Numbers are up

I am finally finished grading. Everyone has a number that I can stand behind. That 3? I stand behind it. These are numbers I feel good about. I have complete confidence in all of those 2.5's and those 2.75's. I like the 3.75's--such a fine, upstanding number! There are some zeros, but I believe in zero, too. Zero has a place in the grading continuum. We should honor zero by giving it out to people who never come to class and never turn in any work. Numbers, beautiful numbers all.