Greetings and salutaions frrom the world of the selr-contained. ..more about that later. Much like others have stated, I look for specific things rather than the entire essay in general. To help me and to imporve my students' critical eyes, I have asked them to color code the essay: red for thesis statement, hook is green, subordination or complex sentences are yellow, dialogue is orange, anecdotes red, etc. It depends on what I am looking for such as hook, argument, counter-argument, etc.
As far a bein contained.. our system in this time of budget cuts has decided to close two elementaries, shove fifth into our 6-7-8 building, put a school within a school and make 5-6 intermendiate, and the forror of it all, to make us self-containe classes at 5 and 6. So thousands of dollars, brain cells, passion, and intellectual investment later, I return to a self-contained classroom, teaching everything, much as I did the last time I was there, 40 years ago, pregnant, in labor and 40 pounds thinner. I know how plants are not able to flourish if they are self-contained. Ditto for me... potted, restrained, contained. omg. ----- Original Message ----- From: Kim Wagner To: A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades. Sent: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:31:07 +0000 (UTC) Subject: Re: [LIT] Grading writing assignments faster Argh...I mean a lot (not alot). And, I meant... Six Traits help because you are NOT grading for everything. On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 8:29 PM, Kim Wagner wrote: > Well, one thing that makes it much less painful is that the students do > peer editing and self-editing before I grade the final product. > Additionally, rubrics help alot. Narrows the focus. I agree that Six Traits > also helps because you are grading for "everything" --usually I score based > on one to three of the traits we are working on. > > Overall I would say that I quit "grading" a few years ago and now score > holistically using the rubric. It's tough to "let go" though. > > Kim > > > > On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 5:23 PM, ann clavin wrote: > >> Thank you Alison for sharing but can you describe the six traits in >> writing! >> >> >> /10, Alison wrote: >> >> >> From: Alison >> Subject: Re: [LIT] Grading writing assignments faster >> To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades." < >> [email protected]> >> Date: Friday, March 12, 2010, 7:47 AM >> >> >> Since we have starting using the six Traits in writing I have found >> grading to be MUCH easier since there is a focus for the writing in the >> first place. I find teachers that slave over grading essays have not >> narrowed the task and are therefore grading the paper for everything. If >> you are focused on particular content, tell your students that, then ONLY >> look at the content of the paper and IGNORE other stuff. Other writing >> tasks can focus on things like spelling, grammar and organization, word >> choice. but don't overdo it. A narrower focus for learning is much better >> for students. You feedback can then be very specific to the task. >> >> Good luck. >> Alison >> >> On 11-Mar-10, at 6:02 PM, Nancy Carroll wrote: >> >> > Hi Everyone, >> > >> > I would like to know if anyone has any proven, fun ways of making >> grading essays faster and less painful! Any hints? Would love to hear your >> tips and tricks, from veterans and new teachers alike. >> > >> > Happy Thursday! >> > Nancy Carroll >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org >> > >> > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. >> > >> > Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org >> >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. >> >> Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive >> _______________________________________________ >> The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org >> >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. >> >> Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive >> > > _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
