Let’s be honest—marking and assessment can feel like the never-ending mountain we’re constantly climbing. Between dozens of classes, rotating schedules, and performance-based skills to assess, it’s no wonder this is the number one thing teachers say they struggle to stay on top of.
But here’s the good news: with a few intentional systems, you can stop the pile-up and start feeling in control of your assessment load again.
💜 And if you want step-by-step guidance, examples, and tools? That’s exactly what we cover in the Get Organized course—including my full marking system from start to finish.
Not every assessment has to be a major performance or lengthy written task. The more variety you use, the easier it becomes to gather meaningful data without overwhelming yourself or your students.
Here are some assessment types I regularly rotate between:
🌟 Pro tip: Plan for one “light” assessment and one “deeper” one per unit. This gives you balance and flexibility throughout the term.
One of the best shifts I’ve made is learning to plan my planning time, not just my lessons.
Instead of hoping you’ll “fit in” your marking, schedule it. For example:
This habit means I don’t spend my evenings catching up—and I maximize every minute during prep periods. It’s one of the biggest takeaways I walk through in the Get Organized course!
Still using sticky notes and clipboards? It might be time to upgrade. A digital gradebook can transform how quickly and easily you manage student data.
Why I love mine:
🎯 You can grab my Digital Grade Book template right here in the Teach From The Stage shop—it’s a game-changer.
If you’re constantly overwhelmed by what’s due or what’s been marked, your system isn’t working for you.
In Module 4 of the Get Organized course, I break down:
Remember: you don’t need to do it all—you just need a system that works consistently.
Want to streamline even faster? These are my go-to tools for building effective assessment routines:
Each one includes rubrics, tracking tools, student self-assessments, and more to make your marking manageable.
The Get Organized course doesn’t just help with lesson planning and classroom setup—it includes my full marking workflow:
🎯 Click here to join the course now and gain access to every system, checklist, and tutorial!
The first week sets the tone for your entire year—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In the next post, I’ll walk you through how to design an engaging, low-stress first week of music class that builds routines, relationships, and confidence—for both you and your students. You’ll also get a peek at the exact templates and resources I use to start the year strong inside the Get Organized course. Stay tuned!
My name is Alessandra and I am a Kindergarten-Grade 8 Teacher of the Arts, specializing in music and dance education. Based in Toronto, Canada, I teach 800+ students a week and am a huge advocate for the arts. I graduated with a Bachelors of Music Therapy & Masters of Education, and I am passionate about fostering a quality music education program for every learner.
