Overview
During my junior year at Texas A&M, I worked part-time as a Professor's Assistant / Grader in the Math Department. I supported one faculty member by grading homework for a core undergraduate math course, helping keep feedback cycles short while the class size stayed large.
The role was simple on paper, "grade assignments", but in practice it meant reading dozens of different approaches to the same problem, checking work carefully, and applying a consistent rubric so students knew exactly where they lost points and how to improve on the next assignment.
Role & Courses
I worked directly for a single professor in the Math Department, grading weekly homework sets for a lower-division course taken by engineering and science majors. My responsibilities included:
- Applying the instructor's grading rubrics to written homework, checking both final answers and intermediate work.
- Providing clear markings and brief comments so students understood their mistakes (sign errors, algebra, setup, etc.).
- Tracking scores and ensuring grade records were accurate and up to date before each class meeting.
- Flagging common error patterns back to the professor so they could be addressed in lecture or review sessions.
Highlights
- Graded weekly homework for an entire semester, often under tight turnaround, while keeping rubrics consistent across dozens of students.
- Helped the instructor identify concepts where many students were stuck (e.g., algebraic manipulation, limits, or multi-step problem setup), which informed examples and review problems in class.
- Developed a habit of reading mathematical work quickly but carefully, separating small arithmetic slips from deeper conceptual misunderstandings.
Skills & Tools
Skills
- Attention to detail in symbolic math and written work
- Consistent application of grading rubrics
- Time management while balancing coursework and grading
- Clear, concise written feedback for students
Tools & Platforms
- Gradescope for digital homework grading, rubric-based evaluation, and batch feedback.
- Canvas LMS integration for grade syncing and assignment tracking.
- Rubric design and consistent application across large student groups.
- PDF markup, annotation workflows, and structured grading queues.
- Communication with professor regarding edge cases, partial credit, and assignment clarity.
Outcomes
- Helped the instructor return graded homework promptly, giving students regular feedback on their progress.
- Strengthened my own foundations in core math topics by repeatedly reviewing different students' approaches to the same problems.
- Gained early experience in a teaching support role, contributing behind the scenes to how a large class was run.