Anybody grading papers today?

[Bad JuJu]

Our spring semester is in its last week (exams next week), so I'm stuck inside on this gorge-o-licious day (sunshine, upper 70s) grading final papers. I've got several more to do to stay on schedule. I was on a roll for a while, but I seem to have hit a bad spot where every one I open is...awful. So what am I doing? Checking out the TE forums, taking a breather before going back to the salt mines of poor arguments and lazy grammar.

I know I shouldn't complain too much. I love this job, and some days, like today, I get to work at home. Still, the students who just can't be bothered to do it well (and by this point in the semester, I know that's the issue) get me down sometimes, even though they're really in the minority.

Anybody else grading papers today?

[kat_h]

I found out late last night that I get to teach a spring semester (May/June) course, so I was up until 2:30 preparing for that. The late notice is because I wasn't their first choice... or their second or third for that matter. I'm okay with that though. I've never taught a university course before and had actually decided to change fields entirely and go back as a student, so getting hired to teach was a nice surprise. Maybe this is someone's way of telling me to stay with my original field for just a little longer.

[Veronica]

I grade something every day.

V.

[Andrea]

I am! But it's been a rainy day, so I don't mind, except that it's too hot in my office, and physical plant won't fix it

[ehirsch83]

Nope, I'm on the other end. I'm procrastinating writing my last paper for the semester!

Hope you get some papers of a higher caliber soon:-)

[Bad JuJu]

I found out late last night that I get to teach a spring semester (May/June) course, so I was up until 2:30 preparing for that. The late notice is because I wasn't their first choice... or their second or third for that matter. I'm okay with that though. I've never taught a university course before and had actually decided to change fields entirely and go back as a student, so getting hired to teach was a nice surprise. Maybe this is someone's way of telling me to stay with my original field for just a little longer.

Good for you! Have fun with it.

[Geonz]

Show 'em that you were a good choice

This is the time of semester where I'm glad I *don't* have to grade papers... just try to encourage students through the home stretch. SYmpathizing wiht especially the graders of writing, and wishing more teachers held students to (well-explained) standards 'cause it makes it easier for me to try to do the same.

[Crankin]

We have spring vacation this week (I know it's not when the rest of the world has it, but we also have a week off in February that no one else has). For the first time in 18 years, the weather has been gorgeous!
I am doing my midterm grades, which are due May 1. I've finished with 2 classes and am procrastinating on the other 2. Of course, I am going to have a big problem when I go to imput them into the computer program because I am a sub. Three times the IT person told me I was set and 3 times I could not get into the program. Of course the thing was tenuous the whole 8 years before, too.
Thankfully, I didn't schedule any big writing pieces to be graded during this week.

[Tri Girl]

Is the question AM I, or SHOULD I?
I should be grading, but I'm not. We have a three day weekend because tomorrow is a built in snow day that we didn't need to use (woo hoo!).
Only one month left, and I'm just as excited as the kids (5th graders). May is always just a month of crowd control and torture (for all of us ).
I love my job, but I take home less papers every year. I've found that it'll all get done eventually, and even when I bring things home, I rarely get around to doing them. If it doesn't get done at school from me coming in early or staying late, it's not going to get done at home.

Enjoy your grading. Errrrr... I meant to say: I hope the grading gets done quickly!

[makbike]

I too grade papers (about 130) just about every day. I have just 25 more days to go until summer vacation!

[uforgot]

Well, I should have been grading papers, but I had to accompany a couple of girls at the state music festival. I'm not the greatest on piano so all of my time was spent practicing! That means I have a TON of papers and lesson plans to catch up on this weekend.

[K8sgotgame]

I don't have papers to grade, but I'm cleaning up grades and writing our final lab and written exams. The semester is over in a couple of weeks and I'm looking forward to getting rid of the students for a while!!!

[Veronica]

Arghhh... 7 weeks to go. State testing is next week. My students have been passing around penis drawings. My bully is still lying to me. His lies are so lame too. I've got a couple of girls who are becoming drama queens.


Summer can't come soon enough.

V.

[Crankin]

Your post made me laugh, Veronica. I don't think that anyone except another middle school (5th-8th) teacher would understand.
I have 7 more weeks, too, but it will go fast. We are finishing up reading "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and then we are going to practice for a performance of the play. And we will also do some creative writing. In between, they have to take state tests in math, go for their high school visit (8th grade is at the high school), and a few other special end of the year things.

[Tri Girl]

Good luck with the state tests, V and Crankin. We did ours 2 weeks ago, and since then the kids have just checked out. "We don't actually have to learn anything new now since the tests are over, do we Mrs. Brown"- to which I respond "No, kids, we'll just play BINGO for the next 5 weeks- NOT!"

Penis drawings, ahhh... pubescent humor. My kids are eaten up with the MASH thing lately (I did that when I was in middle school 20 years ago- I didn't know they still did it now). No body part drawings yet, but I haven't given up the idea of seeing one. It's bound to happen.

I've never given birth, but I'm convinced that May has got to be like labor/childbirth. You forget the pain so you'll come back and do it all over again.