T O P I C :

They Won't Do Their Work

Kelli poses the question: My major problem thus far has been with students who simply do not turn in assignments. The students are rarely assigned homework and do not have to take the work out of the room. My mentor and I do not assign homework unless the class work needs to be submitted and it was not completed in class. Some of the students seem to have trouble finding the homework tray on their way out of class. There have already been several instances where both my mentor and I have nagged the kids about turning in their work before they leave class. However, even with our repeated discussions of how neglecting to turn in work will result in zeroes, the students still seem to either have no idea of the repercussions for taking zeroes on assignments or they simply do not care about their grades at all. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Posted September 22, 2008

R E S P O N S E :

End of Semester Incentives

Tara Griner writes: I, too, have experienced just this. I have decided that grades do not motivate today's students. I have searched and examined them, and I feel I can get into their heads enough to at least empathize with how they see the world, but I have yet to decide what would motivate me if I were them. I have wondered if some kind of incentive (a day off school, an extended lunch, or a field trip) at the end of the semester for students who have no missing assignments would be motivating. Certainly it wouldn't reach them all, but perhaps it would entice a few.

Posted October 12, 2008

R E S P O N S E :

Green 'Zero Work' Cards

Julia Bachelor writes: Kelli, my mentor teacher does not bother with trays or even having students pass papers forward or sideways or backways. She simply goes to each student at their desk and asks for the assignment. If they have it and give it to her, great. If they do not have it, she has a handful of green "Zero Work" cards, and she gives them this card. They must fill it out before they leave class. The card asks for an explanation about why they did not hand in their assignment and also a solution for what they will do to hand it in.

While it may be a bit time consuming, it allows the teacher to SEE the students who turn in work and who do not, and to have that personal contact with them that may act as a sort of conscience to the student. Also, she knows then and there who turned in their assignment and who did not.

When I've done this, I've found time during class or afterward to talk to these students individually as well as to read the green card they submitted. Note: Usually when the assignment is being taken up, the students are working on something else like a quick write or a bell ringer, so that time is not totally lost.

Posted October 12, 2008

R E S P O N S E :

Several Smart Solutions

Mara Vaile writes: I am also having a similar problem with my group of eighth graders. We are constantly nagging, but it seems like if we keep nagging, they won't know how to hand in assignments on their own when the students get to high school.

There are a few things we have come up with that helps a little. One thing we do is have them hand in their papers a few minutes before the bell rings. Then we quickly go through the basket and count to make sure we have everyone's paper. I know that seems like it takes too much time, but with two of us, we can manage. Doing this is helpful because we say to the class that someone didn't turn something in. A lot of times that is a reminder for the student who wasn't paying attention and forgot to put the homework in the basket.

Something else we sometimes do is have the students pass their papers foward. That way you avoid them getting up, and you can watch to see that you're getting all the papers. We have been giving the students a lot of opportunities to get things in because it is the first quarter.

From what I've seen though, the general philosophy in eighth grade is that each quarter, we nag less and less as they start to develop more responsibility as they get closer to being in high school.

Ocotber 12, 2008

R E S P O N S E :

A Low Average = Detention

Tonya Seaton writes: We post our students’ average grades each week in their planners, so they AND THEIR PARENTS, HOPEFULLY, know what grade they have in the class. If their average is below 70 percent, they get lunch detention. That seems to get them in gear.

Posted October 11, 2008

R E S P O N S E :

But If It Works....

Grace Pendergrass writes: I feel like we might have a similar situation. Many of my students lack the ability to remember to turn in their assignments. My favorite part of this little problem is when I tell them they are missing something and give them a few days to turn it in. I let a few days pass, post a zero — and then their parents start e-mailing. In one case, a parent said that I must have lost her child's vocabulary assignment, comparison contrast essay, and journal entry. Considering that everyone else had turned in all of those assignments, I had a difficulty concealing my sarcasm in my response.

For the most part, notifying the parents is the greatest threat I can come up with in the "no-homework-turned-in problem." I also have used the football coach to my advantage. Most schools have a grade requirement for students to be able to participate in extracurricular activities. If your school does not have this requirement, does your student really know that? I know that is very evil, but if it works — it works.

Also, I have given some of my students a "FACTS" pass. This pass requires them to come into my classroom during our 30-minute study hall time. When they arrive, I give them the assignment and make them work on it. One time, I physically stood over the student's desk, reading my independent reading book, and told her I could stand all day. She turned in one of her missing assignments within four minutes.

Posted October 5, 2008

E-mail your suggestions and comments to fbowles@uark.edu