Do you actually have time to grade everything you’re assigning??

Megan Faherty has nearly 20 years of classroom experience at the secondary level.

After years of struggling to stay on top of assessment, she made some transformative mindset shifts, and wrote about them for our Truth for Teachers writers collective.

She shares:

I used to procrastinate on grading anything until there was a deadline (like the end of a grading period or approaching parent conferences). Then I had to sort through my grading folders to list everything I had to grade – and those lists were overwhelming.

It suddenly occurred to me that I should consider whether I actually had time to grade something before I assigned it.

And in order to do that, I had to put grading on my to-do list when I assigned it, not when I collected it or when a deadline was approaching.

When I give an assignment, the work I’m creating for myself is in the future. I might plan the assignment this week, give it to students next week, and have it due the following week.

In the weeks between when I conceive the assignment and when I collect it, I am constantly creating more grading work for my future self, without conscious awareness of the work that’s already waiting for me.

I started an ongoing list of what I had to grade, adding assignments and assessments when I planned them, rather than when I collected them.

This not only helps me be aware of how much work I have waiting for me in the future, but also how much work I’ve given students.

If I’m planning a new assignment, I check my ongoing grading list and ask myself, “What’s already out there that I’ll need to grade? Will I have the time?”

With this system, I have stopped piling work on my future self without realizing it. Instead, I make conscious choices about what to assign based on the value of the assignment for students’ learning AND whether I actually have time to grade it.

Read more about Megan’s approach here:

7 shifts to get your grading under control

As Megan explains, when you’re honest about what you can thoroughly assess, you can (finally!) create a realistic grading timeline, and reduce the stress that comes from feeling constantly behind on grading. You’ll be able to plan in advance when students will complete the work AND when you will assess it.

Enjoy!

Angela

P.S. Want support with creating realistic to-do lists and managing your planning/grading? The 6 module 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Fast Track program can help. It’s only $39, and you can start anytime and go at your own pace.