07 November 2010

Fora words of wisdom

"It's no use caring about their grades more than they do."

Remember.

Apply.

Do not stop to wonder why they are repeating errors from their earlier papers when not only did I mark the errors then, I allot class time for students to read through their comments, ask questions about them, and make a list of things they are going to try to do better on their next paper.

It may be no use, but I'm pretty sure I do care about their grades more than they do.

On a more cheerful note, I've also been reading the auto ethnographer's blog, and though I am green with envy at the pictures of the sabbatical house and town, it also makes me happy to fantasize a similar situation for myself someday.

Either I have miscounted these papers, or an awful lot of people turned them in online but not in hard copy, or didn't turn them in at all. I don't think I'm going to finish today, but there is hope of being done by Wednesday's classes: another cheerful thought.

Five-minutes-later update: D'oh! I found the rest of the papers. Gah. Clearly grading, or something, is affecting my brain.

4 comments:

What Now? said...

"It's no use caring about their grades more than they do."

Wow -- words to live by. I'm going to post this prominently to remind myself when I start going kinds of nuts with the grading-induced frustration.

Mom, Ph.D. said...

Words of wisdom, indeed! I think I'm going to write "It's no use caring about their grades more than they do" on a sticky note and attach it to my computer. That will save me from some unnecessary emotional labor next time I sit down to grade.

I love teaching advice. If you come up with more, please post!

auto ethnographer said...

I hope you manage a great sabbatical, too; so necessary to keep the burnout at bay.

Nicole said...

My poor husband is going through this right now. They're all failing this semester. If only they showed up for class. :(