Grading
Grading is the act of assigning a value to a given assessment.
What's the purpose?
The purpose of grading is communication. Always, grades communicate with students. Almost always, grades communicate with parents. Often, grades communicate with PLCs. Sometimes, grades even communicate with the administration, colleges/universities, or other outside agencies.
What's fair?
Fair grading assigns students a separate value for what they know and how they behave. Grading should push students towards excellence while still being lenient and kind towards students. It should help students understand that it is important to complete all of their work on time, and should also help students understand that it is important to know the material. Fair grading will make sense to students and will encourage them to do their best.