Things to do instead of grading that first stack of student papers.

  1. Staple any papers held together by paperclips, folded corners, or sheer force of will.
  2. Print out papers turned in by email, stapling if necessary.
  3. Alphabetize papers by students’ surname.
  4. Divide papers into sets of ten and paperclip together.
  5. Create a grading rubric.
  6. Create a spreadsheet in which to record the grades.
  7. Find a supply of appropriately colored grading pens.
  8. Try to locate your drawing board.
  9. Double-check that the state and county correctional facilities will not, in fact, correct papers, not even those from state university courses.
  10. Leave papers, grading pens, and rubric on kitchen table overnight to see if elves will come to grade the papers.
  11. Write a blog post about ways to put off actually getting started on grading those papers.
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Posted in Academia, Passing thoughts, Teaching and learning.

13 Comments

  1. 15. Read comments on blog post after reading blog post.
    16. Wish I could come up with more things to do to keep from grading (or, in my case, finishing a manuscript revision).
    17. Whine some more.

  2. 19. Get jealous at others working on manuscript revisions rather than grading.
    20. Pour glass of wine.
    21. Check to see how many days until return of Mad Men.
    22. More chocolate and wine.

  3. 25. Notice email that your university is considering changing Learning Management Systems yet again (3rd in 10 years).
    26. Leave intemperate comment on the official “feedback” discussion board about proposed LMS shift.
    27. Pour another glass of wine.
    28. Instigate Twitter discussion about how much shifting LMS so frequently sucks for faculty and students.

  4. By the way, let the record reflect that the stack of papers I’m putting off grading is one I received today.

    So, you should be impressed that I’m getting the procrastination done so quickly!

  5. 31. Clean out file cabinets
    32. Create new file folders for all junk in file cabinets
    33. Clean out fridge
    34. Go to store to replenish office food supplies and restock fridge
    35. Alphabetize all books on office bookshelves
    36. Take care of the book orders that are 2 months overdue
    36. Find & send grading humor google images to colleagues
    37. IM all your friends on FB
    38. Look for publishing opportunities
    39. Rank the list of publishing opportunities
    40. Put the list of publishing opportunities on your To Do list and go back to staring at the same stack of ungraded papers.

  6. 41. Post blog post, share blog post, then comment on blog post.
    42. Make lunch plans with the colleague you haven’t seen since August.
    43. Write committee reports because you control the grammar.
    44. Realize that spring starts in three weeks and begin maniacal laughter.

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