HS Teachers Aren’t Keeping up on Grading

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has your child talked to the teacher in person before or after class?


I didn't think so. Come back after your child learns to talk to adults.

How about the adults in the building act like they care. Come back after that starts happening.

I used to care more than anyone. Then parents, politicians, central office and building admins and people who don’t even have a tie to schools but hate teachers/public Ed all started screaming at me. Then kids couldn’t be arsed to even take their earbuds out in class or call me something besides “bro” when I speak to them. Then I had more and more side tasks added to my plate while my class sizes increased, so it took longer and longer to do what used to be the basics of the job. And when I prove myself unable to do everything fast enough for everyone’s approval, the same groups started yelling louder.

So yeah, I don’t care as much as I did but I retire at the end of this year. Next year, your kid will get someone who never cared and never will and just sticks them on their Chromebook all period. Good luck.

Parent here my kids already have these kind of teachers....

Overworked, overstimulated, and unappreciated? The type who give of their own time only to be told how they can do more? And how they should sacrifice more?

Yes, your children definitely have these teachers.

And they are thinking of quitting. The ones who aren’t thinking of quitting are the ones who put in their 40 and go home. You know, the ones who don’t grade.

Maybe they should....honestly. Teacher, students and parents are frustrated with the schools at this time. No one does anything no one stands up to the BS of gatehouse. I'd rather teachers quietly quit with all the pointless data and constant meetings and give the time to teaching. At this point though everyone is angry and the kids are the ones losing out in this scenario and we are bleeding out the good teachers. Parents and teachers are pitted against each other for what....Reid and gatehouse aren't losing any sleep and they are the problems.

I’m one of the good teachers. I’m not quietly quitting. I’m just going to quit.

I can’t do this job anymore. It isn’t sustainable and I refuse to simply do the minimum to survive.

And yes, parents are pitted against me. I take the insults and the disrespect. But I’ve been nothing but kind and supportive back because I know it comes from a place of frustration. But ultimately, I’m done being a punching bag, taking hits that really should be directed at the system itself.

So another one falls.

+1, I was a teacher for 20 years and quit in 2022. Some years were better than others, but I quit because time with my family was more important than the staying afloat by grading and planning on the weekends.

Overall, I loved teaching, but I don’t miss it.

I get this. I love teaching but the teaching part seems to not be the focus-I feel like I'm failing kids with the way this county is run. I'm tired. I'm also a parent and see the system failing my own kids.

I felt the same ways as the PP’s. This is why I quit as well. I didn’t make it 20 years though. I made it for 5 and realized I didn’t want to live that way for the rest of my working life.

I miss it sometimes. But I recently had a teacher at one of my kid’s activities. She spent every week grading papers and never just enjoying watching her own kids, or even catching up on a good book. I see things like that and remember why I made that decision. The salary doesn’t justify the extra hours like law or medicine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has your child talked to the teacher in person before or after class?


I didn't think so. Come back after your child learns to talk to adults.

How about the adults in the building act like they care. Come back after that starts happening.

I used to care more than anyone. Then parents, politicians, central office and building admins and people who don’t even have a tie to schools but hate teachers/public Ed all started screaming at me. Then kids couldn’t be arsed to even take their earbuds out in class or call me something besides “bro” when I speak to them. Then I had more and more side tasks added to my plate while my class sizes increased, so it took longer and longer to do what used to be the basics of the job. And when I prove myself unable to do everything fast enough for everyone’s approval, the same groups started yelling louder.

So yeah, I don’t care as much as I did but I retire at the end of this year. Next year, your kid will get someone who never cared and never will and just sticks them on their Chromebook all period. Good luck.

Parent here my kids already have these kind of teachers....

Overworked, overstimulated, and unappreciated? The type who give of their own time only to be told how they can do more? And how they should sacrifice more?

Yes, your children definitely have these teachers.

And they are thinking of quitting. The ones who aren’t thinking of quitting are the ones who put in their 40 and go home. You know, the ones who don’t grade.

Maybe they should....honestly. Teacher, students and parents are frustrated with the schools at this time. No one does anything no one stands up to the BS of gatehouse. I'd rather teachers quietly quit with all the pointless data and constant meetings and give the time to teaching. At this point though everyone is angry and the kids are the ones losing out in this scenario and we are bleeding out the good teachers. Parents and teachers are pitted against each other for what....Reid and gatehouse aren't losing any sleep and they are the problems.

I’m one of the good teachers. I’m not quietly quitting. I’m just going to quit.

I can’t do this job anymore. It isn’t sustainable and I refuse to simply do the minimum to survive.

And yes, parents are pitted against me. I take the insults and the disrespect. But I’ve been nothing but kind and supportive back because I know it comes from a place of frustration. But ultimately, I’m done being a punching bag, taking hits that really should be directed at the system itself.

So another one falls.

+1, I was a teacher for 20 years and quit in 2022. Some years were better than others, but I quit because time with my family was more important than the staying afloat by grading and planning on the weekends.

Overall, I loved teaching, but I don’t miss it.

I get this. I love teaching but the teaching part seems to not be the focus-I feel like I'm failing kids with the way this county is run. I'm tired. I'm also a parent and see the system failing my own kids.

I felt the same ways as the PP’s. This is why I quit as well. I didn’t make it 20 years though. I made it for 5 and realized I didn’t want to live that way for the rest of my working life.

I miss it sometimes. But I recently had a teacher at one of my kid’s activities. She spent every week grading papers and never just enjoying watching her own kids, or even catching up on a good book. I see things like that and remember why I made that decision. The salary doesn’t justify the extra hours like law or medicine.

this

[Anonymous]

They also closed Q2 gradebook, so you can't even see what they are putting. It's ridiculous and there should be accountability.

[Anonymous]

Yup grade book was closed earlier today when students were finally back to submit assignments that were on paper (NO, not submitting late) and still no grades for my student since 12/17 in honors math.

[Anonymous]

My student still have TWO assignments due on Thurs and his teacher said they will count for Q2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yup grade book was closed earlier today when students were finally back to submit assignments that were on paper (NO, not submitting late) and still no grades for my student since 12/17 in honors math.

this sums up Westfields grading approach.....my favorite are the teachers who give paper assignments lose them and then blame the fact that they have a lot of students or they just say they didn't get it. This has happened to both of my sons with different teachers this quarter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My student still have TWO assignments due on Thurs and his teacher said they will count for Q2

yup my kids are getting different answers today.

[Anonymous]

Does Fairfax have a rolling gradebook?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Fairfax have a rolling gradebook?

It depends on the school. Which is stupid. There needs to be a uniform policy across the county especially for MS and HS.

[Anonymous]

Yup. My DC’s teacher hasn’t returned an essay from a test that was taken before Thanksgiving. The return date kept getting pushed back. This teacher had a gift of a week off and it’s still not returned. The teacher announced today that it will be given back later this week and that it would be lowering their grade. The average was apparently a 77%. How nice. Unreal.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if parents realize this, but teachers lost a planning period this year. We now are required to spend one planning period doing random tasks for the school (like hall or lunch monitoring) and are losing hours a week of time that would’ve been dedicated to grading. It wasn’t always like this, but this, combined with the retake policy, is probably why teachers are particularly swamped this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know if parents realize this, but teachers lost a planning period this year. We now are required to spend one planning period doing random tasks for the school (like hall or lunch monitoring) and are losing hours a week of time that would’ve been dedicated to grading. It wasn’t always like this, but this, combined with the retake policy, is probably why teachers are particularly swamped this year.

Sorry not buying this. One of my DC’s teacher has managed to return 2 essays in the 3 month time period since the test was taken whereas this one teacher can’t even manage to get back one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know if parents realize this, but teachers lost a planning period this year. We now are required to spend one planning period doing random tasks for the school (like hall or lunch monitoring) and are losing hours a week of time that would’ve been dedicated to grading. It wasn’t always like this, but this, combined with the retake policy, is probably why teachers are particularly swamped this year.

I feel like this county is failing students and teachers. There is a lack of care from teachers and anger/frustration that is being directed at students. It's the message I don't need to grade or reteach because I have too many kids and not enough time. I wish parents and teachers would come together for the kids. FCPS is becoming a horrible school system. And no I don't know what the answer is but teachers fighting parents and parents fighting teachers is not the answer. The kids keep losing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know if parents realize this, but teachers lost a planning period this year. We now are required to spend one planning period doing random tasks for the school (like hall or lunch monitoring) and are losing hours a week of time that would’ve been dedicated to grading. It wasn’t always like this, but this, combined with the retake policy, is probably why teachers are particularly swamped this year.

I feel like this county is failing students and teachers. There is a lack of care from teachers and anger/frustration that is being directed at students. It's the message I don't need to grade or reteach because I have too many kids and not enough time. I wish parents and teachers would come together for the kids. FCPS is becoming a horrible school system. And no I don't know what the answer is but teachers fighting parents and parents fighting teachers is not the answer. The kids keep losing.

I’m not angry or frustrated at my students? I’m frustrated with admin for taking away 3 hours of planning time during our contract hours and forcing us to find time outside of school. Different teachers have different bandwidths for how much we can take home. And remember, we don’t get paid a penny of overtime.

I don’t blame the kids or even the parents at all, they didn’t do anything! This is all leadership’s fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know if parents realize this, but teachers lost a planning period this year. We now are required to spend one planning period doing random tasks for the school (like hall or lunch monitoring) and are losing hours a week of time that would’ve been dedicated to grading. It wasn’t always like this, but this, combined with the retake policy, is probably why teachers are particularly swamped this year.

Sorry not buying this. One of my DC’s teacher has managed to return 2 essays in the 3 month time period since the test was taken whereas this one teacher can’t even manage to get back one.

I’m the person you’re responding to, I am pretty good at grading (especially summatives) largely because I’m a single childless person who can afford to grade in my free time during evenings/weekends. My colleagues who struggle the most with grading often have young kids or second jobs (that they need) etc. that force them to try and get most of their work done during school hours. It’s just not physically possible to grade 150 essays in 3-5 hours of planning a week, which is down from half of what we used to have.

Also, I do know some colleagues who grade with AI :/ just saying. Faster grades ≠ better feedback.