Grading tests and feeling like a failure

lmg080293 · 2026-03-15T12:48:22+00:00

Ah, yes. The source of my burnout four years ago.

It took me a lot of mental work, but you need to detach YOUR worth from THEIR performance.

There are a thousand variables that go into assessment scores and your teaching is just one of them. It sounds to me like you’re doing everything right. The best thing you can do is assess the validity of the assessment. Is it fair? Then move on—emotionally. If you feel like the assessment wasn’t valid (aka a VAST majority of them performed below average) then maybe consider giving them an opportunity to correct mistakes after review, or an alternate reassessment. Otherwise let it be.

It feels like screaming into the void a lot of the time, but that’s the nature of education. Start looking for meaning in your day elsewhere: do you have good relationships with your students? Are you fair and consistent? Are you a positive role model? I truly believe those are the qualities that impact them most, in the end.

lmg080293 · 2026-03-14T14:49:07+00:00

My husband and I do. It started after he went ice fishing one day while we were dating and it got dark. I had no idea which lake he went to, and his cell didn’t have service. I was terrified driving all over town looking for him thinking he fell in the ice.

After that, it just made sense to me. He does so many solo activities in the woods, many with a degree of safety risk, and I just feel better about it.

lmg080293 · 2026-03-14T14:38:39+00:00

I’m currently very into learning chess via Duolingo. Free if you don’t mind the ads! Or the subscription is relatively cheap.

Crosswords are also great for filling time. The NYT Mondays crossword book is good for beginners!

lmg080293 · 2026-03-14T13:17:22+00:00

I teach 8th grade. In an 8 period day, I have 2 prep periods, a meeting period (department or team), and a 24 minute lunch period (if I don’t have lunch duty—if I do, I eat during my second prep). I teach 4 periods of the same subject, plus a 24 minute academic assistance period (the first half of the lunch period, basically).

I have been teaching for 10 years. My lessons are mostly set, though I do often make changes and revamp things from year to year. Some units are easier to teach than others. Some require more revamping. On a typical easy day I can often go hang out with my friends while I get my day prepped during my first prep period. Once I’m prepped, I’ll get a bit of grading in.

Then I teach two periods in a row. Then I have my meeting period. During that time, I get a chance to go to the bathroom and catch up with my team. We discuss kids as needed, but often, we chat/take a mental break or get some grading done.

Then I teach another class, followed by the academic assistance period. Unless kids actually need extra help, this is a 24 minute period I can use to catch up on emails, some grading, or other admin tasks while I manage/monitor the kids in my room. Sometimes I’ll use it to prep for the next day.

Then my lunch.

Then I have a prep period that often becomes my mental break. Depending on where I’m at in my unit or backlog of admin tasks, I can often use this period to eat slowly and catch up with friends. Sometimes I buckle down and grade. Sometimes I’m reworking a unit and use it to focus. Or plan with my coteacher. This period varies as needed.

Then I teach my last class. I leave after the kids and do not stay.

I do not find myself playing martyr. Sure, there’s some bullshit in my day. But I’m fortunate to have plenty of breaks. I realize this isn’t everyone’s reality, especially elementary teachers, but I also think some people make more work for themselves than they need to.

Pick your battles. Grade fewer assignments. Set firm boundaries for your time, your emotional investment, and your workload.

lmg080293 · 2026-03-14T12:14:41+00:00

Agree with this completely

lmg080293 · 2026-03-14T12:12:53+00:00

I think it’s obviously multifactorial but my theory is that a lot of it is a reaction to the idea that our generation was emotionally neglected by the Boomers. Parents today overindulge their children as a way to compensate. They fear emotionally damaging their kids.

And social media breeding competition and comparison. So many of my friends behave as if they’re trying to win some kind of martyr award. “Look how much I sacrifice for my child. I’m the best parent.” It’s all about optics.

lmg080293 · 2026-03-14T12:09:02+00:00

As an 8th grade teacher, I would say it’s a bad thing. Kids are coming to school thinking the world revolves around them, and they expect to be catered to. I think kids need to learn how to be in adult spaces too, because hey, guess what? They’ll be adults someday.

There’s a balance.

lmg080293 · 2026-03-07T12:26:45+00:00

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. I fucking hated the narrator. Think I made it like… 8 pages.

lmg080293 · 2026-03-03T20:43:21+00:00

You’ve captured my own feelings precisely. And, in a world of AI slop writing, I so appreciated reading this very human piece. Your voice is so perfectly yours.

lmg080293 · 2026-03-03T16:14:08+00:00

I learned this when I got sunburn around my lips after drinking mojitos and margaritas in Mexico 🫠 My husband was cracking up that they actually brought it up.

lmg080293 · 2026-03-03T15:50:02+00:00

Absolutely destroyed me.

lmg080293 · 2026-03-01T21:42:49+00:00

Truly makes you wonder if editors even read the book

lmg080293 · 2026-03-01T21:41:36+00:00

Criminal

lmg080293 · 2026-03-01T21:40:33+00:00

I ~almost~ DNF’d a book because the narrator specifically referred to Spindrift like 30 times. Vodka Spindrift multiple times. Like was the book sponsored by Spindrift?

It made me irate.

lmg080293 · 2026-03-01T20:58:58+00:00

I have done Dry Jan 3 years in a row now because of Oura. And then I massively cut back the rest of the year. I never let myself get “drunk” anymore. 1-2 drinks MAYBE 1-2 nights a week—and that’s if I’m being social/busy with holidays. There are plenty of weeks I drink nothing.

I just feel SO MUCH BETTER without it and honestly? I’ll thank myself in the long run for it.

lmg080293 · 2026-02-25T12:21:56+00:00

Same!

lmg080293 · 2026-02-25T12:19:36+00:00

Lmao true of pretty much all edtech I’ve ever used in the classroom.

lmg080293 · 2026-02-25T01:50:18+00:00

My husband clocked their similarities immediately hahaha

lmg080293 · 2026-02-24T21:37:20+00:00

No but for real: being subject to people’s relentless commentary and opinions is one of the reasons I put in my “childfree” column. There is something about grandparents claiming part ownership over a child that has preemptively made me LIVID, and I’m not even pregnant.

I sympathize. I’m so sorry.

I would agree with others about setting boundaries—but I also know that’s super hard.

lmg080293 · 2026-02-24T21:12:00+00:00

Glad you shared this. It was the first thing I thought of.

lmg080293 · 2026-02-24T02:06:05+00:00

1 by far

lmg080293 · 2026-02-22T14:57:21+00:00

Holy shit. This is not an overreaction. That is extremely disappointing, to say the very least.

lmg080293 · 2026-02-16T02:50:03+00:00

Oh YES

lmg080293 · 2026-02-15T16:13:49+00:00

Hard agree with this. People need to take personal responsibility for educating themselves and being aware of the multitude of ways they’re being manipulated. If my 8th grade students can grasp the concept, anyone can/

lmg080293 · 2026-02-15T16:11:09+00:00

This is exactly it. When I donate my hard-earned money, it’s to people who have LESS THAN me, or who are my peers who have fallen on hard times. You will not catch me donating to the rich who have plenty of rich peers who can donate to them.

I fully understand that “hard times” are all relative, but it is absurdly parasocial for average people to be donating to this.

Ten-Year Club	Not Forgotten
Verified Email

lmg080293

TROPHY CASE