Teacher Spotlight: Laura McMahon, Ivywood Classical Academy
When Laura McMahon, a middle school science teacher at Ivywood Classical Academy, was asked to teach two sections of Structure and Style for Students: Year 1 Level B in addition to her science classes, she faced a challenge familiar to many educators. She was drowning in grading. When she discovered IEW Gradebook, a digital tool designed to simplify the grading and feedback process, she found a life raft.
Saving Time
Grading compositions can easily consume hours of precious time outside the classroom. McMahon quickly discovered how much faster and easier grading could be with the tool’s built-in features. “It helped me locate all the structural elements and stylistic techniques students were required to include in their essays,” she explains. “I wasn’t spending hours hunting for them. The checklist was right there side by side with their final drafts so I could check things off quickly and accurately.”
This integration of the IEW Checklist directly beside each writing assignment allows teachers to grade efficiently without losing the personal touch. “I could still grade with ease and in a timely manner,” she adds. “Using the built-in Quick Comments along with the ability to add my own personalized comments, I can give students meaningful feedback.”
That structure also improved classroom organization and consistency in grading. “Having the student’s paper and the checklist in one spot was great,” she explains. “I didn’t have to carry stacks of papers home anymore. I could grade wherever I wanted.”
McMahon estimates she gained back eight to ten hours a week by using IEW Gradebook.
Streamlining Grading
McMahon found IEW Gradebook surprisingly intuitive. “I did the self-tutorial with the sample paper and figured out this is a really easy product to use,” she shares.
The responsive support system within IEW Gradebook also stood out. “If I needed help, the little red flag button was right there,” McMahon says. “I could ask a question and usually had an answer within the same day.”
Once she understood the workflow, she was able to introduce it seamlessly into her classroom. After teaching her students how to format papers and upload their Google Docs into the student portal of IEW Gradebook, the process became routine. Students completed handwritten key word outlines and rough drafts and then submitted their typed final drafts online. McMahon graded them digitally, and students reviewed their graded papers when feedback was ready. “Once I clicked Graded, I could send students an email directly from the assignment with a link for them to retrieve their grades and view my comments.”
Encouraging Student Growth and Confidence
McMahon’s students not only were receptive to using IEW Gradebook but also grew significantly as writers. By allowing them to see specific feedback tied to their checklists, the tool turned writing into a process of measurable growth.
“They could see where they didn’t quite hit the mark and had the opportunity to improve in the next essay,” McMahon explains.
IEW’s structured method along with the EZ+1 approach helped prevent students from feeling overwhelmed. “You’re not introducing too many techniques at once,” McMahon expounds. “It’s methodical and clear. We add one new skill at a time while continuing to practice the ones already learned. It really encourages students to build confidence and mastery gradually.”
Building Better Educators
McMahon credits IEW Gradebook with helping her grow as an educator as well. “IEW is very structured, and I’m a structured teacher,” she says. “Having that additional methodical way of teaching writing made me more mindful about how to teach writing effectively.”
Now, McMahon, who was one of the first classroom teachers to use IEW Gradebook, is sharing her experience with other educators. This year, she’s mentoring a new teacher at Ivywood Classical Academy. She believes that tools like IEW Gradebook represent the future of effective teaching, balancing the demands of grading, planning, and personal life while they enhance the quality of instruction. “Teachers have really busy lives, even outside the classroom,” she says. “This tool helps manage that load while helping students become better writers.”
Benefiting the Classroom
Reflecting on her experience, McMahon reveals, “I really enjoyed using IEW Gradebook. It was a huge blessing to me as a teacher.”
For educators overwhelmed by grading writing assignments and for students eager to understand and improve their writing, IEW Gradebook offers a streamlined, structured, and supportive solution. It saves time, enhances accuracy, and strengthens the connection between teaching and learning.
As McMahon puts it, “Being able to utilize more tools in your toolbox is never a bad thing. IEW Gradebook helps teachers do their job better.” She went on to explain that when she uses IEW Gradebook to grade, her feedback improved, and her students’ writing did too.
by Andrea Pewthers
Provided on Spotlight Ivywood Classical Academy.
