Dr. Melissa Read

Rudayna, Interesting approach. I have met a lot of instructors who approach their work like you do. Sometimes it is easier to slowly chip away at tasks instead of completing them in bulk. If that describes you, go with it! You will likely get more work completed with the approach that resonates best with you. Dr. Melissa Read

Joy, So glad to hear you found a grading tool that works great for you. Yes, I agree with your points on feedback. One of the greatest things about these tools is the way they give both students and teachers real-time results. Both parties can act on the information and drive changes that improve performance. Dr. Melissa Read

Rebecca, This is an interesting perspective and could absolutely be true. Some students may not want to jump in because they are scared of completing assignments wrong and / or failing. Increasing confidence could be key for their success in time management. Dr. Melissa Read

Jesse, That sounds tough - especially homelessness. I recommend thinking carefully about the kind of support you are capable of providing and identifying others who may be able to help with the rest. For example, many institutions have great student counseling services that you can refer to when students are experiencing serious crisis. The people representing these services may be better trained and prepared to help students manage through complex life scenarios. Dr. Melissa Read

Joy, I like your thinking. Sometimes enjoyable tasks are truly rewarding. You might consider building in some other rewards too - outside of your tasks. This could be even more reinforcing. Dr. Melissa Read

Jaime, Yes, sharing with fellow instructors is a wonderful practice. Not only do you spread the benefits of templates, tools and systems you've put into place, you also often get a lot of the same materials back from them. These can be great to learn from. Dr. Melissa Read

Michael, It sounds like you have two wonderful outlets. Yes, I agree that walking away is often the best first course of action. It's great to be able to cool down for a minute and collect yourself. Otherwise you may find there's a risk that you'll respond to the situation in a way that you may later regret. Dr. Melissa Read

Jesse, Yes, highlighting and underlining can be a wonderful technique to both speed grading and focus your students on the most important portions of their answers. It's a win win! Dr. Melissa Read

Jennifer, Excellent to hear. It sounds like you have found an approach that works really well with you. If you've got something like this that you can depend on, my best advice is to simply go with it. It sounds like that is your plan. Dr. Melissa Read

Timothy, Wow, it sounds like you have found two very opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to coping mechanisms. Glad you have found a physical and outdoor activity that you genuinely enjoy. I absolutely love hiking too -- and for many of the same reasons. When times get tough, I imagine you could combine the pizza with the hiking too! Dr. Melissa Read