Calculating Grade Averages
I have been involved in an ongoing discussion of what would seem to be a simple thing.
I assign a grade at the end of each marking period that corresponds to what the student would get as a final grade if the term ended that day. (running total method, RTM)
Others assign a grade based on the first 5/6 weeks of work, another based on the 2nd 5/6 weeks of work, another (unpublished) on the 3rd 5/6 weeks worth of work, and then average them for a final grade (3 separate grades method, 3SGM).
(For those of you who have noticed that this seems like half a year, indeed, most New York City high schools operate two half year terms, with a final grade assigned for each term).
Me: high school math, RTM, both ways are done in my school. (but 3SGM dominates)
and at my previous school both ways were done (RTM predominated).
What do you teach, how do you average, and is your school together on this?
JD2718 
I use RTM and will drop the lowest test grade at the end of the semester. I use Microsoft Excel which includes tests, homework, and projects and calculates a final grade. It looks great in color and shuts up parents when they want to know why their child is failing.
I teach high school math. We are on trimesters. I use RTM within the trimester and 3SGM to get the final grade. (Yup, one grade for the entire year-long course.)
I think the psychological impact of being able to “start over” makes it easier for students who failed miserably at some point to turn it around and gain confidence by earning a good grade.
I do what you do. And I almost always give grades a little higher than their averages. When kids complain, I invariably offer to give them their average, whatever it may be. If they don’t decline immediately,as most do, they always decling after I work it out.
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