In the past when I’ve given students word limits, I’ve received sass, like “Is it because you don’t feel like grading more than that?” Okay, fine. Limit the length of the assignment.ĭo you really need a five-page paper to assess the skills you are teaching? If so, go for it! If not, cut back the length of the assignment. Here’s my revising and editing points PowPoint for argumentative writing. Except when I tell them that I want them to revise their rough drafts. Make sure the students have their rough drafts in front of them as you review these expectations so they can make notes on their essays as necessary. Include examples (from their papers to make it authentic if you think your students wouldn’t be too embarrassed). Then, turn it into a PowerPoint or some other visual aid you can use to present the list to students. You can cut back on a lot of time spent grading essays by just skimming through the rough drafts first. Skim their rough drafts, and use a revision PowerPoint. We mark every single error, and they mindlessly make corrections as they simultaneously text their friend, post pictures on Snapchat, and eat Doritos. Some students are used to teachers doing all the thinking for them. This strategy puts the ball completely in their court, which is good. Point out what you would like them to revise, and have them take the notes on what you are telling them. Conference with each student for that amount of time. Usually, they are relieved that they were able to select the one that would be assessed because they know that one best represents their abilities.Ĭonference with students and point for revision verbally. You might expect students to be upset that their other paragraphs aren’t being graded, but I’ve never had that happen. Before collecting their responses, have students circle the paragraph (or practice essay) they believe best represents their skills and knowledge for the task at hand. For example, I’ve done this before when I’ve asked students to write annotated bibliography paragraphs and even when we’ve written practice essays for standardized tests. Let’s say you give students an assignment where they practice the same skill several times. Have students choose a response they want you to grade. Why? Our kids benefit from focusing on writing an excellent paragraph or two instead of rambling, and teachers benefit from having a smaller rubric, which forces us to examine a skill or two (instead of marking every single error imaginable). I’m not saying attach the rubric to the back of the prompt…I’m saying fit it on the bottom corner of the paper where students respond. How does this save time? Well, if the rubric is built into the response page (like on a journal entry or a response to literature, for example), the rubric has to be smaller…and so does the student’s response. What do I mean by that? When students have to complete writing by hand (due to technology or time constraints or just for the sake of keeping it traditional), I like to give them a printed sheet of paper with the prompt, writing lines, and a rubric built in. TIPS FOR GRADING ESSAYS FASTER Use built-in rubrics. Let’s look at a handful of ideas worth trying. I am in the “teachers should have a balanced work and personal life” camp – the teachers deserve to be happy, too camp. I’m not in the “teachers should never take work home” camp. It’s taken me a while, but I’ve found some strategies that successfully help me to grade writing faster so that I can still maintain a healthy work-life balance. Slacking just isn’t an option. At times, it may seem like too much to handle. We must to prepare our students for college writing expectations, and we have to meet the rigors of the state or national standards as well as our district’s curriculum. We have to find ways to do justice to our jobs while also having time to do what refuels our souls, which is why I’ve been spending some serious time reflecting on how I’ve graded writing and essays in the past. Still, should they be? Keep reading for some practical tips on grading essays faster without losing the quality feedback students need. Have you ever cried over a stack of essays late at night, eyes too bleary to see the words clearly? Are you a teacher who practically lives at school? Do you take home hours of grading on the weekends? These things may seem like normal side effects of the job, especially for ELA teachers.
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