I spent a lot of time last weekend grading. Okay, not as much as I might have liked, but a lot nonetheless.
- I have read through, added comments, and graded the Mind Maps of the Advanced writing class, but not yet recorded the grades in my records.
- I have read through, added comments to, and sorted (but not assigned letter-grades) the Daytime Elementary Writing course’s Mind Maps.
- I have read through, added comments to, and sorted (but not assigned letter-grades)
almostall of the Magazine Demographic/Advertising Analyses in my Media class. - I have uploaded to a gallery, but not yet marked or added comments (or received all hard copies or write-ups for) the PSA Creation assignments in my Media class. I won’t even start marking these until I have all the hard copies on hand.
- I have graded, but not yet typed up brief feedback/comments for, the first graded speech delivered in my Public Speaking class last Thursday.
Believe it or not, that’s the good news. The bad news is that I’m a tad behind on my lesson planning again. But I am getting more comfortable with this kind of workload and at least I’m having some fun planning for classes in new terrain. This is more than worth the loss of comfort in having only one or two preps per week.
To be honest, my toughest preps are for the Media class — just because it takes so much time to come up with materials, and to find a spin on them that’s worthy of a University class setting — and the Advanced Writing course, because I find the students are reluctant to dive in, and because I don’t have a textbook to lean on when I get a little sidetracked or unsure of where to go next.
Of the two, the Media class is going well, I think, but the Advanced Writing class needs to take a serious change in direction. I’ll be thinking about that tonight and tomorrow afternoon as I prepare for that evening class.
Writing classes are so time consuming both in prep and grading/homework. However I also found my writing classes to be the most rewarding.
How are you teaching a writing class without a textbook? Is that a university decision or yours? If you can I would recommend getting a copy of Evergreen and making copies of whatever you need for the days where you need support.
It was my decision — I simply didn’t know the level of the students, and because I arrived so late from from the funeral and my visa run to Japan, I decided to go ahead without a text. I’ve taught a TON of writing classes before — it’s my speciality — but it’s still hard going. I don’t know this Evergreen text, though. I’ll have to look into it.
For my lower-level class, I’m using book 2 of Weaving It Together, and it’s pretty good in my opinion.
And I agree, writing classes are much more demanding and time-consuming, but I too find them the most rewarding.