Khyber playing "Capture the Flag" in Physical Education class - February 12, 2021

Fearless Teaching® Book
by Dr. Stuart Grauer

Fearless Teaching® is a stirring and audacious jaunt around the world that peeks—with the eyes of one of America’s most seasoned educators–into places you will surely never see on your own. Some are disappearing. It is a bit like playing hooky from school. You will travel to the Swiss Alps, Korea, Navajo, an abandoned factory in Missouri, the Holy Land, the Great Rift Valley, the schools of Cuba, the ocean waves, and the human subconscious—oh, and Disneyland.

There you will find colorful stories for the encouragement, inspiration, and courage needed by educators and parents. Fearless Teaching is not a fix-it book—it is more a way of seeing the world and the school so that you can stay in your work and focus on what matters most to you.

"Grauer’s writing reminds us that Great Teaching, singular, rare, unusual, is something that should be sought after and found. Thank you.”
—Richard Dreyfuss, Actor, Oxford scholar, founder of The Dreyfuss Initiative

Click here to order Fearless Teaching® today

Dr. Grauer's Column: Archive of Past Columns

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Dr. Grauer's Column - Yes
Dr. Grauer's Column - Yes

Think of the yes people in your lives. They are the ones that make you feel empowered, accepted, and validated. Of all the yes people you could ever ask for, teachers might be the most important, and we tend to appreciate them for our whole lives.

Dr. Grauer's Column - Rumi, We Need You Now
Dr. Grauer's Column - Rumi, We Need You Now

Step into the heart of the Holy Land with students bridging seemingly impossible divides. From celebrating in Jerusalem to flying peace kites in the West Bank, witness their quest to understand and process conflict. 

Dr. Grauer's Column - The Four Directions
Dr. Grauer's Column - The Four Directions

Dr. Grauer is amidst a late draft of his forthcoming book, “The Way to Pancho’s Kitchen: Original Instructions for Small School Leadership,” and is thrilled to post a sample chapter here. This book, six years in the making, should be coming out late this year. 

Dr. Grauer's Column - A Magnificent Notion
Dr. Grauer's Column - A Magnificent Notion

Magnificence: Is it a moment, an achievement, a natural phenomenon, an interaction? The relationship between magnificence and high school education can be seen from various lenses: integrating the natural world, inspirational learning and teaching, and emerging human potential. 

Dr. Grauer's Column - School, Play, Love
Dr. Grauer's Column - School, Play, Love

What would it take to inspire students to say, "I love my school"? Join us in embracing the natural world and the spirit of play. We can ignite passion, creativity, and a love for learning in our children. Dr. Grauer’s column is guaranteed to leave you with a smile.