We have a student information system and it is all computerized. Yes, anyone that knows me and knows my true lack of technology skills can probably already start piecing this post together.
I have been working on putting all of the grades in the systen the last three weeks because Wednesday October 27 th our report cards are going to be printed. So on Friday October 22nd I decided I had better make sure that all of the grades were posted and were correct. First two classes YEAH! Perfect! Last class? Every grade had disappeared. Panic set in immediately. I kept reminding myself if this was a student in the class I would be telling them tomorrow is a NEW DAY and it' going to be OK. I really hate it when I have to live by what I teach because I was thinking for a little while about how ok this was not or was it going to be. The bright side of this I am ahead of the deadline and I have plenty of time to re enter all of the grades! "Tomorrow is a new day."
I have a student teacher and he is a pro on the computer and for me this makes it all the more embarrassing. He, I'm sure quietly was thinking, "wow if you had just hit the save button you would have had all of the grades and been ready to print. "
I decided tomorrow is not only a new day but it is Saturday and I would have time to work on these Monday. The best is I still have plenty of time before Wednesday. Technology MY FAVORITE!!!
Wow, that does sound like it would be a nightmare! Thank goodness that you started early enough & that you had an amazing student teacher to help you out. I haven't had to enter any grades onto our computer system yet because first grade only enters major scores like 4 times a year. I will definitely remember your story and start my grades early too :)
ReplyDeleteLove your idea that tomorrow is a new day. I think everyone (including myself) needs to remember that more often.
I have had very similar stories when working on projects. I must learn to hit save more often! This reminded me of my student teaching experience. My teacher recorded grades in three different places. First she would copy them onto spreadsheets she printed off, then she would copy them into a grade book, and lastly she would put them on a computer. She was definitely making sure she never lost grades. At first I thought this was a bit repetitive. I would have skipped the first steps and put them right into the computer. Then I started thinking about how many times I've had problems with computers. I decided it's probably a good idea to record them on paper as well! Thanks for sharing this story and I'm glad you had such a positve attitude.
ReplyDeleteAh your story sounds all to familiar to me. How many times have I in the past wished that I would have just hit that save button, a few moments earlier?! Now I save my work on the computer, an external drive and email it to myself. I was almost embarrassed about this, but your story made me realize that seeing as I am a procrastinator (and therefore most typically would not have a tomorrow is a new day), I better save the document I am now busy with (in all three locations). Good luck with getting the report cards ready.
ReplyDeleteAll of us have done this and like your response, all you can say is -- tomorrow is another day. I actually had a harddrive crash on my computer several years ago. Absolutely, no backup! 5000+ files gone! I could have cried, but all I could do was laugh. Just happens once - you don't have to tell me again. The good thing -- you create all new ideas and let the old ones die!
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