Middle School parents: does your kid’s school work get read and graded?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many students? No more than when I was in school.

There are many more required meetings now than when you were in school. It’s completely different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What has changed? Teachers used to have a few meetings every once in a while. Now I have IEP, 504, SST, IDP and retention meetings during my planning. We also have data meetings and meetings to prepay for other meetings. I also have to spend my planning times to enter all of the data into an antiquated data tracking system as well as send home progress reports every two weeks for my students who are below grade level (80% of our students fit this category). I also spend my planning time attending meetings with parents who make excuses for their child’s bad behavior insisting that little Larla doesn’t like to _____ (go to school, do her homework, go to bed, do schoolwork, etc). I also have my own IDP meeting, my pre and post observation conferences as well as write my SLO (6+ hours) and find artifacts that show I am meeting all of my professional responsibilities. Yeah, so grading comes now after my kids are in bed. I’ll log onto our online grading portal and it will either freeze or not save and hours of work will be wasted. I’m pretty sure my teachers didn’t have to do any of this BS.

My mother was a middle school teacher, and she kept a grade book by hand and spent hours grading at home. Everything my kid brings in is graded for completion. Teachers spend no time looking at homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What has changed? Teachers used to have a few meetings every once in a while. Now I have IEP, 504, SST, IDP and retention meetings during my planning. We also have data meetings and meetings to prepay for other meetings. I also have to spend my planning times to enter all of the data into an antiquated data tracking system as well as send home progress reports every two weeks for my students who are below grade level (80% of our students fit this category). I also spend my planning time attending meetings with parents who make excuses for their child’s bad behavior insisting that little Larla doesn’t like to _____ (go to school, do her homework, go to bed, do schoolwork, etc). I also have my own IDP meeting, my pre and post observation conferences as well as write my SLO (6+ hours) and find artifacts that show I am meeting all of my professional responsibilities. Yeah, so grading comes now after my kids are in bed. I’ll log onto our online grading portal and it will either freeze or not save and hours of work will be wasted. I’m pretty sure my teachers didn’t have to do any of this BS.

My mother was a middle school teacher, and she kept a grade book by hand and spent hours grading at home. Everything my kid brings in is graded for completion. Teachers spend no time looking at homework.

My sons were at private school for several years and their teachers spent a few hours every day grading at home. One teacher was an early bird and woke up at 4:30am to grade with her coffee, another did it in the evenings. Of course, they had zero IEPs, etc to deal with so it was much, much easier than what public school teachers have to manage (I am very sympathetic of them!!) But the pay is significantly less as well.

What I liked is that they read student work carefully. Everything was commented on or corrected. Grammar, spelling, comments like “wonderful sentence!” Or “good point!” And then at the end a several sentences with feedback.

All work, both HW and classwork, was graded and calculated toward their report cards. Report cards had meaning, and it gave parents a good snapshot as to what their child was struggling or succeeding with. It was quite honest!! Not for those who just want a pat on the back.

I did see students trying really hard. They did their best work, which is one thing I see missing at my son’s pubic school. Because their work isn’t looked at, they do it quickly and messily.

Public schools should pay teachers an extra hour to grade work, and only grade work. But alas, I don’t see that happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What has changed? Teachers used to have a few meetings every once in a while. Now I have IEP, 504, SST, IDP and retention meetings during my planning. We also have data meetings and meetings to prepay for other meetings. I also have to spend my planning times to enter all of the data into an antiquated data tracking system as well as send home progress reports every two weeks for my students who are below grade level (80% of our students fit this category). I also spend my planning time attending meetings with parents who make excuses for their child’s bad behavior insisting that little Larla doesn’t like to _____ (go to school, do her homework, go to bed, do schoolwork, etc). I also have my own IDP meeting, my pre and post observation conferences as well as write my SLO (6+ hours) and find artifacts that show I am meeting all of my professional responsibilities. Yeah, so grading comes now after my kids are in bed. I’ll log onto our online grading portal and it will either freeze or not save and hours of work will be wasted. I’m pretty sure my teachers didn’t have to do any of this BS.

My mother was a middle school teacher, and she kept a grade book by hand and spent hours grading at home. Everything my kid brings in is graded for completion. Teachers spend no time looking at homework.

My sons were at private school for several years and their teachers spent a few hours every day grading at home. One teacher was an early bird and woke up at 4:30am to grade with her coffee, another did it in the evenings. Of course, they had zero IEPs, etc to deal with so it was much, much easier than what public school teachers have to manage (I am very sympathetic of them!!) But the pay is significantly less as well.

What I liked is that they read student work carefully. Everything was commented on or corrected. Grammar, spelling, comments like “wonderful sentence!” Or “good point!” And then at the end a several sentences with feedback.

All work, both HW and classwork, was graded and calculated toward their report cards. Report cards had meaning, and it gave parents a good snapshot as to what their child was struggling or succeeding with. It was quite honest!! Not for those who just want a pat on the back.

I did see students trying really hard. They did their best work, which is one thing I see missing at my son’s pubic school. Because their work isn’t looked at, they do it quickly and messily.

Public schools should pay teachers an extra hour to grade work, and only grade work. But alas, I don’t see that happening.

Teachers shouldn't have to spend a few hours every day doing required work at home. Something is wrong with the system.

[Anonymous]

Let's suppose your kid's teacher has 120 students and each of them turn in an assignment each day. If the teacher takes just one minute to read it over and one minute to comment, grade, and record that assignment, that's 240 minutes, or 4 hours of grading. While it's theoretically possible to fit that into a day with planning periods, before-school hours, and after-school work, it's not the highest and best use of a teacher's time. Better to have the teacher planning engaging lessons, meeting with students who have fallen behind, communicating with parents, and grading fewer but more meaningful assignments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What has changed? Teachers used to have a few meetings every once in a while. Now I have IEP, 504, SST, IDP and retention meetings during my planning. We also have data meetings and meetings to prepay for other meetings. I also have to spend my planning times to enter all of the data into an antiquated data tracking system as well as send home progress reports every two weeks for my students who are below grade level (80% of our students fit this category). I also spend my planning time attending meetings with parents who make excuses for their child’s bad behavior insisting that little Larla doesn’t like to _____ (go to school, do her homework, go to bed, do schoolwork, etc). I also have my own IDP meeting, my pre and post observation conferences as well as write my SLO (6+ hours) and find artifacts that show I am meeting all of my professional responsibilities. Yeah, so grading comes now after my kids are in bed. I’ll log onto our online grading portal and it will either freeze or not save and hours of work will be wasted. I’m pretty sure my teachers didn’t have to do any of this BS.

My mother was a middle school teacher, and she kept a grade book by hand and spent hours grading at home. Everything my kid brings in is graded for completion. Teachers spend no time looking at homework.

My sons were at private school for several years and their teachers spent a few hours every day grading at home. One teacher was an early bird and woke up at 4:30am to grade with her coffee, another did it in the evenings. Of course, they had zero IEPs, etc to deal with so it was much, much easier than what public school teachers have to manage (I am very sympathetic of them!!) But the pay is significantly less as well.

What I liked is that they read student work carefully. Everything was commented on or corrected. Grammar, spelling, comments like “wonderful sentence!” Or “good point!” And then at the end a several sentences with feedback.

All work, both HW and classwork, was graded and calculated toward their report cards. Report cards had meaning, and it gave parents a good snapshot as to what their child was struggling or succeeding with. It was quite honest!! Not for those who just want a pat on the back.

I did see students trying really hard. They did their best work, which is one thing I see missing at my son’s pubic school. Because their work isn’t looked at, they do it quickly and messily.

Public schools should pay teachers an extra hour to grade work, and only grade work. But alas, I don’t see that happening.

Teachers shouldn't have to spend a few hours every day doing required work at home. Something is wrong with the system.

Most teachers expect to spend time outside of school grading papers, reading essays, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What has changed? Teachers used to have a few meetings every once in a while. Now I have IEP, 504, SST, IDP and retention meetings during my planning. We also have data meetings and meetings to prepay for other meetings. I also have to spend my planning times to enter all of the data into an antiquated data tracking system as well as send home progress reports every two weeks for my students who are below grade level (80% of our students fit this category). I also spend my planning time attending meetings with parents who make excuses for their child’s bad behavior insisting that little Larla doesn’t like to _____ (go to school, do her homework, go to bed, do schoolwork, etc). I also have my own IDP meeting, my pre and post observation conferences as well as write my SLO (6+ hours) and find artifacts that show I am meeting all of my professional responsibilities. Yeah, so grading comes now after my kids are in bed. I’ll log onto our online grading portal and it will either freeze or not save and hours of work will be wasted. I’m pretty sure my teachers didn’t have to do any of this BS.

My mother was a middle school teacher, and she kept a grade book by hand and spent hours grading at home. Everything my kid brings in is graded for completion. Teachers spend no time looking at homework.

My sons were at private school for several years and their teachers spent a few hours every day grading at home. One teacher was an early bird and woke up at 4:30am to grade with her coffee, another did it in the evenings. Of course, they had zero IEPs, etc to deal with so it was much, much easier than what public school teachers have to manage (I am very sympathetic of them!!) But the pay is significantly less as well.

What I liked is that they read student work carefully. Everything was commented on or corrected. Grammar, spelling, comments like “wonderful sentence!” Or “good point!” And then at the end a several sentences with feedback.

All work, both HW and classwork, was graded and calculated toward their report cards. Report cards had meaning, and it gave parents a good snapshot as to what their child was struggling or succeeding with. It was quite honest!! Not for those who just want a pat on the back.

I did see students trying really hard. They did their best work, which is one thing I see missing at my son’s pubic school. Because their work isn’t looked at, they do it quickly and messily.

Public schools should pay teachers an extra hour to grade work, and only grade work. But alas, I don’t see that happening.

We are also at a private and this has been our experience too. Everything gets reviewed and commented upon. Math homework is reviewed every day for correctness, ALL writing in language arts, science, history is reviewed and corrected/commented upon. I know OP is in public, so this isn't necessarily applicable to her question, but I thought its notable that it does still happen in certain places. I totally get why public school teachers don't have the time and systems to do this. I know they must be as frustrated by it as the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the goal of the assignment. Teachers often want to give wiggle room for formative assignments when students are new to concepts. The idea is to learn something through the assignment, not to be perfect out of the gate. Also, with 120-150 students and class work and homework every day, teachers have to be picky about what they grade or they’d be under a mountain of paperwork.

+1. I'm a teacher and there is zero time during the school day to grade. If an assignment is just a building block I glance over it, pick out one or two parts I know I'll check on every one and give basically everyone a couple completion points. Teachers have to pick where they use their time and energy.

I appreciate your honesty and I was guessing this was the problem. I wish middle school teachers cared more, but I know they’re busy. Kids in MS are still young and still need teachers to “know” them and to care about the work they’re producing. What would give you more time in the day to read/comment/mark papers? An “off” period where you can grade? A longer work day? Grading school work at home? I just don’t know what’s changed from 20-30 years ago to now.

AGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Because I didn't write a comment on your kid's paper, now I don't care?

Some days I just want to give up. And it's not because of the kids.

[Anonymous]

I’m pretty sure my DC’s work is reviewed based on the comments on the paper. He attends public school.

[Anonymous]

Public schools shy away from grading homework because homework is merely a reflection of the child's home environment. It is only a small percentage of the grade for a reason. If you don't have parents who make you do it and you are too young to do it yourself... And after years of nobody making you do it, chances are you aren't in the habit of doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What has changed? Teachers used to have a few meetings every once in a while. Now I have IEP, 504, SST, IDP and retention meetings during my planning. We also have data meetings and meetings to prepay for other meetings. I also have to spend my planning times to enter all of the data into an antiquated data tracking system as well as send home progress reports every two weeks for my students who are below grade level (80% of our students fit this category). I also spend my planning time attending meetings with parents who make excuses for their child’s bad behavior insisting that little Larla doesn’t like to _____ (go to school, do her homework, go to bed, do schoolwork, etc). I also have my own IDP meeting, my pre and post observation conferences as well as write my SLO (6+ hours) and find artifacts that show I am meeting all of my professional responsibilities. Yeah, so grading comes now after my kids are in bed. I’ll log onto our online grading portal and it will either freeze or not save and hours of work will be wasted. I’m pretty sure my teachers didn’t have to do any of this BS.

My mother was a middle school teacher, and she kept a grade book by hand and spent hours grading at home. Everything my kid brings in is graded for completion. Teachers spend no time looking at homework.

My sons were at private school for several years and their teachers spent a few hours every day grading at home. One teacher was an early bird and woke up at 4:30am to grade with her coffee, another did it in the evenings. Of course, they had zero IEPs, etc to deal with so it was much, much easier than what public school teachers have to manage (I am very sympathetic of them!!) But the pay is significantly less as well.

What I liked is that they read student work carefully. Everything was commented on or corrected. Grammar, spelling, comments like “wonderful sentence!” Or “good point!” And then at the end a several sentences with feedback.

All work, both HW and classwork, was graded and calculated toward their report cards. Report cards had meaning, and it gave parents a good snapshot as to what their child was struggling or succeeding with. It was quite honest!! Not for those who just want a pat on the back.

I did see students trying really hard. They did their best work, which is one thing I see missing at my son’s pubic school. Because their work isn’t looked at, they do it quickly and messily.

Public schools should pay teachers an extra hour to grade work, and only grade work. But alas, I don’t see that happening.

Teachers shouldn't have to spend a few hours every day doing required work at home. Something is wrong with the system.

Most teachers expect to spend time outside of school grading papers, reading essays, etc.

Because they have no choice but to expect it. Because the system is set up so they have to. It shouldn't be. It's not fair to just expect teachers to spend hours of their own time after school and on the weekend just to meet the basic requirements of their job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What has changed? Teachers used to have a few meetings every once in a while. Now I have IEP, 504, SST, IDP and retention meetings during my planning. We also have data meetings and meetings to prepay for other meetings. I also have to spend my planning times to enter all of the data into an antiquated data tracking system as well as send home progress reports every two weeks for my students who are below grade level (80% of our students fit this category). I also spend my planning time attending meetings with parents who make excuses for their child’s bad behavior insisting that little Larla doesn’t like to _____ (go to school, do her homework, go to bed, do schoolwork, etc). I also have my own IDP meeting, my pre and post observation conferences as well as write my SLO (6+ hours) and find artifacts that show I am meeting all of my professional responsibilities. Yeah, so grading comes now after my kids are in bed. I’ll log onto our online grading portal and it will either freeze or not save and hours of work will be wasted. I’m pretty sure my teachers didn’t have to do any of this BS.

Which school system is this?

[Anonymous]

I taught at a private school at the elementary level. I did not have the meetings that public school teachers had, but here's how my days typically broke down:

Teaching duties: 3-4 hrs/day
Non-teaching student supervision (homeroom, recess duty, carpool): 1 hr/day
Meetings (faculty, department, or parent): 1 hr/day
Parent communication (website updates, responding to emails, discipline issues, academic issues, coordinating volunteers) 30-60 min./day
Materials organization (filing papers, photocopying, cleaning classroom, preparing lesson materials for math or science): 30 min./day
Lesson planning: 1-2 hrs/day

Even if lesson planning and parent communication were on the low side, I was already at an 8 hr. day before I started grading. If I collected class work and homework, I had the potential to collect 108 assignments per day from my students. Just quickly assigning a score to each of those assignments and putting it in the grade book would have been nearly 2 hours/day.

We teachers learn to look for what's important. It's not that we're throwing the work in a bin and ignoring it entirely. It's just that we can't take five minutes with each paper every time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What has changed? Teachers used to have a few meetings every once in a while. Now I have IEP, 504, SST, IDP and retention meetings during my planning. We also have data meetings and meetings to prepay for other meetings. I also have to spend my planning times to enter all of the data into an antiquated data tracking system as well as send home progress reports every two weeks for my students who are below grade level (80% of our students fit this category). I also spend my planning time attending meetings with parents who make excuses for their child’s bad behavior insisting that little Larla doesn’t like to _____ (go to school, do her homework, go to bed, do schoolwork, etc). I also have my own IDP meeting, my pre and post observation conferences as well as write my SLO (6+ hours) and find artifacts that show I am meeting all of my professional responsibilities. Yeah, so grading comes now after my kids are in bed. I’ll log onto our online grading portal and it will either freeze or not save and hours of work will be wasted. I’m pretty sure my teachers didn’t have to do any of this BS.

Ditto to that!

[Anonymous]

At our 6-12 private, middle school homework is read, corrected, and graded. It is typically a smaller percentage of the class grade than tests or projects. In junior and senior year, math homework is not graded for accuracy - it is a completion grade. That is because the students are expected to do and correct their homework as practice. The typical student seems fairly internally motivated by the time they get to junior year. Other subjects are read and graded by the teacher and handed back to the student with meaningful feedback. My daughter's AP bio teacher reviewed lab reports with her and my daughter used her feedback to improve her overall product.