Grading by Number
February 23, 2005
I enter grades in an application on my computer. All my students are listed alphabetically in this grading application, so it’s time-consuming to record their grades. I had two equally bad choices:
- enter grades from a randomly collected and organized stack of papers, moving up and down my computer screen searching for the correct place to enter the next student’s grade, or
- alphabetize all my graded papers before starting the data entry process, so I can move quickly down the list once I begin.
So I got smart. I got an alphabetized list of all my students in each class. I assigned them ID numbers according to their classroom period and last names. Now I organize papers in numerical order, which corresponds to alphabetical order but is easier to collate.
Upon completion of an assignment, I ask the class to pass their papers with names and ID numbers to a classroom helper, and I ask that one student to put the papers in order, which is now easy to do. Papers are then delivered to me clipped together in alphabetical order.
I now spend about 50 percent less time entering grades. Plus if a student wants to see their paper, it’s easy to find it in the stack. If it was turned in, I know where it will be.