Wormeli's book - Fair Isn't Always Equal

I've always been a big believer in the saying "being equal isn't always fair and being fair isn't always equal." Too many times people in general - including teachers - want to put that square peg in that round hole and then wonder why it doesn't fit. They call that square peg lazy, unmotivated, refuse to learn, anything to take the focus off what really is happening and that is not recognizing that square peg for what he/she is. I love differentiated teaching/learning as it goes along with "all children can learn - just not all the same way." Multiple intelligence is great! Because of this - I have been enjoying Wormeli's book. I'm looking into the student self-assessment and thinking about how I can incorporate this into my mini-unit on Global Warming to celebrate Earth Day. Hmmmm. When I think about grades I try to keep the differentiated thought in focus - my work never goes down to zero - usually the grade starts at 40 to 50 unless they do not pass it in - which I currently give a zero to. But I'm going to rethink that. On page 102 I enjoyed how grading was broken down into 6 categories. The last three - motivate, punish - I'm going to motivate you so I'm going to punish you. In the middle school I see just the opposite results - students get discouraged. To sort students - what! into ability? That's really good for the self esteem too! NOT! My students are not penalized for handing in their homework late as I agree with Ellen Berg on page 104 - I want them to learn from their homework - not just get it in on time. All of this being said - we had a professional development day the other week working on the mission/focus of our school. Our facilitator started a web in the middle of a HUGE piece of paper about issues facing our school. Interesting that the other colleague that I have issues with wrote "clear, consistent rules for all with equal consequences for all." I'm not sure the square peg fits in that - do you?