I am getting frustrated again about make up work. I have several students this semester whose parents seem to feel that family vacation time is more important than school work. Okay, fine. You make that choice for your children. But then they seem to think that it is MY job to make it so their decision has no consequences. Now, in my district, students are supposed to only be allowed to make up work from excused absences. Vacations are not excused. But I know full well that concessions would be made down the line if I held to that standard. Parents would whine and complain until I was forced to reverse a decision and I'd end up looking like the bad guy. So I just hold to the rule when skipping is involved. That being said, students do have a limited amount of time in which to make up work from missed days. Teacher discretion. I generally work with students once they return and set individual due dates based on what else is going on in the class. So I have a few students that took off for Disney around the first of November. I handed out progress reports noting what they missed the week after they returned. I emailed all of my students' parents letting them know progress reports were sent home. I made notes about make-up work on the reports themselves. One student was on the ball and made everything up right away. The others did not. I reminded my class as a whole about make-up work. I reminded the individual students privately. I told them all that the final day for making up their work was XXX. One student has gone from a B to a 52. And it isn't lower simply because I refused to have a zero for a test grade and made her take the test during class time. I figured any grade would be better than a zero. She ignored my requests for her to come to my tutoring times and the day after the final date I gave it to her at her seat. Now I have a request for the student to stay late one day and get everything done. The student cannot come early to school and cannot come during tutoring times in the middle of the day. I feel that I've done WAY more than I should have to accommodate these students. Why should their vacation away cause ME to stay even later? I've said no and I am pretty sure I would be supported by administration on this. But it does frustrate me that there is this expectation for me to go above and beyond due to a vacation.
Sometimes natural consequences need to kick in. You're out? You make up the work. You choose not to? You fail. I would certainly document all the opportunties you've given, as well as the work that the one on-the-ball student did to make up the work. Then I would let the chips fall. The first of November was quite some time ago. At some point, you've got to say "Enough!!"
I agree, but I would also either explain to the student or e-mail the parent and cc admin all the steps you have taken to go out of your way to help this student so no one tries to complain later.
I have that in my class contract that the student is responsible for all work missed and both the student and parent signs in sept. we also have an online system where we post assignments and homework . The excuse of no Internet? I give them a mini lesson on the library
Are the parents directly asking you for this further extension? I would contact them, let them know that this student WILL get the extension, but also let them know about all the missed / ignored previous opportunities. This is the last chance for this student to get priorities in order.
No, no direct request from the parents. The student implied (but we know that doesn't mean a whole lot, lol) that the parents requested and are upset about me not providing more time. And another staff member was requesting it on her behalf. I was just frustrated and needed to vent, I think. It burns me that I am supposed to work EXTRA just so the parents and students can work LESS. "Supposed to" meaning that the expectation is there by the parents.
I see no reason whatsoever why you should be expected to give up your off time to help this student, particularly when it sounds like you have been very reasonable and provided times when you ARE willing to help. Personally, I tutor after schools. I've had parents ask if their child can stay late for something... sorry, no can do.
I just enter all of the missed work online immediately as a 0 (including tests/quizzes) and tell them it's up to them to come make it up before the end of the marking period. Some do, some keep the 0s.
I'm sure the parents are upset. But I imagine that the story they're getting from their child isn't exactly the same version they would get from you. And what do you mean about another staff member? Do you mean that another teacher asked YOU to stay late to give this student extra time?
True Alicia, but they got part of the story directly from me via email and progress reports. And yes, other staff do get involved. Particularly coaches, guidance and parents of the students' friends.
Perhaps a call home is in order to decide which work is done, and to find out why other options have not been acceptable. That way, you and the student's parents can talk directly without her running interference.
If the parents were concerned, why wouldn't they take the initiative to call? If you do reach out to the parents, I would definitely email and cc admin to have documentation. Being that it is a month later, I see no reason why the grade shouldn't stand as is. You have done enough, for long enough.
