The Willy Nilly Make Up Policy
In a previous blog post, I went off on a tangent about the makeup work policy. To further understand it, I created a commentary on my districts Make Up Work policy. The podcast went a little longer than I had planned (6 minutes), so here I basic outline of what I have discussed.
- The district does not have a clear make-up work policy. It varies from school to school, teacher to teacher. However, the district has set a grading floor of 59%. This is to allow for the statistical problems of zeros, give students hope and meet the minimum requirement to attend summer school.
- At my school, if a child decides they want to pass at the end of the school year, the teacher MUST give the student the opportunity “to meet the standard or acquire the skills.” Even, if it is from the first semester. Students are adopting bad habits of turning work whenever they feel like it. They copy other students work and submit it as their own. What students really want is for teachers to give some sort of make up work packet and a completion grade.
- So, here is my policy:
- Students may complete makeup work at any point in the year (in accordance w/district policy), however, it must be done in my presence AFTER school.
- I don’t grade classwork. Students only receive a completion grade for it.
- I do grade tests, which may be taken open note & open book after school in my presence or at Saturday school.
My thoughts:
I am torn b/c in college, there is no make up work or latework policy—it just isn’t accepted by most professors. I failed a class in college b/c of this. We need to better prepare them for life after high school.
Reflections, podcast | Miss Teacha | 
February 8, 2010 12:16 pm
5 Comments
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Confessions from the Couch » New Late Work Policy — June 24, 2010 @ 6:32 pm
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By TeacherMom, February 8, 2010 @ 2:59 pm
Hi there,
Does that mean kids can re-take tests after school to improve their grade…or is that only if they miss a test?
I agree that the district policy basically encourages kids to blow off the work until/unless they decide otherwise later on. Not good for teaching responsibility!
By High School Tchr, February 8, 2010 @ 4:52 pm
Check out my blog entitled “Students not prepared for college? Well….duh!!” In my district, we “say” we’re preparing kids for success after high school. However, our policies produce a reality that does anything but.
We are putting out an inferior product into the world because of it. I have often thought about switching from teaching to psychiatry because all these kids coming out of our school system are going to need therapy to cope with life. LOL!
By Mr. W, February 8, 2010 @ 10:43 pm
I struggled with what you are talking about then I just basically said screw it. I teach in a relatively good district where the kids want to learn and succeed. That still poses a problem because the students feel entitled to pass the class. They have been spoon fed since elementary and when they come to us, they expect more of the same.
I teach math, and my homework works out to be about 10% of there overall grade. They can turn in late work, but it is half credit. Copying is bad at our school and the students will copy in the open before school, during lunch, after school whenever and no one does anything. That’s why I changed my policy. My tests are right/wrong, no partial credit.
I always thought we were there to prepare them for the next stage of life/education and that’s what i have decided to do. It’s a hard adjustment for some, but I have some parents that absolutely love it because I am making the students be responsible for themselves, something that has rarely happened to them growing up.
Mr. W´s last blog ..The Sun Always Shines on T.V.: Better Off Ted
By Margaret, February 9, 2010 @ 8:46 pm
Copying is rampant and it’s frustrating to spend all our time dealing with students who don’t feel like turning in work, until the last minute. Very unfair–but what do we do? We are under pressure on grad rates and test scores and just about every other ill of society. Bah.
Margaret´s last blog ..Ghost town