I love Pinnacle.  What is Pinnacle you ask?  It is an automated software grading system.   You can view your class grades from anywhere as long as you have it downloaded to your computer.  It is very similar to a Microsoft Word Excel spreadsheet in the sense that you plug in the percentages and weight for how you want your different categories calculated.  That is where the similarities end.

Since Pinnacle is viewed from the Internet, as soon as you put in the grades anyone who has access can view the information instantaneously.  Which means this is a great tool for parents to keep on top of their children.  As a parent myself, whose child is currently on this grading system, I check on her grades daily to see her progress.  My daughter hates that!  As a parent though, it is very helpful. 

Keeping up with grading has come a long way since I started teaching just 9 years ago.  I remember when I used to do all my calculation by hand and kept track in a grade book.  I can’t believe some teachers are still doing it that way.