We had to post our 4 1/2 week grades this week. Thankfully my wife told me what needed to be done because my administration did not. First of all I finally realized I needed to be keeping a gradebook this past week - just kidding!!!!!!! Actually, my wife told me to keep a hard copy of all grades in the gradebook we had to purchase from the school box. The school system no longer purchases gradebooks for the teachers because we are required to keep our grades in the computer. My school system keeps grades in "Portal". We also keep attendance in this system as well. Guess when I received formal training from my school on this system? Yes, you guessed it 2 weeks after school started. Portal lost my grades once and then lost my "intern" grades. If I had not kept a hard copy of my grades, I would really be upset at this point. My students grades are visible in the system, however, even my department head has no idea if my grades will actually show up on the progress reports that my students receive tomorrow (Friday). We only assume that they will because the academic administrator has not sent me any nasty emails stating for me to enter my grades. I was suppose to print my grade verifications however I cannot print in my room because technology has still not arrived to install my printers (I have sent in 4 work requests).
Dr. Burns wasn't kidding when she stated that pre-planning had really nothing to do with planning. They should have taken the teachers new to the system and given us instruction on Portal amongst other things rather than making us attend meetings that were not applicable to first year teachers.
Isn't it funny that we talked about the gradebook issue this summer and here it is rearing it's ugly head? The one year I kept only a computer copy was the only year! I keep the old fashioned hard copy book as a back up. It makes me feel more like a teacher (smile). Dr. J
ReplyDeleteHi Steven:
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for wives. Because if you didn't have her input on the grading issue, you would be in TROUBLE. I sympathize with you on the printer issue. I know that most schools will support any technical requests for equipment, but perhaps you may have to go over their head and REALLY let them know how vital it is for your to have a printer.
Good Luck and keep on keeping on..
V
Hi Steven,
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering how you've been doing.
I'm so glad you had your wife to help you out!
Yes, yes, always keep a hard copy of your grades. We have GradeQuick at our school. We can print out the grades and I do that so I will have a hard copy. You never know when the system will crash and all your grades are gone. Henry Co still gives us a grade book. But I have also bought one at The School Box before too.
It's good to hear from you! Glad you are doing well in spite of all the difficulties!
Connie
Hey Steven this is Riley sounds like your getting teaching down pretty good, if theirs one thing I've learned it's always have a peper trail on everything you do. You can never cover your self enough, hope you have a good week. Riley
ReplyDelete