Grading

[Anonymous]

Uggh. Some parent emails are a bit over the top.

Examples:
-Request from one parent to have me email another parent of the same child. Like, why am I in the middle?
-Parents asking me to check if assignments were turned in. It’s all online. Just have the kid show you if it was turned in on MYMCPS. Sometimes I think it just pressure to get me to grade it faster, because that’s what they really want. Sorry, late work gets graded last.
-Last minute recommendation requests or help getting transcripts, and essay feedback for programs and scholarships. Give me at least two weeks notice. Don’t make demands to last day everything is due and act like it is my fault. Your kid procrastinated and don’t make the deadline.

[Anonymous]

The contract is for 40 hrs work weeks. I dont see the need to fudge our numbers down to 40 hrs. Why can't we just report the correct data on our time sheets. It's almost like they do t want evidence of our own exploitation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uggh. Some parent emails are a bit over the top.

Examples:
-Request from one parent to have me email another parent of the same child. Like, why am I in the middle?
-Parents asking me to check if assignments were turned in. It’s all online. Just have the kid show you if it was turned in on MYMCPS. Sometimes I think it just pressure to get me to grade it faster, because that’s what they really want. Sorry, late work gets graded last.
-Last minute recommendation requests or help getting transcripts, and essay feedback for programs and scholarships. Give me at least two weeks notice. Don’t make demands to last day everything is due and act like it is my fault. Your kid procrastinated and don’t make the deadline.

I agree with all of this.

I have a boilerplate response to asking me if work has been submitted. It tells and shows where to look and how —by having your child show you their Canvas. I do not deviate from this response. Email me six times, I will respond the same way six times. Easy for me as I keep a copy ready to go in drafts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The contract is for 40 hrs work weeks. I dont see the need to fudge our numbers down to 40 hrs. Why can't we just report the correct data on our time sheets. It's almost like they do t want evidence of our own exploitation.

Exactly. If I worked 60 a week, that is the truth. You don’t have to pay me for 60, but don’t require me to lie on a legal document.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In high school, it should be up to the student to address issues with teachers. Parents should be secondary.

YES!!!!

I agree. Last year I regularly had to spend time replying to a parent/student duo. I would receive an email from each of them on the same day about the same subject, so I had to respond to both each time. I was so aggravated each time it happened.

I respond to the student and CC the parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uggh. Some parent emails are a bit over the top.

Examples:
-Request from one parent to have me email another parent of the same child. Like, why am I in the middle?
-Parents asking me to check if assignments were turned in. It’s all online. Just have the kid show you if it was turned in on MYMCPS. Sometimes I think it just pressure to get me to grade it faster, because that’s what they really want. Sorry, late work gets graded last.
-Last minute recommendation requests or help getting transcripts, and essay feedback for programs and scholarships. Give me at least two weeks notice. Don’t make demands to last day everything is due and act like it is my fault. Your kid procrastinated and don’t make the deadline.

Your last point is why I dread the end of October. I get tons of last-minute demands from students and parents: proofread these supplemental essays, write a last-minute recommendation letter, brainstorm the common app essay, and on and on.

I now say NO to all of these demands. I will no longer be chained to my laptop the last week of October doing last-minute work for college-bound seniors who procrastinated on their common apps. I made this decision last year after a student was livid I went trick or treating with my child on 10/31, so I didn’t see the common app essay he wanted proofread for submission on 11/1. I got a lot of grief for that.

So I have already told my students I’m now off limits. If you wanted my help, it had to be done earlier.