n8n Automation for Teacher Assignment Grading Tracker

Why This Automation Matters

Managing assignment grading can be overwhelming for teachers, especially when handling multiple classes and numerous students. This n8n automation workflow helps you:

Track grading progress across all assignments and students automatically
Send reminder notifications for pending grades and approaching deadlines
Generate progress reports to monitor your grading workload
Integrate with Google Sheets for easy data management and visualization
Reduce administrative burden so you can focus more on teaching and providing quality feedback

This workflow transforms your grading process from a chaotic pile of papers into an organized, trackable system that keeps you on top of your workload.

What You Need Before Starting

Required Tools and Accounts

n8n instance (cloud or self-hosted)
Google account with access to Google Sheets and Gmail
Slack workspace (optional, for team notifications)

Preparation Steps

Create a Google Sheet with columns: Student Name, Assignment Name, Due Date, Grade Status, Date Graded, Grade, Notes
Set up Google API credentials in n8n for Sheets and Gmail access
Configure Slack webhook (if using Slack notifications)
Prepare email templates for different notification types

Technical Requirements

Basic understanding of n8n interface
Access to Google Workspace or personal Google account
Email account for sending notifications

Complete Node-by-Node Build Instructions

Node 1: Schedule Trigger

Add Schedule Trigger node
Set interval to “Every Day”
Configure time to 8:00 AM (or your preferred check time)
This will run the workflow daily to check grading status

Node 2: Google Sheets - Read Data

Add Google Sheets node
Connect to Schedule Trigger
Configure:
- Operation: Read
- Document: Select your grading tracker sheet
- Sheet: Sheet1 (or your sheet name)
- Range: A:G (adjust based on your columns)
This reads all assignment data

Node 3: Code - Process Grading Data

Add Code node
Connect to Google Sheets node
Insert this JavaScript code:

const currentDate = new Date();
const overdueAssignments = [];
const pendingGrades = [];
const weeklyStats = {
  totalAssignments: 0,
  gradedAssignments: 0,
  pendingAssignments: 0
};

for (const item of $input.all()) {
  const data = item.json;
  const dueDate = new Date(data['Due Date']);
  const gradeStatus = data['Grade Status'];
  
  weeklyStats.totalAssignments++;
  
  if (gradeStatus === 'Pending' || !gradeStatus) {
    weeklyStats.pendingAssignments++;
    
    // Check if assignment is overdue
    if (dueDate < currentDate) {
      overdueAssignments.push({
        studentName: data['Student Name'],
        assignmentName: data['Assignment Name'],
        dueDate: data['Due Date'],
        daysOverdue: Math.floor((currentDate - dueDate) / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24))
      });
    } else {
      pendingGrades.push({
        studentName: data['Student Name'],
        assignmentName: data['Assignment Name'],
        dueDate: data['Due Date']
      });
    }
  } else {
    weeklyStats.gradedAssignments++;
  }
}

return [
  {
    json: {
      overdueAssignments,
      pendingGrades,
      weeklyStats,
      checkDate: currentDate.toISOString()
    }
  }
];

Node 4: IF - Check for Overdue Items

Add IF node
Connect to Code node
Configure condition:
- Value 1: {{$json.overdueAssignments.length}}
- Operation: Larger
- Value 2: 0

Node 5: Gmail - Send Overdue Alert

Add Gmail node to “True” output of IF
Configure:
- Operation: Send
- To: Your email address
- Subject: 🚨 Overdue Assignments Alert - {{$json.overdueAssignments.length}} items
- Message:

You have {{$json.overdueAssignments.length}} overdue assignments to grade:

{{$json.overdueAssignments.map(item => `• ${item.studentName} - ${item.assignmentName} (${item.daysOverdue} days overdue)`).join('\n')}}

Please prioritize grading these assignments.

Node 6: IF - Check Pending Count

Add IF node
Connect to both outputs of previous IF node
Configure condition:
- Value 1: {{$json.pendingGrades.length}}
- Operation: Larger
- Value 2: 10

Node 7: Gmail - Send Weekly Summary

Add Gmail node to “True” output
Configure:
- Operation: Send
- To: Your email address
- Subject: 📊 Weekly Grading Summary
- Message:

Weekly Grading Statistics:

📋 Total Assignments: {{$json.weeklyStats.totalAssignments}}
✅ Graded: {{$json.weeklyStats.gradedAssignments}}
⏳ Pending: {{$json.weeklyStats.pendingAssignments}}
📈 Completion Rate: {{Math.round(($json.weeklyStats.gradedAssignments / $json.weeklyStats.totalAssignments) * 100)}}%

You have a high number of pending grades ({{$json.pendingGrades.length}}). Consider setting aside dedicated grading time.

Node 8: Webhook - Update Dashboard

Add Webhook node (optional)
Connect to merge both IF outputs
Configure as needed for external dashboard updates

Node 9: Google Sheets - Log Check

Add Google Sheets node
Connect to previous node
Configure:
- Operation: Append
- Document: Same spreadsheet
- Sheet: Create “Grading_Log” sheet
- Values:
  - Check Date: {{$json.checkDate}}
  - Total Assignments: {{$json.weeklyStats.totalAssignments}}
  - Pending: {{$json.weeklyStats.pendingAssignments}}
  - Overdue: {{$json.overdueAssignments.length}}

Full Workflow JSON Code Block

{
  "name": "Teacher Assignment Grading Tracker",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "parameters": {
        "rule": {
          "interval": [
            {
              "field": "cronExpression",
              "expression": "0 8 * * *"
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "name": "Daily Grading Check",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
      "typeVersion": 1.1,
      "position": [240, 300]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "operation": "read",
        "documentId": "YOUR_SHEET_ID",
        "sheetName": "Sheet1",
        "range": "A:G",
        "keyRow": 1
      },
      "name": "Read Grading Data",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
      "typeVersion": 4,
      "position": [460, 300]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "jsCode": "const currentDate = new Date();\nconst overdueAssignments = [];\nconst pendingGrades = [];\nconst weeklyStats = {\n  totalAssignments: 0,\n  gradedAssignments: 0,\n  pendingAssignments: 0\n};\n\nfor (const item of $input.all()) {\n  const data = item.json;\n  const dueDate = new Date(data['Due Date']);\n  const gradeStatus = data['Grade Status'];\n  \n  weeklyStats.totalAssignments++;\n  \n  if (gradeStatus === 'Pending' || !gradeStatus) {\n    weeklyStats.pendingAssignments++;\n    \n    if (dueDate < currentDate) {\n      overdueAssignments.push({\n        studentName: data['Student Name'],\n        assignmentName: data['Assignment Name'],\n        dueDate: data['Due Date'],\n        daysOverdue: Math.floor((currentDate - dueDate) / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24))\n      });\n    } else {\n      pendingGrades.push({\n        studentName: data['Student Name'],\n        assignmentName: data['Assignment Name'],\n        dueDate: data['Due Date']\n      });\n    }\n  } else {\n    weeklyStats.gradedAssignments++;\n  }\n}\n\nreturn [{\n  json: {\n    overdueAssignments,\n    pendingGrades,\n    weeklyStats,\n    checkDate: currentDate.toISOString()\n  }\n}];"
      },
      "name": "Process Data",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
      "typeVersion": 2,
      "position": [680, 300]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "conditions": {
          "options": {
            "caseSensitive": true,
            "leftValue": "",
            "typeValidation": "strict"
          },
          "conditions": [
            {
              "id": "1",
              "leftValue": "={{$json.overdueAssignments.length}}",
              "rightValue": 0,
              "operator": {
                "type": "number",
                "operation": "gt"
              }
            }
          ],
          "combinator": "and"
        }
      },
      "name": "Check Overdue",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
      "typeVersion": 2,
      "position": [900, 300]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "sendTo": "YOUR_EMAIL@example.com",
        "subject": "🚨 Overdue Assignments Alert - {{$json.overdueAssignments.length}} items",
        "message": "You have {{$json.overdueAssignments.length}} overdue assignments to grade:\n\n{{$json.overdueAssignments.map(item => `• ${item.studentName} - ${item.assignmentName} (${item.daysOverdue} days overdue)`).join('\\n')}}\n\nPlease prioritize grading these assignments.",
        "options": {}
      },
      "name": "Send Overdue Alert",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.gmail",
      "typeVersion": 2.1,
      "position": [1120, 180]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "conditions": {
          "options": {
            "caseSensitive": true,
            "leftValue": "",
            "typeValidation": "strict"
          },
          "conditions": [
            {
              "id": "1",
              "leftValue": "={{$json.pendingGrades.length}}",
              "rightValue": 10,
              "operator": {
                "type": "number",
                "operation": "gt"
              }
            }
          ],
          "combinator": "and"
        }
      },
      "name": "Check High Pending",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
      "typeVersion": 2,
      "position": [1340, 300]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "sendTo": "YOUR_EMAIL@example.com",
        "subject": "📊 Weekly Grading Summary",
        "message": "Weekly Grading Statistics:\n\n📋 Total Assignments: {{$json.weeklyStats.totalAssignments}}\n✅ Graded: {{$json.weeklyStats.gradedAssignments}}\n⏳ Pending: {{$json.weeklyStats.pendingAssignments}}\n📈 Completion Rate: {{Math.round(($json.weeklyStats.gradedAssignments / $json.weeklyStats.totalAssignments) * 100)}}%\n\nYou have a high number of pending grades. Consider setting aside dedicated grading time.",
        "options": {}
      },
      "name": "Send Summary",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.gmail",
      "typeVersion": 2.1,
      "position": [1560, 180]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "operation": "append",
        "documentId": "YOUR_SHEET_ID",
        "sheetName": "Grading_Log",
        "columns": {
          "mappingMode": "defineBelow",
          "value": {
            "Check Date": "={{$json.checkDate}}",
            "Total Assignments": "={{$json.weeklyStats.totalAssignments}}",
            "Pending": "={{$json.weeklyStats.pendingAssignments}}",
            "Overdue": "={{$json.overdueAssignments.length}}"
          }
        },
        "options": {}
      },
      "name": "Log Statistics",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
      "typeVersion": 4,
      "position": [1780, 300]
    }
  ],
  "connections": {
    "Daily Grading Check": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Read Grading Data",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Read Grading Data": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Process Data",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Process Data": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Check Overdue",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Check Overdue": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Send Overdue Alert",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ],
        [
          {
            "node": "Check High Pending",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Send Overdue Alert": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Check High Pending",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Check High Pending": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Send Summary",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ],
        [
          {
            "node": "Log Statistics",
            "type": "main