Ready for six more grading hacks? Let’s take a field trip this week as we talk about the importance of keeping you whole.
In order to read the opening text on the video, you’ll likely need to click on the full-screen option for the intro. and then return to the small screen when I start talking to minimize the shakiness. It looked better on my computer screen than it does on YouTube. Learning, learning…
Teach on, everyone!
Laura, thanks for the awesome videos! These are super helpful to me as I’m starting my first year of teaching on WEDNESDAY!
Your hack about sick days is going to be really helpful to me, I think. Too often I feel like I can’t or shouldn’t take a day because it’s irresponsible or I should be able to handle it or what have you. During student teaching I had 3 days I could miss, and I missed all 3 for various reasons, and I never regretted it. Having those days to take care of whatever I needed to and to recuperate and catch up was just so invaluable and I really need to remember that. Thanks for the reminder that I’m allowed to have a day if I need it!
Keep up the good work, and don’t worry, the shaking isn’t bad! Great video, shakes and all!
My pleasure, VictoriaH! Absolutely, mental health is a valid reason to take an occasional day off. In my district, we’re given 10 days each year and I never, ever use them all. As I’ve grown older, though, I’m starting to see the folly of sacrificing everything to try to impress others. In the end, we need to keep ourselves healthy and strong both physically and mentally; a day off in the middle of a crazy week is often the best medicine. Congrats on the launch of your new career this week. Such an exciting time! 🙂
You are seriously the best! I NEEDED this reminder about grading essays before we start and that I’m not the only one who needs to intentionally preserve my sanity. Thank you, as always, for being so positive and keeping it real.
Thanks, Beth, for watching! It definitely feels weird to spend so much time thinking about grading during summer vacation, but we gotta set a strategy before the paper-storm begins. I’m here for ya! 🙂
I’m going to share your series with my colleagues as we start our work days tomorrow (eek!). Due to budget issues, most of us will be seeing our class sizes increase dramatically over last year and we’ll all be feeling the grading pinch even more. I will have to view these again over the year to maintain my sanity!
And, as to the “take your days” idea, I agree. I am taking 9 days (count ’em–NINE!) in September for a long-awaited trip and am totally nervous about the whole process of leaving work and then grading upon my return. I’ve never taken more than 2 days off in a row and am the one who is ALWAYS at school (resulting in a ton of available days), so it’s time. One of my college professors told us that they give us personal and sick days to be USED and that our students will benefit, too. 😉
Thanks for this series and your wonderfully-infectious positivity!
I hear you, Hope. When class-size reduction funding dried up in California, my freshman sections went from being capped at 22 kids to being stuffed with 34+. Over a five-period teaching day, it was as if more than an entire class of kids was added to our load. Crazy-making!
As for missing a bunch of days in September, well, that’s less than ideal, but it’ll all work out. One of my good friends was sat on a murder trial jury in early August that ended up dragging on and on. I think he missed the entire first five weeks of school, but his kids (AP Lang., Eng. 11, and ELD) all survived. He was definitely rarin’ to go when he returned, that’s for sure. 🙂
Totally love this series!
I might just get that pack on grading! I can sooooo relate to all you say!!! I really hate correcting all those compositions and have been avoiding them like the plague with my teens! Bad, really bad!!
Hmmm, that hack on the red ink? I’ve been reading that quite often lately! I usually use color with the younger crowd (under 10 kids) cause they love it, but with teens and adults I’ve always used red or green. Time to get a pack of those Papermate flairs! LOL!
Funny too that lately I’ve been hearing or reading Idaho A LOT! Maybe a message in there? Impossible! Say “HI!” to the duckies on your next walk! 🙂
Enough! Thanks so much for your brilliant ideas!
Ha, Carolyn! So glad you’re enjoying the series. And Idaho? Yeah, we’re pretty hip these days. 🙂
I don’t see any dates on these, so I’m not sure if you’ve posted it already, but I can’t seem to find the forth installment of your grading hacks series. I’m trying to compile a list to keep in my Erin Condren planner to have close by while I’m grading this year!
Hi Marisha,
Thanks for checking in with me! You joined the party right in the full swing of things. Episode #4 will be ready and uploaded this Sunday. And I’m planning on making a bonus 5th episode about the writing contest the week after that. So glad the “hacks” are proving themselves to be worthwhile. Really appreciate you taking the time to watch. Spread the word!
🙂 Laura
I’m so glad you sent out this video series on grading hacks. It has helped me SO much! Thank you thank you.
You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear this, Emily. 🙂 Thanks for watching!