How can teachers get away from having a clutter of papers to grade? I know many educators who are far less organized tend to bring their home. Often, this can complicate our family lives with our children and spouse. there are so many things that have to be done at home, which can make a teachers life overwhelming. Many teachers who are parents are running constantly. Just think about the teacher who is running home to prepare dinner because the children football, basketball, soccer, or cheerleader practice every day of the week. How does that teacher have the time to grade papers and still do parental duties? Where is the time for necessary family time? Where does the teacher find the time to just relax from a stressful day?

Well, I have discovered a few useful tips to help alleviate bringing work home. Here are a few tips that I have discovered that will work.

1. Come to school and hour before or after school.
Staying after school or coming before school for an hour can help you grade those papers that would typically interfere with your home life. This would help to alleviate the pressure and stress off of you and your family as well.

2. Every paper within a lesson does not need to be graded.
Often, I have noticed that there are several worksheets that are done in class per lesson. Some of those worksheets can be graded in class with the students. This also can add for more instruction if needed because the grading is done as an open class discussion.

3. Within one week all papers should be graded and turned back to students.
A good process is to have folders for every day of the school week. If you notice that you are back to Monday and you have not graded last Monday's work, then you know that you are getting behind with paperwork. Some assignments needed to be graded immediately, especially math assignments in order for you to move ahead, you need to know where are your students.

4. Provide two days out of the week that graded papers will be returned.
I have found that Wednesday and Friday work really well with students. Usually, papers turned in on Friday (last week), Monday, and Tuesday will be graded and submitted back to the student by Wednesday, while papers turned in on Wednesday and Thursday will be submitted to the students by Friday. This is a system that is good to implement because students and parents will know the days that graded assignments will return home.

Hopefully, one of these tips can help to alleviate some stress that comes with bringing work home. Many of us have busy days during the late afternoon and early evening. I know there are periods when my days are very busy, especially now that my 10 year old is playing football. Practice is Monday through Friday with games on either Saturday or Sunday. I know that a person/teacher can easily become overwhelmed with adding work with their routine home life.

Kimberly Wells