Monday, May 11, 2015
May. 11th, 2015 09:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bearshortyMy semester is officially done!
Well, I still have to turn in the electronic gradebook, which I usually do waiting for students to pick up their folders, but the computer in the office wasn't working. But I can do it tomorrow. The main thing is the grades are officially in, the folders are out of my hands and it's done.
It's a bit anticlimactic as usual but it's nice not to grade anymore. This year the end of the semester was unusually not that stressful. I was done with final exams on Saturday, with Paper 5 on Sunday and had 3 late Paper 4 to do this morning on the train. But there was not the usual last minute rush to finish everything. Maybe it's because I'm only working part-time this semester and don't have two history classes to finish too or maybe I just got more organized, whatever it is, it was nice not to be frantic.
I started with 44 students in 2 classes. 4 withdrew for personal reasons. Everyone else passed, including all my jocks. I had 5 As, which is pretty typical, 3 Cs (the lowest passing grade) and the normal variation in between. It's really amazing that every semester the grade spread for the classes is pretty much the same. This holds for other professors too in the writing program, for the most part.
After I met with one of the directors for Folder Review and all the grades were in, I passed by D's office, who is one of the big directors for the program. She actually called me to chat because it turns out she was tutoring two of my baseball jocks. She didn't tell me before because she didn't want the knowledge to affect anything. I'm glad she didn't, not because I would have done anything differently but because it would just be stressful to know that one of the directors is seeing all my assignments and all my comments etc. I'm pretty confident in my work and grading fairness and in my comments. I've been doing this for 10 years; I mastered that grading criteria but still, knowing a boss is looking carefully is not relaxing. She was really happy to hear that the boys passed (with a C+ and a C) and we talked about them for a bit. She said they enjoyed my class. I know Mike, one of the jocks, would be so happy with his passing C. So it's all great.
The best part is when students come to pick up their folders and get the final grade. Not all come but many do and the relief on the faces of many that they passed is fantastic. And some are ecstatic to get a C+ or a B. One girl, who was so serious all semester, just lit up with a big smile when she heard she got B+. My A student was thrilled. Most were relieved they passed the final, which is not difficult but you have to pass it to pass the class. One girl gave me chocolates as a thank you. (which I'm allowed to take since the semester is over and the grades are in)
It's so gratifying to see how far they've come during the semester. There is a big progress. Most got Cs or failing grades on the first paper. I wish I could keep teaching it but they rarely hire full time positions; part-time is cheaper for them.
One of my former students stopped by who needs a recommendation for Medical school. It was nice to chat wit him.
Well, I still have to turn in the electronic gradebook, which I usually do waiting for students to pick up their folders, but the computer in the office wasn't working. But I can do it tomorrow. The main thing is the grades are officially in, the folders are out of my hands and it's done.
It's a bit anticlimactic as usual but it's nice not to grade anymore. This year the end of the semester was unusually not that stressful. I was done with final exams on Saturday, with Paper 5 on Sunday and had 3 late Paper 4 to do this morning on the train. But there was not the usual last minute rush to finish everything. Maybe it's because I'm only working part-time this semester and don't have two history classes to finish too or maybe I just got more organized, whatever it is, it was nice not to be frantic.
I started with 44 students in 2 classes. 4 withdrew for personal reasons. Everyone else passed, including all my jocks. I had 5 As, which is pretty typical, 3 Cs (the lowest passing grade) and the normal variation in between. It's really amazing that every semester the grade spread for the classes is pretty much the same. This holds for other professors too in the writing program, for the most part.
After I met with one of the directors for Folder Review and all the grades were in, I passed by D's office, who is one of the big directors for the program. She actually called me to chat because it turns out she was tutoring two of my baseball jocks. She didn't tell me before because she didn't want the knowledge to affect anything. I'm glad she didn't, not because I would have done anything differently but because it would just be stressful to know that one of the directors is seeing all my assignments and all my comments etc. I'm pretty confident in my work and grading fairness and in my comments. I've been doing this for 10 years; I mastered that grading criteria but still, knowing a boss is looking carefully is not relaxing. She was really happy to hear that the boys passed (with a C+ and a C) and we talked about them for a bit. She said they enjoyed my class. I know Mike, one of the jocks, would be so happy with his passing C. So it's all great.
The best part is when students come to pick up their folders and get the final grade. Not all come but many do and the relief on the faces of many that they passed is fantastic. And some are ecstatic to get a C+ or a B. One girl, who was so serious all semester, just lit up with a big smile when she heard she got B+. My A student was thrilled. Most were relieved they passed the final, which is not difficult but you have to pass it to pass the class. One girl gave me chocolates as a thank you. (which I'm allowed to take since the semester is over and the grades are in)
It's so gratifying to see how far they've come during the semester. There is a big progress. Most got Cs or failing grades on the first paper. I wish I could keep teaching it but they rarely hire full time positions; part-time is cheaper for them.
One of my former students stopped by who needs a recommendation for Medical school. It was nice to chat wit him.