Grading Hacks #2 for Teachers, Manage & Grade Papers FASTER, High School Teacher Vlog

High school & middle school teachers! Don't get buried by the ever-growing stack of student papers. Instead, borrow these tips from an experienced high school English teacher who has reclaimed her life while still giving rich, meaningful feedback to her students. Episode 2 of this four-part Grading Hacks series focuses on six tips to speed things along.
5-Minute Essay Grading Ebook & Rubrics:
www.teacherspa...
Want to help other teachers find this information? SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, COMMENT, or SHARE this video! (Pretty please?)
Lots of tips, tricks, and free resources for teachers at:
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Music used with permission of Sing King:
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[@traeisha]

I'm loving these hacks! I feel like this is a sort of "writing teacher bootcamp." Thank you!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Ooh...writing teacher bootcamp. I like that! Now, drop and gimme 10 graded essays. :)

[@glendac7653]

I bought your essay grading system and it has been a lifesaver this year. THANKS!!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Glenda welles Woo-hoo, Glenda! So glad to hear this. :)

[@denea4418]

This is awesome! I bet it makes students put more effort into their writing, because they do not want to do corrections. I also like how this focuses on individual students’ needs.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Denea You’ve got it, Denea. Sloppy errors caused by lack of proofreading vanish pretty quickly when kids realize they just dive bombed the grammar section of their essay grade. The personalization of the essay correction rounds is great, too. Every kid has a slightly different issue with his writing, and those little codes allow me to give individualized feedback in a meaningful way. Really, really hope you give codes a try!

[@denea4418]

Yes ma'am I will! Quick question. When students make corrections do they receive credit?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Denea The essay corrections are entered in the grade book as a separate assignment. I give that work the same point value as a regular homework assignment. I have found that if I pour points back onto the original essay grade, then parents don’t have an accurate picture of their child’s performance and growth. The separate line item has been my saving grace several times. Hope this helps!

[@denea4418]

Thank you for sharing your great ideas! This item is already in my cart :-)

[@Cbug7997]

I am SO glad I found your channel! Thank you for sharing this!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Casey S. Thanks, Casey, for your nice note. And I’m so glad you found me! :)

[@jacquelynkarney9001]

Love the idea of Freaky Friday! You are the BEST!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

I'm so glad, Jacquelyn! It really does help shave down some minutes. :)

[@jasminejoseph8307]

I know I would have loved you as my high school writing/English teacher! I love all of the wonderful ideas and enagement you have with your grading process. I hope to maybe implement some of this with even my 4th grade students next year.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Thanks so much for watching, Jasmine! (Sorry it's taken me so long to respond, but it's finally summer and I finally have time to catch up.) I would love to see how some of these techniques transfer to the younger grades. Feel free to reach out to me anytime via the "Contact Me" link at laurarandazzo.com. I love talkin' shop! :)

[@gigikean6003]

Buying this from her is 100000% worth it.

[@paigebrowning946]

Love it! I'm sitting here on a Saturday staring at my book bag and dreading the unloading of all my papers. Thank you!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Ha, Paige! Been there. Grade papers or watch KZbin? WATCH KZbin, of course! :)

[@Dr.D-hk9rh]

So interesting, that I bought the 5 minute essay grading system about 6 years ago when I was teaching English for a Private school, but I didn't even know this channel existed! I am excited to know you are the same person!! :D I will be teaching Sophomore English starting next year. (I normally teach business classes)

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Welcome to my KZbin party, Dr. D! I'm all over the place. 😅

[@tomjeinkins2026]

Hi Laura! I am a fan of your videos, and would happily use your decoder packet as reference to any teacher, including myself. This makes me even more excited to become a High School English teacher. Thank you so much for making the job of an educator much easier than needed!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Tom Jeinkins Thanks for your kind note, Tom! So glad the coding idea will be a fit for your future classes. :)

[@pambryson8941]

Amazing, Laura Randazzo! I wish you had been my HS English teacher!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

You are so kind, Pam! Glad you found me now. :)

[@ElizabethScottStress]

Omg I LOVE the "Game Show for 1" idea! And the "super-tender kids" designation. You're actually making this really fun; thank you!

[@ElizabethScottStress]

Oh, and it's SO TRUE (but I never realized it until you just pointed it out) that it's more "work" to grade papers when you know the kids so well and care about them so much. It really helps to realize this!

[@jttasb]

Gold. Solid gold.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Oh, stop it some more. :) Glad you're here.

[@darrendillman2075]

The coding system sounds really helpful. I've been in over my head in college essays for too many years. Thanks!

[@ashleyphilemon1700]

Incredible!!!!! Thank you!

[@danielladesio5110]

i'm only a college student but when i become a teacher i'm going to come back and buy your grading system book. only a year and half before i'm thrown in the deep end of my own classroom!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Enjoy the calm before the chaos, Daniella! :) Glad you're here with me.

[@sharierdmann8938]

You make my life so much easier! Thank you!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Music to my ears, Shari. Thanks for watching! :)

[@debbiegeshem687]

Really, really interesting approach to grading essays. The student recognizing and correcting seems like a great way to get that growth and ccss proficiency. THANK YOU for sharing.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Glad you enjoyed this, Debbie! I've found the bulk of writing improvement comes during those essay correction rounds. Hope it works for your classes, too. :)

[@jennifersmith6912]

Super helpful! I loved all the hacks, especially putting student ID numbers on the paper! It has always been super hard for me not to want to cut a struggler some slack on grading and not be totally fair. I've purchased this ebook. Can't wait for next week's hacks!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Oh yeah, Jennifer, I catch myself tilting, too. I mean, we're human. Thanks for supporting my shop! I'll get busy filming #3 today. :)

[@jeniboulanger4486]

You've saved me! Love these ideas and this will help me in ways beyond what I can express. Thanks so much.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Hooray, Jeni! So glad you found some useful ideas here. :)

[@martalafuente5934]

Hi Laura, I´m a big fan of your channel, your work, your teaching style...THANK-YOU! In this case, I don´t think I can use these precise materials for grading writings as I teach English as a Foreign Language here in Spain (middle and high school)... but your grading method with the codes has surely been very inspiring... I´ll make my own!!! Thank-you!!!

[@DogandaTopHat]

Clever! I'm going from teaching high school to elementary. I think I will do a version of this code grading with them! I'll have to create something that's kid friendly!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Absolutely, Emily. The basic idea can work with all grade levels and all subject areas. You'll just want to simply the codes and probably use fewer of them, especially as you get started. Glad you found something useful here! :)

[@pattyyanez6354]

You are great!

[@rebeccapalmer9531]

This is worth every penny!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Thanks, Rebecca! :)

[@JCResDoc94]

☼ more gr8 advice ^^. codes are there for the pees who are reading, b4 recycling, them. "see me" also rad. & nice work writing the e-bk. Legend. & i love the nameless. i like some of them too on occasion. this way im nice to every1.

[@costaricaalnatural1986]

I love this one thanks. Give a lot to think of

[@rachskii1]

I had a Professor in community college and university that did your first hack! I totally want to use this!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Great minds hack alike! :)

[@swarthysavant]

I lovvvvve the code sheet!!!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

So glad to hear this! :)

[@m5roberts]

This is fantastic. Thank you.

[@janetborzelleri5669]

Great tips! And hello to the cable guy. What a nice addition to your video! When you have students write three essays- one after the other- they sound like argumentative essays. Do you have them read anything on the subject before having them write? Like the pros and cons of helicopter parenting? Thanks again!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Great question, Janet! When I made this video, I was using the old EAP exams that did not require any background research other than the short quote within the prompt. Students were asked solely to use their own knowledge from academic studies, current events, and/or personal experience as examples to support their position. In the past few years, I've followed the SAT model, which gives students a short argument essay and then they have to identify the rhetorical tools the author is using and discuss the effectiveness of those tools. An example of that type of prompt is here: collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sample-questions/essay/1 This summer, the SAT creators stopped offering the essay as part of the exam, so now the field's wide open. You can use any prompts that you like, but the one-hour writing session works best if the research piece isn't cumbersome. Also, you could give students one class period to read an article, research it more if needed, and discuss. Then, you could assign them an in-class writing task on the following day. I have some products here that would help with that: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:real%20world%20rhetoric%20randazzo

[@janetborzelleri5669]

@@laurarandazzo1158 Thanks for your response. My district has common assessments that we give twice a semester- argumentative. Most of the time is spent researching the topic. You've got my brain marbles rolling around with ideas. Thanks again!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

@@janetborzelleri5669 I'm glad! Do you have access to old versions of those common assessments that are no longer being used? Maybe there's some practice material there that'd be helpful?

[@sarasalgado8574]

Uau! Amazing!!!!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Thanks so much! ❤️

[@idunnn.h.3792]

Something I’ve done to help me out with merking language issues and grammar is to just run their papers through grammarly (luckily all assignments and essays are handed in digitally). Then they will have to look through their own essay and evaluate. They will find my (grammarly’s) correction and then identify what the issue is and explain it. It has saved me so much time! I also have students do a self-assessment (students are 17-18 years old, so they are able to do this quite well), and grade themselves. I just have to quickly read through their text and agree or disagree with their own assessment. (Should probably note that these are ESL learners, but their level is still quite high)

[@laurarandazzo1158]

That's a great way to use tech as a writing process step. Wish everyone would fold this into their practice. 👍

[@678994A]

I really like this. Great resource!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Thanks so much! :)

[@sarrouska]

Thanks for all these valuable hacks !

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Thank YOU for watching! :)

[@mskpharris]

This is so great! Thanks!!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Thanks, Karen! Glad you found me. :)

[@mskpharris]

Laura Randazzo- Me too! I've been teaching for along time and never got it down this well. Thanks for thinking smarter rather than harder. I can tell it's going to be a better year already. 💃😀

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Karen Harris Music to my ears! :)

[@siania001]

These are fantastic tips! May I ask what resource/tool you are using for the "zoom in and out" section of your video? It would help me during remote teaching. :) Thank you for your help!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Thanks, Dandee! That part was built using Prezi.com and then I run the slideshow on my laptop while recording the screen and my voice narration at the same time. Hope this is helpful as we all figure out our new e-learning world! :)

[@rheaforney8268]

Laura, I LOVE your materials! I teach seventh grade English. I have been teaching for 14 years, and I am exhausted grading essays. I cannot wait to try your essay codes. I also love the idea of counting the grammar and content 50/50. I do have two questions. Do you add the the content and grammar grades to equal one 100 point assignment? Do you count the essay corrections as a grade? Thanks for all of your wonderful materials.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Hey, Rhea, thanks for your kind words! Your question is a great one and the same one my students always ask on our first round of essays, too. I actually enter essay grades as two separate grades in the grade book - one for grammar and one for content. That way, parents can see exactly what's happening and I have a way to track growth over the year. I tell my kids that they can average the two scores together in their minds if it makes them feel better, but the scores will be two separate line items in my records. The essay corrections are entered as a separate 10 pt. writing or homework assignment. Hope you give this system a go. It really has saved my career!

[@rheaforney8268]

Thanks!!

[@vjurado89]

I love 5!!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Me, too! ;)

[@janicekinney1576]

I've done the gameshow hack for a while now. Not weird!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Great gameshow hosts think alike. ;)

[@SaraHinata]

Hello Laura, I love your videos! I'm an ESL teacher and I would love to create a rubric for my students' writings. I didn't know what that was until I saw your video. In my country we don't use such detailed assessments, but I noticed that when I correct my students' writings, they keep making the same errors over and over. I strongly believe that self correction is were the long lasting learning happens, because the student REMEMBERS what was the error and how to correct it. The rubric I have in mind obviously is going to be simpler than the one you have, since my students have between pre-K and middle school English levels. They won't be writing stories or any of the sort (although advanced students have to write mini essays about certain topics for their exams). I have the 4 mayor areas my institution wants us to correct, but I don't know how to organize it the way you do. I would love some advice from you! Greetings from Dominican Republic!!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Hi Hyuga! So glad you found my channel. Yes, a rubric will make your life much easier AND help students better understand your comments about their writing. I suggest you start small. You can still use the coding idea, and just make, say, three codes for your next writing assignment. Once the class has mastered those three areas, then you can add another code to the rubric/corrections sheet. By the end of the year, maybe they've worked up to 10 coded items that you score on their papers. Keeping the form simple and straight-forward will be helpful to you as you become familiar with the new system and it will be attainable for your students as the goals will be very clear. Again, so glad you're going to give a rubric/coding system a try. :) Laura

[@SaraHinata]

Laura Randazzo Thanks Laura, the thing is I don't work in a school. I work in an institute. We work 3-4 units per trimester. Once the trimester is finished, they work the next units with a different teacher. Also, the classes are once or twice a week, not everyday. Their learning window is very small and I don't have free time in my schedule to grade. Grading is off clock.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

@@SaraHinata That definitely sounds like an extra-challenging environment, Hyuga. With the time limitations that you're facing, I can't imagine you'll be able to move much beyond 3-to-5 focus areas before it's time to meet your new classes. Baby steps are appropriate here, it seems.

[@jmb3861]

I teach high school ESL, but even so, a lot of your ideas can be implemented. Only a 7th year teacher here. Where can I find the things that you say, "Find in the comments below." I'm only seeing other people's comments. Thanks for making these.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Hey, Jeanna! Welcome. :) I also list everything I mention in a video in the description area. Look for something that says, "Show more," and you should see all the links. I know it works on my laptop, but some mobile devices move things around a bit. Keep looking!

[@ThatGirlWithTheCoffee]

Watching during summer, cause this is my relaxing! How do you balance the Using ID tip with IEPs?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Good question! Students with IEPs submit separately, usually through their resource case manager. All IEPs have different requirements, so those are handled on a case-by-case basis. Hope this helps!

[@ThatGirlWithTheCoffee]

@@laurarandazzo1158 Okay, that wouldn't work in my setting as up to 10 of my 30 can have an IEP, and it wouldn't be fair to collect from 2/3rds of the class at 1 time, and 1/3rd at another. Thanks for your reply!

[@kimfrank2978]

I have always made all kinds of activities into games. I thought I was the only one!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

I'm with you, Kim. I also talk to myself (out loud!) all day long. Being weird is fun. :)

[@teresadominguez7660]

May I have a copy of your code sheet?

[@nancyholden-nims9850]

Laura, great info as always. I'm curious though if you use student id #s how do you take into account kiddos with IEPs?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Great question, Nancy! It really depends on the specific accommodations, of course, but in-class writing for my kids with IEPs is almost always done on a Chromebook or in the resource lab with their case manager so those papers are already in a different pipeline. But even if a paper were written and turned in with the rest of the class, it's easy to pluck those papers from the stack. I'd just have my T.A. go on an ID # Easter egg hunt through the stack. Also, I often create shortened code categories for kids with IEPs, depending on what they need. I might mark all of the regular codes but only take off points for half of the grammar codes, the ones we've focused on for that particular student. The great thing about the code sheets is that I can modify them really easily. In fact, I'll even do this for different sections of the same grade level, if one class is struggling more than another. Flexibility is key!

[@gabrielvazquez5491]

Hey Laura. Freaking love your videos and it's only a matter of time before all English teachers discover you. I have a question about the coding. How does your grading work? I see you give 50 points for content and 50 for grading. But then is that trumped by the rubric score? And finally, when students revise their work, how much does that change their grade? I had an issue with this last year because I couldn't decide how much extra points I should give them if they fix errors! Thanks!!!

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Hey, Gabriel, thanks for this note of support! If you keep watching, I'll keep making more. :) Good questions about the grading - glad you're digging into this. I give 50 pts. for content (that's determined by the rubric) and 50 pts. for grammar (that's determined by how many times they committed any of those 10 grammar code violations). I actually enter these as two separate scores in the gradebook so everyone (kid, parents, me) knows what's happening with the student's writing. Once the essay corrections are completed, that's entered as a third, separate HW assignment usually worth 10 pts. I don't like go back and pour those corrections points on the original essay scores because then I won't have a clear record of a student's performance (and hopefully growth) over the year. Hope this helps clarify things!

[@Lpement]

Thanks so much for posting this video! Just out of curiosity, I wanted to ask your opinion on including positive feedback. Since the error codes only contain errors, do you also comment on what the students did well, or is everything negative?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Oh no, Lavinia, you definitely need to add praise to the papers, too. I don't have specific codes for those, but I'm careful to also include a positive comment per page as I grade, too. Medicine with a bit of sugar is much easier to swallow. ;)

[@AJsaysBloom]

This is great content! Would you please put the code sheet up for download? Thank you.

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Thanks, anju john! Glad you like the grading codes idea. Alas, the code sheets are part of a paid product, my grading e-book and forms: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Exhausted-by-Essays-5-Minute-Essay-Grading-System-Reclaim-Your-Weekends-1134474 I give away a ton of content and materials for free here and on my blog, but I do need to charge for some things. We've all got bills to pay, right? The good news is that you can also make your own code sheet without too much trouble. Just take my basic idea and type up the comments you make most often on student papers. You can even start small with, say, just five codes and then add to your sheet as the year goes. Of course, I hope you'll buy my ebook, but I also understand if that's not possible right now. Either way, you NEED to add codes to your grading routine - they'll save you so much time and really help your kids grow. Happy marking! :)

[@angelaroberts2882]

omg, you intro is life!!! can we be friends?lol

[@shaylnandos230]

Hello Laura. I would like to know, can a student learn English writing by online listening English Audio?

[@laurarandazzo1158]

Shayl nandos Thanks for checking in with me, Shayl. I’m not a language acquisition expert, so I can’t really answer your question. In my experience, frequent reading, writing, and receiving meaningful feedback on your writing is a path to fluency.

[@ArtRamboPettyQueen]

Haaaaaaallllllelujah!