Author: Courtney Fenner

STUDENT MADNESS BEYOND MARCH

Courtney Fenner April 14, 2025

The Rider’s Revelation The alarm buzzes at 5:15 a.m. Stephanie growls to herself and thinks, “But I just got to sleep!” At least that’s what

WHAT STUDENTS LOVE ABOUT THEIR TEACHERS’ GRADING

Courtney Fenner February 26, 2025

If you’ve read this blog before, it might seem like all we do is focus on the challenges in education–so many aspects that need transformation!

Three Surprise Benefits of Standards-Based Grading

Courtney Fenner January 27, 2025

New Year, New Possibilities Ahh, the first month of a brand new year! Everything feels new and promising, a blank slate, or, in the words

GRADING FOR EQUITY: Start Getting Buy-In Today!

Courtney Fenner December 18, 2024

As facilitators and client managers here at Crescendo Education Group, we have met with a wide and diverse breadth of school leaders nationwide from a

Inflate Balloons, Not Grades

Courtney Fenner November 25, 2024

The Shock of Public Scrutiny Early in my teaching career in New York City Public Schools, I knew that my students weren’t getting grades that

The Grade Depression

Courtney Fenner October 24, 2024

The First F In my second year as a New York City Public school teacher, my student, Sharone, declared that the first F she ever