I’ve declared today grading day. Or really commenting day, as I’m not putting grades on these papers. I’ve been particularly slow at this this semester. I think there are a number of reasons for this. One, this is not a task I particularly enjoy. I have a hard time keeping my comments limited. I’m a writing teacher by training and I find myself wanting not just to comment on ideas (this is not a writing class), but to also suggest ways those ideas might be conveyed better. I find the task emotionally draining, in part because I spend too much time on each paper (30 min. on average, but some come in at 45), and therefore can’t bring myself to spend more than about 1 and a half to 2 hours per day on it. That means I get 3-4 papers done per day and when you have 20 papers to grade, at a minimum, you’re looking at 5 days. I skip days, of course. I also don’t work on the weekends generally (papers come in on Fridays), so it’s usually at least a week and has been up to two weeks.

I feel bad about this, especially since my co-teacher speeds through her papers. So today I’ve decided to get through at least half, and try not to fuss too much about suggesting specific writing techniques, but just to say that something is confusing and move on. I’m a little more motivated as I have to prep for class before the weekend and if I have grading hanging over my head too, I’m going to be completely stressed out. Okay, ready . . . set . . . go!