Here it is, Sunday afternoon around 2. I have a stack of short stories to read and mark up. It's not that I don't like reading my students' work. Some of them are really pretty great writers, and I really do enjoy getting to know them through their creative writing.
But I am so stuck here, so much wanting to do anything else other than grade papers. Is this the way it is for all teachers? Why is it so hard, when it really isn't that hard? Is it just the age-old issue of procrastination? I don't even have that much to look at. Actually, I only have about 16 more to go. That's really not that much. Of course I have other stuff to do after that to get ready for tomorrow and the week.
Why does it feel so insurmountable? Why do I keep thinking of food I'd rather eat than these stories I don't want to grade? Why do I keep thinking that if I just moved to Oregon or Washington my life would be so much better? Why don't I just go walk my poor little neglected doggy? There's a good idea.
Here, Dot!
2 comments:
I think its the requirement to evaluate that makes us balk. It's like literature classes in college--as soon as something becomes assigned reading it becomes the last thing we want to read--I think because we know we are going to have to judge it, to be accountable for it beyond just enjoying (or not) it.
I think you're right. There is something so heavy about the responsibility of reading student work and knowing I must be fair, clear, and helpful. It's kind of a lot. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to evaluate college level writing and above. I guess you get used to it.
There are parts of being a dean of students that are really hard for me, but they don't make me balk as much as grading student writing does.
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