Formative Assessment

Do you hate giving zeros?  Do you think a zero is an appropriate response to a student who refused to do work?  Do you think it's right to use every grade a student produced in a grading period to produce his or her final grade?  Do you use rubrics?  Do you rely on multiple choice or essay tests?  Do you give a grade without comments or do you always comment? Do you think giving a 50 as the lowest grade rewards students for doing nothing?

My thoughts on grading practices have been influenced by the following: 

Formative Assessment Video

Working Inside the Black Box

Doug Reeves