When students don't follow directions...

What do you do if students do not follow directions on an assignment?

For example, we have been working on subjects and predicates. A couple of worksheets have students underline the subject and then underline the predicate twice. They also underline the complete subject/predicate when they need to underline the simple subject/predicate.

I go over directions thoroghly with the class and make sure they understand what to do..We review the difference between a simple and complete subject/predicate, but I still have kids completely do the opposite of what the directions say.

Do you mark the page wrong or have them redo it?

 

Some children have trouble with the whole underline once and then twice thing. Same for circle versus underline. Can you have an alternate way for them to show they can identify the parts of speech on each worksheet perhaps having them make a list with headings. Although it is important that they can follow directions correctly, you need to decide which is more important to you at this time? Demonstrating they can correctly identify the parts of speech of demonstrating they can underline once then twice correctly?

 

I'd have them redo the assignment.

 

Generally if most or all of a sheet is wrong, I have them do it again. . . . This year I'm going to try to not grade so much of the "practice" sheets anyway.

Also - I find that highlighting in different colors works sometimes better than underlining/circling.

 

Oooooohhh...I like this idea.

Thanks for the input everyone!!

 

I second the highlighting! The kids always want to use markers and different colors, so this is a good, productive way for them to use them. Plus, it makes the page look more colorful and not so boring

 

I rarely have students redo work. Only if I catch it while they are in the middle of doing the work.