Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Paul, Interesting approach and not one that most instructors take. Typically, people like to do the opposite. They start by knocking out easy tasks and then move to harder ones. Sounds like your approach is working for you well though, so keep it up! M ;) Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Heather, Being prompt is usually a good thing. Some instructors struggle with the opposite problem, and that's with immediacy. Finding a balance between the two in both your work and home life is the best approach. Easier said than done. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Streamlining the Grading Process

Antonio, Yes, it's great to encourage your students to ask themselves questions just like this. These are the kinds of questions that will help guide their behaviors when they enter the workplace and when you are no longer there to guide them. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Streamlining the Grading Process

Amer, Thanks for bringing up test storage. You make a good point. Some examination methods lend themselves well to physical storage and others don't. I should note that online / digital testing can give you a new kind of flexibility in this area. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Rita, Sometimes it's nice to knock a few easy tasks out of your queue before moving on to complex ones. It's a confidence builder. At the same time, I like your approach of taking a step back and identifying what's important. If we only focus on the easy tasks, priority tasks can get delayed. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Streamlining the Grading Process

Michael, This is so true. When students assist with the grading process, it gives them another opportunity to engage with class content. Often times, they look at the material in new ways. It's a wonderful learning experience. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Streamlining the Grading Process

Bernie, That's a challenge for sure. Grading essay exams can be quite subjective. With this time of grading, it's really important to document the success criteria for each answer and assess each exam against these criteria. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Task Prioritization

Erin, Sounds like you have developed some great methods for task prioritization and organization over time. Great work! It's nice when you have a solid time management foundation to stand on. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Coping with Stress

Lisa, Sounds like you have developed some wonderful stress coping mechanisms that help you in a crisis. I really love the idea of stepping away. This can be critical to your success. Breathing and self coaching work great too. Dr. Melissa Read

Dr. Melissa Read

Discussion Comment

Coping with Stress

John, Sounds like the Spring season is a really important time for you. Like many instructors, I imagine you get a bit of cabin fever in winter. It's probably not easy to exercise as much in winter - depending on where you live. This makes winters tough. I recommend developing an indoor exercise routine. You can even do your exercise near a window for the vitamin D benefits. Dr. Melissa Read