...and piles to grade before I sleep!

NGHS Physics Lab Notebooks to be graded.
There should be 150 notebooks (if they've all been turned in).
My thoughts about grading papers...it's complicated.

  1. Fairness - Was the assignment taught well? Did my students understand the assignment? Was the assignment below, at or above the varied abilities of the student? Does my grading rubric measure the student's knowledge & skills?
  2. The Weight of the Grade - Heavy weights should be be reserved for final assessments. Daily work should be weighted lightly because it reflects the student's effort to master the material. The student should be given many occasions to practice their skills.
  3. Feedback without Discouragement - The feedback about assignments should be honest but not so negative that the student gives up. On the other hand, negative feedback is sometimes appropriate, especially when you have students that are not performing up to their ability level. Proceed with caution!!! I try to provide quick feedback that highlights what is correct, and what needs to be improved. Students have to have hope that they will have opportunities to demonstrate that they have improved.
  4. Do Overs - Sometimes students need "do overs". On the other hand, you don't want students to begin to expect that they can do everything over again. It is now a somewhat common practice to allow for re-tests. Many students won't study for the first administration of the test. They take the test again, having seen what is on the test. I do not give retakes for that reason. A thorough study guide that includes concepts & example problems, in my opinion, should be sufficient.
  5. Mastery is Hard Work - Mastering material is not easy. Students should be engaged rather than passive. You did not learn to ride a bicycle or drive a car by merely watching someone else. Learning physics is like learning to ride a bike, drive a car, or throw a football. It requires practice. Physics is a tough subject. It definitely requires practice.
  6. Teaching Without Going Crazy -150 students. I typically grade 7,500 assignments per semester. That's 50 assignments x 150 students. How to handle this massive amount of work is a question I've struggled with for 22 years. There are some technologies available now to assist teachers with this workload. WebAssign, online quizzes, etc. I'm trying to take advantage of the things that are available. Planning & balance are necessary in order to preserve your sanity. Teachers that don't protect their personal time (time to go to the gym, enjoy your family & friends) will eventually burn out or become very cynical.

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