In a sense, grades shouldn't matter. Learning should be a joyful activity undertaken for its own sake. Grading and assessing can do much to stifle a student's appreciation, curiosity, and wonder. Yet, at the same time, a contemporary school with large classes has few other means to encourage students to do the work and provide feedback on their behavior. After all, grades communicate valuable feedback as far as student effort and achievement. So how can we make grades really work for the student and teacher and help keep the classroom moving in a positive direction? 

In this episode, Winston Brady and Matt Ogle discuss grades and a teacher's grade book. Among the topics they cover are the number of grades, the value of completion grades, the superiority of accuracy grades, and the benefits of keeping a well-managed grade book that accurately reflects what was covered in class and how it was assessed. 

Note: Please excuse the sound quality, given that Matt and Winston recorded en route to visiting a Thales campus. 

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