ABSTRACT
The author found himself thinking increasingly about the colored belts that separate the different skill levels in many martial arts, and what that particular system of performance assessment might be able to teach those of us concerned with the professional growth of teachers. When a karate student begins instruction and has made the commitment to continue learning—initially by simply continuing to show up—they are issued a white belt. Though many martial arts use colored belts for ranking, within each tradition there are very specific indicators of what separates one level of performance from another. Educator James Delisle began a vigorous debate a few years back in the pages of Education Week with a critique of differentiation as unrealistic for most teachers. Although fine in theory, he said, “differentiation in practice is harder to implement in a heterogeneous classroom than it is to juggle with one arm tied behind your back”.
