My Surprisingly Chill Finals Week
Well, it’s official. As of May 16, I’ve submitted my final grades, and just like that, another semester is done. The path ahead feels a lot more open, though as we all know, an educator's work is never truly done, right? Still, there's a definite shift in the air now that my classes have concluded.
As I was setting up my bullet journal this week – and yes, I’m still new to this bujo life instead of a pre-printed planner, so it’s always a process for me– I found myself reflecting on how this past finals week went. And honestly? It was probably the most stress-free one I’ve ever had, both for me and, it seemed, based on the very kind emails I received, for my students.
The new video is up on the YouTube channel with all the details of my planner and my reflection on the process. Read a sneak peak, or too long too watch, here first.
You know, when I first started teaching my hybrid courses, I was caught off guard because there wasn't a designated final exam slot. I used to do a very practical, applied exam, but that scheduling surprise pushed me to rethink. For a while, I offered a choice: a final portfolio project or an exam. That was good – students liked having the option, and it gave them different ways to showcase their learning. But it still meant a hefty grading pile for me right at the deadline.
So, this semester, I leaned even further into flexibility and student choice, which is a huge part of my teaching philosophy and what we champion at Teacher's PET. Essentially, students had a few paths during finals week:
Happy with your grade? Awesome, you’re done!
Revise a past project: They could take any completed project, use my feedback and the rubric, explain their revision process in a memo, and resubmit for a better grade (plus a few extra points for the reflective memo). I really love this because revision is learning.
The "Super Extension": This allowed them to submit any one previously skipped project from the entire semester. It was a real lifeline for some.
Final Retrospective: I offered a last chance mini project, framed as a "Learning Retrospective." They’d write a memo as if returning from a conference, detailing what they learned and how they’d apply it. It's a great way for them to synthesize the course concepts.
The result? My grading load was manageable and actually enjoyable. Revisions are quick to assess, especially with their memos. Only about 10% of students used the Super Extension, which eased my worries about being flooded. For those late submissions, I focused on rubric feedback and offered more detailed comments upon request, saving time while still being available.
It was empowering to see students take ownership, whether that meant doing nothing because they were content, or strategically using an option to boost their grade. And yes, 33% earned A's – every single one deserved, built on quality work or dedicated revision. Rigor isn't about rigid, stressful exams; it's about clear standards and multiple pathways to demonstrate learning. I'm feeling really good about how it all wrapped up, and I'm already excited to refine it further for next time.
How did your finals week go? I’d love to hear! And grab the basic project sheet for my retrospective mini project in the digital shop as a freebie!
