Hey Teach!
Marking maths books doesn’t have to take hours. With a little planning, a few clever strategies, and some help from your students, you can get it done in just 15 minutes or less. Imagine leaving on time more often—sounds great, right? Let’s dive into these tips to save your precious time and still provide meaningful feedback for your learners.
- Presentation is Key
Train your students to present their work neatly. This might seem small, but trust me—it makes a world of difference when you can actually read their work! Take a few minutes at the start of the year to set clear expectations for how students should lay out their work in their books. Whether it’s using rulers, writing one number per square, or organising their answers logically, these small habits will make your marking faster and more efficient.
- Don't Forget to Prepare Your Answer Sheet
Always prepare an answer sheet before the lesson. Keep it handy as you walk around the classroom supporting students during independent learning time. Use this opportunity to do some live marking— and give instant feedback. It saves you from having to revisit every single question later, and your students benefit from the immediate guidance. You may even finish marking some of your students’ books while live marking too. Win-win.
- Collect Books Open
Here’s a simple yet genius hack: collect the books open on that day’s work. It makes finding the correct page so much quicker when you’re marking. Want to level this up? Get your students involved! Assign this as a classroom job for a couple of responsible students. Not only does it save you time, but it also helps develop their accountability and ownership of the classroom routine.
Need some inspiration for organizing classroom jobs? Check out my Classroom Jobs resources for ideas and tools to get started!
- Close the Door—It’s Marking Time
When it’s time to mark, eliminate distractions. Close the door, switch off the notifications, and focus. It’s not about being antisocial—it’s about giving yourself a solid 15 minutes to get through the pile. Remember, this focused time is your ticket to leaving on time!
- Speed Marking is Your Friend
Armed with your trusty answer sheet, dive into the marking. Use your school’s marking code to highlight mistakes and guide students on how to self-correct when they get their books back. Create a separate pile for the books that need a little more attention—those students who might need specific feedback (more on this next). Don’t waste time writing long comments in every book; focus on being efficient.
- Verbal Feedback
For that smaller group of students who need detailed feedback, go verbal! Research shows that verbal feedback is incredibly effective and saves time. Make a quick note of their names on the board or a sticky note so you can follow up with them during early morning work time or later in the day. This not only saves you from writing lengthy feedback but also allows you to connect with your students directly.
Bonus Tip: Team Up with Your Teaching Assistant
If you’re lucky enough to have a teaching assistant in your classroom, make the most of their support during marking! With two pairs of hands, you can work together to tackle marking tasks efficiently. And while you’re both live marking, more of your students are provided with immediate feedback. Another win-win! With teamwork, you can breeze through marking and free up time for other priorities—no more late evenings buried under a pile of books!
There you have it! By implementing these tips, you’ll not only whip through your maths marking but also reclaim more of your time. And here’s the best part—these strategies aren’t just for maths! You can adapt them for other areas of the curriculum, like English or science. For example, using verbal feedback, live marking, or collecting books open can work wonders in writing tasks or any subject where student work needs reviewing. It’s all about working smarter, not harder.
Here’s to faster marking, less stress, and more time for you. You’ve got this!
Kizzy x
PS
In case you didn't hear it today - you're doing great!
Looking for time saving resources! Do check out my fabulous (if I do say so myself) resources on offer here.
