Saturday, 05 April 2008
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Gradebooks
Since I've been teaching, I've used Making the Grade for my gradebook. I thought a gradebook on the computer would be easier. However, sometimes I think that all the "bells and whistles" take too much time to figure out how to use and are tedious and impractical for daily use; Basically once I figure out how to do what I need to do, I've either forgotten the other feature that I learned how to use and could have easily written down the information in a paper gradebook.
I'm thinking that it would be better to do a paper gradebook and then transfer the grades over to the computer; I'm not sure though. What do you think?
How do you keep grades: paper, electronic or both?
Any electronic gradebook recommendations?
Suggestions on how to keep a gradebook?Brian
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Comments (9)
I've tried a bunch of different ways--computer programs, paper, computer printouts, etc... I've found that the best thing that works for me is to basically do everything myself (as you would with paper) but to do it in an excel table so I can keep everything neat. I'm a bit of a neat freak, so little boxes filled in and sometimes whited-out then filled in again just makes me insane. So I just type it in and print it out, then put in a binder so my principal has a hard copy to look at.
-Tova
I used Snap Grades for two years, but this year I decided to stick to a paper grade book, which has been easier (despite having to do the math on my own). I found that when using the online gradebook, I was still keeping a paper one, and it just became too tedious to be entering the information twice. Besides, I saved the $40/yr fee I would've otherwise spent for the computer to do the math for me.
@tovarivera - Do you average the grades yourself or is that part of the excel worksheet?
@TheTeachersLounge - I tried doing an averaging thing on excel, and it worked really well until I had a couple of kids miss some things... Until I figure out the best and fairest way to do that, I average on my own... But there are some cool things you can do with excel that are handy for teaching tools, like averaging the grades for a particular assignment to see how the kids all did on that and if I need to re-teach...
When I find the perfect answer, I'll pass it on.
@tovarivera - I was just wondering how your averaging went. I've seen some sophisticated spreadsheets but I'm not too good with excel formulas so I couldn't do any of the averaging.
I just checked out EasyGradePro.com that I found from the link you gave me. I tried the trial and it's really easy to do grades/attendance together.
Thanks for the link!
I got mixed up...the link was from SenoritaDW...gracias for the link.
We have to do grades on the computer, but I keep a paper gradebook as well. This works well for me because I have to float this semester, so it is quicker for me to check for missing grades in my book, then to have to log-on to the network grade book. Last year I only did the computer grade book though, and that worked just fine for me. I didn't know they had online ones, are they free?
@snowchic23 - The online gradebooks that I have seen range in price from $50/yr to $70/yr (I think that was the high end).
I think for next year I'm going to start with a paper copy and transfer it over. After the first 9 wks I can evaluate how it's working. Also, I'm only going to teach Spanish next year so I won't have other subjects to grade which will make it easier as well.
Brian
Oh ok, that sounds like a good plan. I guess I should be glad ours is free then...