There must be a better way. Traditional teaching traditionally involves mounds of paper. As I look at my desk- really three desks- I find this fact makes my teaching life most difficult. Perhaps an inventory of what lies there will give some insight to my state of affairs.
In the right hand corner on top of my printer: On top is the Final Exam schedule, a pleasant reminder that the semester is almost over and a two week holiday is less than three weeks away. Under that a "Memorandum" than a student study team will hold a meeting next Thursday, form to be filled out and grades attached by that day; under that a stack of 10 vocabulary index cards from last week's test, a reminder that I must make the next stack of cards by Thursday. Next in that stack is a history handout of the Bill of Rights and an explanation- this is a handout to my students and must be filed (perhaps in the circular file). Next I come upon extra blank history tests from the week before last (I just filed them.). Then there are 2 old "make up" tests from my English class. My Science times from November 17 comes next. This is a reminder that I missed my twice weekly detour to purchase a New York Times today. Then I have a list of parent emails on a pad at the bottom of the pile. This is my smallest pile.
On the right have six folders: a set of hastily graded history tests, a set of grades essays by my fourth period, some miscellaneous bank statements in a folder, Chapter 4 Lord of the Flies English quizes- ungraded, extra test of To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 5, one copy of part of the California Standards Test for Grade 10, Summons for students to report to the attendance office, several unexcused tardy slips, the Lord of the Flies final multiple choice test, an Analy Education Foundation Grant application, graded Chapter 3 tests for Lord of the Flies, Language of Literature Writing Transparencies and Copymasters, a folder of past tax returns and other financial information, some late and ungraded vocabulary quizes, CD of the reading of Ender's Game with Diana Krall helping fill the disk. Am I finished yet? This litany of paper detritus shows exactly what I hate about my job. Or maybe it is what I hate about myself. I have only scratched the surface of my piles of paper. Much of it is curriculum, much of it is assessment materials and involve hours of work just to grade. But most of all it reminds me of my extreme ineptitude in dealing with piles of paper.
I love to teach but I hate the paperwork. I am ready to go totally digital. I'll ready my resume for next year, if anyone is interested.
Bem-vindo a minhas visitas de Portugal e Itália.
Benvenuti nel mio visitatori dal Portogallo e Italia.
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