In January I wrote a blog post titled “New Year Resolution: I’m Moving ALL Assessment into the Classroom.” I’m here to update everyone. Since January, I have not brought a single stack of digital papers home to grade! It’s been amazing!
It’s not that my students aren’t writing. In fact, they just completed a detailed six paragraph research paper on an environmental problem of their choice. This paper took them about 3 weeks to write from the time they started their research to when they finished their final draft and works cited page. We spent a significant amount of class time working on these papers. Students honed their research skills, organized their information, watched flipped videos on how to complete various aspects of the paper, like citing properly, and they received detailed feedback from me the entire way through!
I used the station rotation model every day during the writing process to build in time for me to provide real-time feedback on their work. I used my teacher-led station for synchronous editing. As my students wrote, I jumped into their Google Documents in suggesting mode and made edits. I also added static comments with questions, suggestions, and links to additional resources that might be useful.
Groups of 6-8 students rotated through my teacher-led station in 25 minute intervals. During that window of time, I was able to give every student written feedback. One day I edited thesis statements and another day I was editing topic sentences. I tried to keep the scope of what I was editing narrow enough to provide every student with detailed feedback.
When students were in the other stations, they worked on a variety of tasks, like reading and annotating a text on StudySync, conducting additional research for their papers, practicing a grammar concept on NoRedInk, drawing sketches of possible solutions that would address their environment problem, etc. I prepared directions for those stations ahead of time, so students could complete those tasks without needing me to provide instructions.
Here’s why I think it’s so crucial for teachers to stop taking grading home:
First, I knew where almost every student was in terms of his/her progress at any given moment. There were no surprises when the papers were due because I had been in and out of their documents several times over the course of three weeks we worked on it. I was able to support students throughout the entire process. If they had questions as they worked or needed additional scaffolds, I was right there to support them.
Second, I feel more energized and creative! I have more time and energy to invest in the aspects of teaching that I really love, like lesson design. Instead of spending hours at home wading through a neverending stack of digital papers, I am planning fun lessons, activities, projects, and guest speakers.
I realize that moving assessment into the classroom requires a shift in mindset and the strategic use of blended learning models, but it is hands down the BEST decision I’ve made this year.
87 Responses
So when did you grade their finished papers or was it a combined grade of all your drafting grades?
Hi Kelly,
I pulled kids individually and walked them through a rubric with my scores. I did not do a final round of edits since I had been in their documents throughout the process. Instead, I explained their scores on the rubric and asked if they had any questions. So, I didn’t take that part home either 😉
Catlin
Could you tell us more about what each station is doing? I’d love tips on creating the stations for writing. Thanks!
Mindy,
I use the Station Rotation Model almost every day, so the tasks change daily. Any item on a linear agenda can be transformed into a station. I write about this in my newest book, Blended Learning in Action.
Catlin
I haven’t read much about the station rotation model, but it’s on my summer reading list! (If only I could get renewal credit for reading it!)
You may answer this question in the book, but in a linear agenda, often tasks can’t be started until the previous one is complete. How do you manage that aspect, so that all the students are being productive within the project even if they aren’t at the Teacher Led station?
Hi Paige,
I do talk about that in my book because it was the hardest part of starting stations for me. I had trouble not designing stations that built on one another. However, when I approached station rotation design by pulling apart a linear agenda, I realized that not as many activities actually built on each other. I also realized that I could do a series of station rotations over the course of the week and have one station build a specific skill set each time.
Catlin
Caitlin –
I love this idea. I find that my students get very little out of my current process which is teaching them a skill/technique (ex. thesis statements, hooks, embedding quotes, etc.), having them work on it in class, then put all of the pieces together into a final product which I grade. Most don’t even look at the feedback they receive.
Would you be willing to share your rubric and station rotations?
Do you provide grades for the station activities? I know that if my students knew that was not for a grade they would put much effort into the acitivities.
Thanks
-Nancy
Hi Nancy,
I design different rubrics for different writing assignments. In fact, I’ve begun engaging my students in writing rubrics so they understand how they will be assessed.
I use the Station Rotation Model almost every day, so I’m constantly designing stations. Since we worked on the research paper for almost three weeks, I designed a bunch of stations on a range of topics. Any item on a linear agenda can be turned into a station. In my newest book, Blended Learning in Action, I talk about how teachers can plan a station rotation. It’s definitely a shift for most secondary teachers used to teaching a linear agenda.
I don’t assess everything my students complete in stations because some of it is designed to prepare them for more formal assessments or it is work towards a project. It’s important for students to know why they are completing work and see value in that. I’ve moved away from traditional grades. Here is a blog post I wrote about how I approach grading.
Catlin
Hi Nancy,
I would love to get some feedback on how you run your rotation stations. I teach grade four and I conduct literacy rotations, but I had never done a rotation station giving feedback to students marking. How would this look in the classroom?
Thank you,
Elena
Thanks for providing details on how you managed this process. This is an area that I’ll certainly work to improve in my classroom.
I am so intrigued by this station rotation model’ I need you to come teach me. I have your book and am adding it to my summer reading list. I can’t wait to try this out in my class next year!
Hi Jennifer,
I hope my book is useful to you in your work! Maybe I’ll end up speaking at an event in your neck of the woods so I can work with you 😉
Catlin
I am discouraged by the grading process and waiting until it’s over to give a grade so I love this idea of concurrently providing feedback. I know this process could be modified for any size and time frame, but I’m curious, how many students do you have and how long are your classes?
Hi Melanie,
I started this process last year when I taught three block classes of English language arts. Those classes had 28-30 students each. Now I’m piloting a program called N.E.W. School where I co-teach English, science, and technology. I have share 60 students with another teacher. Our blocks are 90 minutes.
Catlin
Hello,
How many students per class do you have? How many classes do you have? What is the average reading and writing level of your students? Finally, do you have any newcomer students that do not speak English?
Thank you!
Hi,
Our class sizes are between 28-30 students. A full-time teacher on my campus teaches 6 classes. This year I transitioned into a new role co-teaching in a pilot program. Now, I share 60 students with another teacher and co-teach English, science, and technology on B days. We have a heterogeneous group of kids with embedded honors and students who have just been RFEPed, so we have a wide range of reading and writing skills. We don’t have any newcomers who do not speak English.
Catlin
Thank you!!
Sounds amazing! My question is about classroom management. If you have 8/40 students at your station, how are you managing the other 22? I now work with a population where approaches like this have not worked so well because “the other 22” are generally unproductive or disruptive if thry think I’m not paying attention to thrm.
Sorry about the typos at the end. Am using my phone which doesn’t let me scroll here to see past the first five lines of text ?
No problem! Happens to all of us 😉
Hi Ebony,
I just answered a similar question if you read the prior comment.
Catlin
How do you deal with student misbehavior or students who are not on task during this time?
Hi Amy,
I don’t deal with many management issues. I strategically group my students and try to design stations that are high-interest, collaborative, and/or creative. Students often get to self-pace their learning and stay on task because they know if they finish their work in class, they won’t have to take it home to finish.
Catlin
This is such a simple but amazing idea. Thank you
Hi Caitlin,
Wow this is a remarkable idea. I’m curious, how do students respond to your written comments on ongoing work? Does it feel impersonal to write when the student is in speaking proximity? How do you manage this?
Jess
Hi Jessica,
It doesn’t feel impersonal at all. I’m not sure if that’s because it is such a norm in our class or if they appreciate that we all get more done when we are working on a shared document. I definitely get way more edits done by putting my head down and leaving suggestions and comments directly on their documents. I love sitting across from them because if I do need to elaborate on something or they don’t understand a comment, we can talk about it.
Catlin
Hi Catlin,
I was pleased and inspired to hear you speak about this at CATE. I experimented with this recently and failed miserably at it. I had my students work on body paragraph shaping sheets for their Romeo & Juliet essays and I commented on each one ( 3 paragraphs for each kid at 70 kids). I’m grading each one … at home… and it’s all the same messy stuff. I have your book and will dedicate more time to learning the practice, but I have similar issues as other commenters with students not utilizing the comments from the drafts. I’ve not had an “A” in the bunch.
How do you address the students who don’t integrate the suggestions you make?
Haalllllllp. I really want to make this work, but so far – not so good.
Thanks,
Kristen
Hi Kristen,
I applaud you for trying! Don’t let a miserable failure stop you from trying again. Here are my thoughts…
1) Did you use a station rotation model or did you have the whole class writing at one time? I’d definitely recommend designing 3-4 stations (25 min each): a teacher-led (for real-time feedback), an online station with NoRedInk, a writing station, etc. That way, you are only working on ~8 documents at a time.
2) Keep your feedback focused. I will usually limit my feedback to one aspect of the essay…thesis statements, body paragraph #1 (topic sentence, textual evidence, analysis), quote introductions and citations, etc. Otherwise, I find it really overwhelming because I am trying to fix everything and I cannot get through every student. Limiting the scope of my feedback has been a struggle for me.
3) When they are done with their essays, they know they have to sit with me as I fill out the rubric with their grade. So, it’s definitely an incentive to make my corrections. Plus, most of the time I’m editing as I sit across from them in the station so I’ll call them out if they aren’t making edits. Now, that’s not to say they are all great. I have a really wide range of kids in my program, but I get more writing from more kids with this model.
Good luck! Don’t give up!
Catlin
Hi Catlin,
Thank you for the feedback. I am going back to the drawing board with your suggestions in mind. I spent the day with a colleague yesterday at the Festival of Books in L.A. and we discussed at length that the only way to help writers improve is to provide individual pointed feedback.
This process will be a good one to develop over the summer. I really like your idea of the circular agenda rather than the linear one. That image alone will help me view lesson planning differently.
Thank you again.
Kristen
Hi Catlin,
If I may, I find that making it a requirement for students to “reply” to my comments with a short response on how students will correct their writing helps a lot to hold students accountable and to thank me for the feedback (this way the acknowledge the feedback). And, finally, I don’t let students “resolve” comments so they can’t just hide them.
For example, if I write a comment like, “I can see where you are going with this idea; however, you did not include a counterclaim.” Then, I expect students to reply with something along the lines of, “Thank you for the feedback. I will read my resources to identify a counterclaim and include it to this paragraph.”
This strategy has engaged more students, and I get more thorough revisions and edits based on the feedback.
Thanks for all the great info!
Thank you for sharing how you make this work for you, Veronica! It is always helpful to hear how other teachers manage feedback. I’ve worked with a lot of teachers who, like you, have students reply to their comments and leave them unresolved so they can see the evolution of their work.
Catlin
This is great. I teach college composition, and I’ve been looking for practical ways to implement in-class writing and peer assessment, and this is very helpful.
What do you do for make-up work? I think this system would inherently encourage attendance, so that’s a good thing, but what do you do when students are absent?
My attendance this year is better than in any year prior, Helena! I’m not sure if the assessment is the whole reason, but I’m sure it does help.
If students are absent on a day when we are writing, they jump back in as soon as they return. I typically end up editing the last thing they wrote so they are a day or two behind the class in terms of my edits. Most kids catch up at home but if they don’t, I’ll pull them from other activities to work with them or pair them with a strong writer who can support them.
Catlin
I teach math. Do you have suggestions as to how I could use this method of instruction in a math classroom?
Hi Eileen,
I’d design a station rotation lesson–teacher-led (feedback station), online practice with Desmos, and offline collaborative task with an Illustrative Math real-world challenge. Then you can use that feedback station spend a few minutes with each student assessing key problems from an assessment. It may require some strategic grading. Teachers tend to want to grade everything, so focus on what would most benefit the student.
Catlin
Our board insists on descriptive feedback for assignments and I had a parent who actually told me how much it has helped her child as he now doesn’t feel that he cannot revise an assignment. I’m also moving to online and have already started a unit this year. It takes effort to set it up but I’m hoping to go through the process so I can have it streamlined for next year . Thx for your blog
I’m assuming that for this to work, you have 1-to-1 tech? Seems like most of your stations are computer heavy… any recommendations for this approach without 1-to-1 or Google Classroom access?
Hi Catie,
You can do this as long as you have enough devices for your teacher-led station. I make this work with 8 Chromebooks.
Catlin
I’m curious as to why you grade their final piece that you have guided them through. Would the goal in assesssing be can they use the standards by applying them on their own? Just curious what your thinking may be? I’ve had a hard time grading what I guide them through when using a workshop approach. We’ve been told not to use that piece for asssessing but I am also elementary not secondary. Thanks for any insight!!
Hi Amy,
Even though I guide them through the process, they put different levels of time and energy into their work. Leaving comments and suggestions for improvement, asking questions, and linking to resources provides them with ongoing feedback and support as they work, but I have not done the work for them. The finished products vary and reflect different skill levels. It’s important for them to know where they are at in relationship to specific skills at the end of that work so they know where to invest more time and energy in the future.
Catlin
[…] par Catlin Tucker, couplé à sa proposition de ne jamais évaluer hors de la classe (« Stop Taking Grading Home« ). — A explorer […]
Caitlyn,
Thanks for this post!! I currently conference with my students on their writing but find that some are waiting for me as I am live conferencing or given written feedback in a doc (or both). The station rotation makes so much sense. I just purchased your new book- can’t wait to check it out!!!
Hi April,
You’re so welcome! I hope you find my new book useful!
Take care.
Catlin
I have been teaching for 8 years and for the first time at a Title I public school this year. These students are quite different from my private school students and I found that things that worked in private school does not work here. I have decided that over the summer I was going to flip my classroom, I just think that would work much better for these students. But after reading this post, I’m going to institute some of your ideas. I teach chemistry/biology but can already envision some of the stations I would create and how I could use the meeting time to really help those that are struggling. This would really help keep me on top of how each student is doing and none of the would fall through the cracks. I just love this idea and I have already purchased your book to review and help guide me over the summer. Thanks.
Hi Florence,
I’m thrilled this post has you excited to experiment with stations! I love creating smaller learning communities within the larger class with the Station Rotation Model. I hope you find my book useful!
Catlin
Your post on your usage of Station Rotations are so informative; thanks for giving us a window into how you do things. You mentioned that you’ve started using stations more often… How do you manage whole group activities, such as reading a novel?
Thanks!
Hi David,
I’m so glad you found it helpful. I do pull my group together for reading at times. It’s nice to popcorn read together and pause to chat about key moments in the text. I definitely blend strategies!
Catlin
I just finished a unit on argument doing the same type of process! It was an extremely good use of my time and students’ time. I actually scored student essays with a rubric and the student sitting next to me and then allowed them to make revisions and resubmit.
Hi! I am really want to start Stations next year. I tried this year and was unsuccessful getting everything in. I have 50 minutes to teach both reading and writing. Do you have thoughts on how to get everything in?
Thanks!!
Hi Melissa,
I would suggest planning a station rotation that spans multiple days or an entire week instead of attempting to jam multiple stations into a single class period. I know teachers on short class periods use Monday to introduce the focus of the week and teach the whole group. Then they transition into stations Tuesday-Friday with students hitting one station per day.
Catlin
Hi ,
I am a science teacher started playing with stations in my classroom. I enjoy reading your posts. Can you recommend any science teachers who have a blog or book that reviews the concepts you do in your book? Or post on how the contracting is going with your science counter parts.
Hi Brenda,
My co-teacher, Marika Neto, teaches science and uses stations and the flipped classroom, but she does not have a blog (unfortunately!). She is on Twitter if you want to send her a note or question!
I’m publishing this request to connect with a science teacher using stations in the hope that one of my readers can point you in the right direction. I do not know of a secondary science teacher consistently using the Station Rotation Model with kids, but I know they are out there!
Catlin
Hi! This sounds like a great model. I’m assuming your campus has a 1:1 program that allows each student to have technology access? Ours does not. How would you suggest implementing a model as this without a 1:1 program?
See my comment to Jeannie below 😉
I didn’t have time to read all these replies, but want to share an idea a colleague uses. She has students turn in their papers through Turnitin.com
She really wants the students to read and apply her suggestions..
So, she puts in the comments, but no grades. (They go in the gradebook, but she doesn’t release them to the students yet.)
Only after they read and respond to her comments as to how they would rephrase, edit, make the changes in their next paper, does she give them their grade. She said their next papers are now reflecting the needed changes. And when they complain, she just tells them that their papers matter to her, and she says it’s mutual respect to dialogue about their work and grades.
Catlin,
I love this idea, but we are not a one-to-one school, and it sounds like your school is. Any thoughts on how this could work for us at our school where all students don’t have daily access to computers in the classroom?
We are not a 1:1, Jeannie.
I use the Station Rotation Model, so I can provide real-time feedback in my teacher-led station with 6 devices.
Catlin
[…] I published “Stop Taking Grading Home,” I’ve had a ton of teachers ask me how I am able to give feedback on Google Docs so […]
I have tried stations in the past with great success, BUT I didn’t use one for teacher feedback! I will now! I can’t wait to try this. I envision my classroom using stations most days, allowing me to really get to know my students and give them good feedback! Luckily, we just got Newsela, so I think this would be a great station to use on a regular basis.
Hi Catlin-
I’ve read your book and loved it, and found myself using the station-rotation quite a bit last year. My only dilemma is that I have 56-minute periods, and usually around 16-20 students per class. If I use a four-station rotation, I find that 14 minutes is not always enough time, and if I try to go as high as 20 minutes, I can only have 2 stations. Any advice to maximize the model?
Hi Jeff,
I’m so glad you enjoyed my book! If I was teaching in your situation, I’d do a 4 station, 2 day rotation. This would give you more time and keep numbers low.
Catlin
I use the rotation model and I LOVE it, but my question is, how do you get access to the kids google docs for editing without clogging your google drive and making your “shared with me” folder a mess? I have over 100 students and if all of them shared things with me 10 times per quarter, I think I would lose my mind trying to keep track! Thanks in advance. 🙂
Rachel,
Google Classroom makes it super easy to jump into and out of their documents. When you share documents with students via Google Classroom, all of their work is in one place.
Catlin
I would love to do this, but we have only one computer lab for a high school of about 1,200 students. Do you have any thoughts on how your model might work (or not) if you were restricted to pencil and paper? I’m itching to try this – after 20 years, I’m still striving to improve. Thank you!
Hi Cherie,
I would write Donors Choose Projects and request Chromebooks. I wrote 3 Donors Choose Projects and have 10 Chromebooks as a result. That means I can always have at least one online station. My school has 1800 and two computer labs, so I can sympathize. I also invite students to bring their own devices and reach out to parents asking for donated devices as a way to get more technology into my students’ hands.
Good luck!
Catlin
[…] Stop Taking Grading Home […]
[…] year I have posted several blogs about grading and assessment. I encouraged teachers to stop taking grading home for two simple […]
[…] If you spend class time doing that, you won’t have to take their work home. You’ll also know where every student is in the writing process and you’ll use what you observe in their writing to decide which lessons to teach next. For an excellent article on how a teacher does this, read Catlin Tucker’s article “Stop Taking Grading Home.” […]
Hi Carlin,
When students are watching videos on things like citing properly, are those videos you created of yourself or other online videos you have found?
Hi Amy,
I create my own videos, but there are tons of online resources you can use.
Catlin
[…] don’t want to get stuck with 100-plus papers to grade, consider using Catlin Tucker’s station rotation model, which keeps all the grading in class. And when you do return stories with your own feedback, try […]
[…] If you don’t want to get stuck with 100-plus papers to grade, consider using Catlin Tucker’s station rotation model, which keeps all the grading in class. And when you do return stories with your own feedback, try […]
Very engaging and informative post. That’s why a good teacher is also a good leader, because he/she doesn’t merely go with the book but incorporate creative ways of learning as well. At the same time, a good teacher takes time to nurture their own growth because they need the stamina and the space to be effective individuals and do the best in their jobs.
[…] If you don’t want to get stuck with 100-plus papers to grade, consider using Catlin Tucker’s station rotation model, which keeps all the grading in class. And when you do return stories with your own feedback, try […]
[…] got an upgrade. The feature I was most excited about was the Google Classroom comment bank. Two year ago, I decided I was all done taking grading home and moved all feedback and assessment int…, so I was hopeful the comment bank would make giving real-time feedback in class even easier. The […]
What a great blog! I am a pre-service teacher now and have found in my placement and research the importance of teacher feedback during the writing process BUT the limitations of time in the classroom to be able to give such feedback. I really love the idea of stations where the teacher is facilitating one station providing feedback – putting that in my teacher toolbox! I can see where the stations also work in different ways, having the students work with laser-focus on certain aspects of their writing and learning from and with other students along the way. I will definitely consider this technique when lead-teaching Frankenstein with literary analysis. My one concern is definitely time in which feedback can be given in a way that is constructive and thoughtful and not seen as directive or trying to make the students “write like me.”
Hi Amanda,
When giving real-time feedback, I’d suggest you have a clear (and narrow) focus for the day. If you focus on organization and content in your comments and suggestions, I don’t think you will fall into the trap of making them write like you (or sending that message). Each writing “voice” is unique, so feedback should be designed to help refine and develop that voice, not change it.
Good luck!
Catlin
[…] Students need feedback on their writing, but you do not have to be the only person who provides it. Technology allows students to share their writing with classmates and even parents. Ask them to provide the feedback. When my daughter was in third grade, she brought a journal home once a week and it was my job to write a response to her entries. For other low tech options, print students’ writing and put the papers in a three-ring binder. Insert a blank page after each piece and teach students how to leave useful feedback on it. Or set up a gallery walk where students place their writing on their desks and move around the room with a stack of sticky notes, using them to leave feedback on 10 different papers. You can also avoid taking student writing home by utilizing technology and the station rotation model. Catlin Tucker explains how here. […]
I have just started doing this in my classroom. My students find this so much more effective. They said they understand so much more and are able to do better. I wasn’t sure how this would work in a social studies classroom, but it certainly is possible.
[…] that in mind, I’d also like to try Caitlin Tucker’s suggestion for grading with students rather than for students. While I don’t think I’m ready to leave all […]
Hello, and thank you for the wonderful advice and help. I have had marvelous payoffs since changing my grading using the preference settings.
I want to do the same type of grading on the Google Slides assignments. Howevere, I can’t figure out how to change the “Suggesting” mode to the “Suggested Edits” – have you done this? If so, would you kindly share how? Thanks again!
Actually, I need to change the “comments” to “suggesting” – thanks.
[…] Provide feedback while students are writing. I have my students write their papers in Google Docs inside of Google Classroom, which allows me to jump into their work at any time and leave comments right on the screen. This saves me tons of time at the end of the process and gives them assistance when they need it and are still willing to use it. If you want it more personal, you could try Catlin Tucker’s station rotation model. […]
[…] and Catlin believe in being efficient They believe their time is valuable. Catlin urges teachers to Stop Taking Grading Home while explaining effective workflows. Alice writes code like Roster to Slides and […]
[…] Catlin believe in being efficient. They believe their time is valuable. Catlin urges teachers to Stop Taking Grading Home while explaining effective workflows. Alice writes code like Roster to Slides and […]
Hi Catlin,
I do this same type of feedback myself. As students are working on their writing, I am in their documents giving strategic feedback via comments or suggestions. You are so right that doing this allows the grading process to be much easier, and there are no surprises (e.g. a student who has done no work during a three-week process). I LOVE the idea of station rotations. I tried it years ago, but I think with this new to me tool of choice boards, it may be even easier. Students can work without needing me every step of the way!
I love that you are giving real-time feedback and enjoying it as much as I do, Debbie! It was an absolute game-changer for me in terms of my workload, and it has a dramatic impact on the quality of my students’ writing. I found the station rotation model the easiest way to create consistent time and space for feedback. Choice boards are another fabulous way to allow students to self-pace through learning activities while teachers give feedback!
Catlin