The Grade Round Up Experiment with David Loudermilk - The Harlan Cohen Podcast

Months ago, I posted a reel encouraging students to try and ask their teachers to round up their grades if they were close to the next letter grade. High school teacher David Loudermilk saw an opportunity to use this idea to teach self-advocacy. In this conversation, Mr. Loudermilk and I discuss how he turned my controversial concept into a reality, requiring students to use argumentative writing skills (claim, evidence, reasoning) to make their case. We dive into why communication is such a critical skill students need, and how creating safe spaces for self-advocacy prepares young people for life's inevitable rejections and opportunities. A must-listen for educators and parents who want to help students find their voice.

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About Mr. Loudermilk David Loudermilk is a social science teacher in Northern California. Before teaching high school, he taught middle school, served as a middle school athletic director, worked as a 1:1 paraprofessional in a high school/adult transition program for special needs students, and was a substitute teacher for K-12 classrooms. From 2020-2024, he was elected to serve as a board member for the Durham Unified School District in Durham, California. Related videos: Life Tip 1033 - The Round Up Request Experiment: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DJ5Rh71vTU8/ College Tip 1578 - If You're a College Student Who Successfully Asked a Professor to Round Up https://www.instagram.com/reels/DSKwirLEcNm/

Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 02:05 - Why This Experiment 03:25 - Points Controversy 07:22 - Building Trust 08:13 - Grade Grubber Myth 10:35 - Evidence-Based Approach 11:27 - Creating Safe Space 12:16 - Social Capital & Equity 15:54 - Worthiness & Advocacy 19:06 - The Process Explained 25:21 - AI Consequences 29:17 - Participation Numbers 30:29 - Email vs Face-to-Face 33:21 - Teacher Time Investment 37:23 - Student Feedback 42:19 - Grades vs Skills 43:00 - Best Buy Story 44:28 - Rejection Lessons 47:37 - Sharing Resources 49:24 - Full Circle Moment 51:08 - Outro

THE HARLAN COHEN PODCAST New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen has candid conversations with top experts, and leading influencers. Guests share their greatest victories, devastating setbacks, and most valuable advice to help listeners dream big and take action. Hosted by Harlan Cohen, New York Times bestselling author, and speaker. Harlan is the founder of Best First Year, and has over 1 million books in print. His live events, books, programs, and workshops have reached millions of people and changed countless lives.