How I Save Time Grading Student Work with ZipGrade

Tech tools have really streamlined student grading for teachers. If you’re looking for an easy one to use, here is a tutorial on how I save time grading student work with Zip Grade, a FREE app for teachers.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure here.

I am not being paid to promote ZipGrade in any way. No links to ZipGrade in this post are affiliate links. 

Is Grading Important?

Before I dig into the nitty-gritty details of Zip Grade, let’s chop down the elephant in the room. I honestly don’t believe that grading students’ tests and assignments will not be leaving our classrooms any time soon.

And if it does, that is obviously a distant date!

So teachers need ideas NOW on how to save time on checking and grading our student center work, tests, quizzes, and other assignments.

That is where ZipGrade comes in!

What is Zip Grade?

ZipGrade is a FREE app and online resource that turns ANY student assignment into a multiple choice format.

The tech tool allows you to scan your students’ work within seconds to grade the assignment quickly, which saves you so much time as a teacher.

You can use ZipGrade for most subject areas and assignments, except essay and paragraph writing.

Book Widgets also ranked Zip Grade as one of the 10 Amazing Grading Apps That Help Teachers Save Time.

I have used Zip Grade several times to help me save time with grading as an elementary school teacher. So let’s dive into the details on this neat time-saver!

How Do You Save Time on Grading with ZipGrade?

Here are the simple steps to how I save time on student grading with ZipGrade:

• Print the scan sheets that ZipGrade provides from their website. These print with 20, 50, or 100 bubbles per page. You can also customize the amount.
  
• Enter your quiz, test, or assignment into their app.
  
• Then upload your answer key into the same dashboard.
  
• Students complete the assignment you’ve uploaded to ZipGrade.
  
• Once they turn in their answer sheets, use your camera’s smartphone to scan each page, and ZipGrade grades the assignment for you.

Their free plan allows up to 100 scans per month.

This tech tool saves time on grading your students’ work because the scanner collects the student data in seconds and gives you a total instantly.

PLUS, my favorite feature is that it analyzes all the students’ results for each assignment and puts it into a graph or tabulated form.

Cutting My Grading Time in Half!

These pictures below show the scan sheet. Each caption includes a few tips I’ve learned while using this system.

Ideas for Using ZipGrade in your Classroom

In addition to the steps above, here are a couple more hacks I’ve developed while using this grading tool:

• Laminated Answer Keys for Centers: Keep them near your centers for students to scan the answer keys with your class tablets or iPads.
  
• Exit Tickets: I try to wrap up each lesson with reflection and review. Then I display review questions on our classroom Smartboard. The students answer them on the ZipGrade scan sheets. Then I quickly scan their responses to see how they did.

You cannot use ZipGrade for things like:

• Essays
• Book Reports
• STEM Projects
• Open-Ended Assessments or Assignments

It may also be difficult to use this tool for Kinders and 1st grade students.

Not only are they still building their fine motor skills, which will make bubbling challenging, but they need to complete assignments that are not on scan sheets.

General Ways to Save Time on Grading Student Assignments

Since ZipGrade cannot be used on everything, it helps to also have some general hacks for saving time on grading student work.

This video outlines more ways you can save time grading student work.

More Resources to Help You Save Time on Grading

Do you feel efficient when it comes to grading your students’ work? If not, here are more resources for you:

• Work Request Notes for Teachers, TA’s, Parapros, and Classroom Volunteers
• Student Feedback Notes to Print on Sticky Notes