I teach 4th grade. What do you do when you have kids in your classroom who repeatedly do not get work done on time or even turn it in at all?!?! (It's not because of any sped concerns, in fact many of them are typically "A" students). This is getting REALLY frustrating especially since I give them repeated reminders of what they need to be working on! On top of that, I have some students who are just being lazy/in a rush so they rush through assignments, do the bare minimum, and make silly mistakes. I feel like for both these issues I could talk until I'm blue in the face and it wouldn't change Help please, thanks!:help:
Let them know a specific consequence for not turning in work, give them appropriate reminders, then let them deal with their own mistake. If the consequence for not doing work is worse in their eyes than doing the work, they'll do it. For you rushers, when they turn in an assignment you know they rushed it, put it in the recycling bin without even looking at it, and hand them a new one. Keep doing that until they get the hint.
My own son was a rusher. His teacher would make him re-do it every time. He quickly learned he didn't like redoing work and started doing it right the first time. As for those who don't do hw, give the consequence and let them deal with it.
I have some 4th graders with the same problem. For my students, the work avoidance mostly comes from not understanding how to do it. I use a reward chart on those students' desks and give them points every time I see them participating. For the ones who know the material but rush through it or avoid it, I check their work and make them redo it if it's incorrect. If they are just off-task during class time when given reminders, I change their behavior chart color for not participating.
I'm seeing an epidemic with this in my fifth grade class. I have about 10 students who received at least 1 D or F on their report card due to missing work. I sent home progress reports letting parents know it was becoming a problem, I list assignments on the board, I encourage filling out their agenda at the end of the day (I'm sick of stamping and babysitting 25 agendas everyday, but I still give them time to fill it in), I offer study hall, I have extra assignments available by the mailboxes if they need a second one-I feel I have done ENOUGH. If parents are still upset, they need to conference with their own child. At some point we have to draw the line-we are the teacher, not the student's personal assistant. I don't give answers, and I don't give grades for homework that hasn't been turned in. Can you tell I'm just coming off from 2 late nights of banging my head against the computer while filling in report card grades?????
Why not let them do the 4th Grade TWICE? The second time around they might have more motivation. Don't let "lazy" kids take your attention away from kids who want to learn.......
I'm having the same problem in my fourth grade classes (I have 2 cores, so about 40 students). I make an extra 10 copies of assignments because I know that anywhere from 10-12 students will not turn their work in. My system is this: If they don't turn it in on time, they can turn it in within 2 weeks before I chase them down for it. After two weeks, I hold them in at recess all week (unless they turn it in). I figure after 1 week of forcing them to stay in and they still don't turn it in--it's between the parents and child then. I put a 0 in the gradebook--but will still accept late work. I take off 10 points each week it's late, or 2 points per day. Officially at least, most of the time these kids rush through it and I don't bother taking of the late penalty or their grade would be like a 30.
I'm not a teacher but I (respectfully) wonder why you give them two extra weeks to turn in an assignment? And you have a system for deducting points for late work..... Question: Does it really matter? I understand that most schools "pass" kids onto the next grade no matter how they perform..... (Again, I not knocking your system ..... but just curious ........)
Because otherwise it's a disorganized mess and for someone who freaks when things are disorganized, I found the most organized and efficient method possible for me and my classroom. There is an immediate penalty for missing work, a mark on the log and the parent must sign. Most other teachers don't chase the kids down at all, they just put in a 0, but I that didn't sit well with me. As a first year teacher, I'm still trying to find my niche and how I do things. I chunk my assignments for tracking purposes weekly, I can't grade daily because I have a two hour commute, 3 small children, and grad school--I grade on weekends (we check as a class daily, but I formally grade on weekends) Example: This week is 3-6, 6th week of the 3rd 9 weeks. Whatever assignments are not turned in this week will be chased down the week of March 17th. (As you can see, most instances are shorter than two weeks) Why not the week of March 10th? Because if someone is out on Friday, they won't get their make up work until Monday, March 17th. I want all of this week's work chased down in the same week. It's much more organized that way, all of the kids will be working the same assignments, I can reteach if necessary to the whole group, it will be the same concepts, etc. The alternative is to update my list of who owes me work every single day and have a constant influx and outflow of students for recess a bunch of different concepts and types of assignments. It's a discombobulated mess otherwise.
You are there to teach and they are there to learn. If they do not do their part, you cannot yours. No tolerance policy. You need to come up with a consequence you can carry through and then do it. Without a doubt, late work cannot be given the same opportunity as on time work. No way would I chase them down. Be available. Be approachable. Have extra copies in a known location. There is that teacher in your school that does get most work from most students. Why? Then shadow it. If every teacher is having the issue, you aren't going to resolve the issue. The child needs further intervention from a counselor or social worker. Be that teacher that gets that intervention. Other students will feel the warmth and follow.
What is unacceptable about it? They get a big X on their log in the math column of their behavior log for the day. They end up having to do the assignment anyways. If they don't, they get a 0. Are you objecting to me chasing them down? If I don't, parents will harangue me and call me the boogy-man for being mean. Not what I want as a first year teacher, especially if I want to come back next year. Are you objecting to the time allotted to turn it in on their own before I chase them down? Because that is a matter of organization, not really anything else. I approach it as a weekly thing, it's easier to track that way. They are still held accountable, and if they don't turn it in it's a 0. If I didn't have: a 2 hour commute, an infant, 2 other small children, grad school, 1st year paperwork, workshops, meetings, I could devote more time to tracking. Right now, I'm focused on the first-year survival. Better ideas and strategies will emerge as I become more experienced and have less things on my plate. Are you thinking I should deduct more points? Not in this district, not if I want to have a job next year. Are you objecting to allowing them to still make it up if their parents request it? Got to in this district, if I want to have a job next year.
What is unacceptable about it? They get a big X on their log in the math column of their behavior log for the day. They end up having to do the assignment anyways. If they don't, they get a 0. I agree completely with this. Are you objecting to me chasing them down? If I don't, parents will harangue me and call me the boogy-man for being mean. Not what I want as a first year teacher, especially if I want to come back next year. You have to be more strict or this will happen to you day after day year after year. Your students and their parents will one day appreciate it. Are you objecting to the time allotted to turn it in on their own before I chase them down? Because that is a matter of organization, not really anything else. I approach it as a weekly thing, it's easier to track that way. They are still held accountable, and if they don't turn it in it's a 0. If I didn't have: a 2 hour commute, an infant, 2 other small children, grad school, 1st year paperwork, workshops, meetings, I could devote more time to tracking. Right now, I'm focused on the first-year survival. Better ideas and strategies will emerge as I become more experienced and have less things on my plate. I object to you tracking them down ever. They know what they are missing. If not, teach them to organize themselves by checking grades online. Parents can check there too. Nothing to argue. Are you thinking I should deduct more points? Not in this district, not if I want to have a job next year. Just certainly not full credit. Are you objecting to allowing them to still make it up if their parents request it? Got to in this district, if I want to have a job next year. Make it up is great. Just not on my effort or time. Extra copies are available. I too commute 40 minutes, have 3 young children, a marriage, grad school, a business, coach 2 seasons, care for a disabled family member, own a home. I try to be the teacher I hope my sons have. I do not their teachers giving them extra time or chasing them down or giving them fair credit for late or under standard work . I want them to have consequences for their own actions.
I appreciate the teacher that chases my GS for his homework. It is in is backpack, complete and ready to turn in. He is just too shy to turn it in. Now that he is older, he can handle it. But, it was the primary grade teachers who had to help him learn that it was "safe" to stand up and walk up to the teacher's desk.
