Guided meditation before grading - Being Lazy and Slowing Down

By Kimine Mayuzumi

Do you feel dread before grading assignments?

Do you feel like putting it off or procrastinating?

The dread you feel might be connected to:

The heavy workload on top of your other work to be done
the time-and-energy-consuming nature of the work
the possibility of encountering poor quality or even offensive work
doubts about the meaning of your grading work for yourself and students
Whether your grading will be fair and just
and more

If you say yes to either of the top questions, you are not alone. It is quite common. And the guided meditation shared here may help you.

If you liked my other two meditations: 5-minute guided meditation before writing and 5-minute guided meditation before teaching, you may also like this audio too.

Purposes

Just to be clear, this meditation is not to advise you on what to do (or not to do) for your effective or efficient grading. Instead, it is rather to help you calm your mind and body right before you start your grading work that may bring you dread, anxiety, and resistance.

Process

I took a survey among the subscribers to our blog about their experiences of grading. I learned the responders’ pain points, which could be overwhelming yet regularly occurring every single term. Meanwhile, I sensed demands and interests in a meditation audio for grading from different sources. I was determined to craft one before the new term starts for many. I also read some resources, considered my own observations and attended a class on grading.

Acknowledgement

This creation involved the whole community including the individual who sent me an initial request, the survey responders, other individuals who gave me comments and feedback. I am so grateful for their help and encouragement for me to make it.

That said, I am aware that the audio is not perfect for everyone. I am hoping even some parts of the audio would help you mitigate some of the dread you feel when grading.

Below is the transcript in case you want to see what I say first.

Transcript of the guided meditation

Hi. My name is Kimine. This is a 6-minute meditation to gently inspire your calm state of being and increase your motivation level before you start grading. When you feel dread before facing your students’ work to grade, this is a great way to mitigate some of the dread and stay serene and curious to see the work your students brought to your attention.

(00.35)

Let’s bring ourselves to the present moment.

Make sure you are sitting in a comfortable position with your back straight.

Imagine the intangible energy lifting the crown of your head. Close your eyes.

(00.59)

Now, take a deep breath through your nose slowly.

Hold your breath for a second.

Then release it by exhaling gradually through your mouth.

Keep breathing slowly and deeply.

Remember the intangible energy above your head. The energy is a compressed form of all the natural gifts we are given. The air, the trees that produce the air, the soil that grounds the trees, the rain that feeds all kinds of lives.

Open your mind to receive the gift of energy through your breath. When you breathe in, let the energy flow into your abdomen. When you breathe out, let it flow into all the body parts especially where you feel tension and to the fingertips and toes. Let the energy flow relax your body without thinking

The positive energy grows bigger, filling every part of you with natural easy curiosity.

(02.48)

Now I want you to repeat after me in your mind.

I am healthy

I feel great

I know who I am

I am not defined by the grades I give my students

I know the truth.

I give grades because I have to

I am a teacher

I know learning takes a long time and efforts

I happen to be on the learning path of my students this term

Their work is not a reflection of my failure

I am curious to know what they have understood

So that I can modify or re-teach the part they haven’t

My feedback matters in their lives

Grading is a way of connecting with my students

I am now wearing a grading ‘hat’

I will follow the ‘fairness’ I have defined for myself and students

I will take one step at a time

I will set a timer for each assignment/section to grade

I will take breaks in between

I know I can do it

I feel the positive energy coming through

I begin with deep breathing and end with deep breathing

(05.40)

As you are ending the meditation, gently stretch your back and rotate your shoulders. Start listening to the sounds around you. Now open your eyes. You may feel centered, hopeful, and ready for grading.

I wish you a wonderful journey of grading.