May 26, 2012

Paper Gradebook

Do you use a paper gradebook? I do! I love it and wouldn't give it up for $20. $100 maybe, but definitely not $20. Do you want to give me some grief for it? I'm okay with that. I love my gradebook that much! I also make my own gradebook every year. I just haven't found one I like as much as my own version. 

My cover from this past year looked like this:
p.s. our school mascot is the Leopard

and my inside pages look like this


I run copies of my inside pages front and back for the entire year. I then take all these copies and my cover (printed on cardstock to make it a little thicker) to my local Office Depot. They laminate the cover, add a thick plastic back cover, and spiral bind the entire thing for $2.50. Perfection!

Here are just a few of the reasons that I LOVE my paper gradebook:
  • I divide my pages by unit and not by 9-weeks, what typically comes in store-bought books
  • I print my students' names for each new unit and just paste them into my book. They fit perfectly since I made the original template myself :)
  • I color code my gradebook and make lots of little notes to myself about my students' learning during that unit, this just doesn't work as well digital (at least for me)
  • we employ Mastery Math at my school, meaning my students take two unit tests and keep their best scores on each section of the test. A paper gradebook allows me to reference all of their scores quickly and easily.
Okay, I said a few reasons, I'll stop now.

Here's a quick and blurry pic of one page from last year. :)

 Please let me know if you use a paper gradebook and have any wonderful modification ideas for mine.

10 comments:

  1. I love this idea. Its so much more customizable. Thanks for sharing the idea. Just wondering though if I could get the excel file you linked. I tried downloading it but it says its been deleted or its not available to me. I hope you're enjoying your summer! =)

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  2. Maria, I am so sorry that you cannot access the files! How weird! Just send me an email at MrsHestersMath@gmail.com and I'd be happy to send you the excel file.

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  3. I use a paper grade book. It's so much more visual and comprehensive than looking on a computer screen. I also incorporate attendance in mine for those kids who didn't get the work because they were "absent." it makes it much easier to help make them more responsible.

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  4. Just found your blog and love what you have done with your folder!! I am a new high school science teacher and have been looking for ideas to organize myself and I think I have now found it!! I have noticed online, it's mostly primary so having this is great! For the dividers. how did you create them? They look great!

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  5. Thanks Audrey! Are you refering to the class period tabs at the top of the last, blurry picture? Those are just stick on post-it tabs from Staples stuck incrementally throughout the printed pages.

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  6. What are the highlighted assignments? Are those late? Do the students do their homework in their interactive notebooks or on separate sheets of paper?

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    1. The yellow highlighted assignments were turned in later than the due date because of absences. The pink highlighted assignments were counted late. When I assign something I immediately highlight absent students yellow, that way when I collect the assignment I can quickly tell who was there when it was assigned. If they don't turn the assignment it, their box becomes pink and I know it's then counted as late. My students do almost all of their homework on separate paper.

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  7. Please email them to me. Ericksone@pcsb.org they download but won't open once they do. Thanks!

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  8. can u help me with my gradebook?

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  9. Dear Mrs. Hester,
    I appreciate your hard work and spirit of generosity! Thank you for this gradebook.
    Happy school year to you!

    Ellen

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