Assessments and the failing student.
Does anyone have any advice on how to handle assesing a student who is clearly failing the course?
Hi Pamela- Thanks for your post to the forum. You are obviously a very caring instructor, and sometimes that is the best we can do!
Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career and happy New Year! Susan
In my classes, I concentrate more on the weekly assignments than on quiz grades. As I teach math, I have to have an option for students to pass even if they don't pass a quiz. For this reason, I require students to complete worksheets and homework assignments. I tend to ask them every session about missing assignments. I offer tutoring sessions if they indicate they cannot do the work. In some ways it is a "micromanaging" approach but it sends the message to the student that I care about their performance. Ultimately, as a fellow instructor points out, the student has every right to fail if he chooses. Even with constant follow up, I still have students that will fail, but it certainly does not take them by surprise.
Hi Bridget - You bring up a good point - sometimes when an entire class does poorly on an assessment it may not be a problem with the test at all. Thanks for your post! Susan
I let my students know immediatly how they have done on an assignment/test/quiz, etc. One quiz the entire class did poorly on the true and false questions, so we immediately did some assessing how to answer true and false questions. I saw their grades improve dramatically on the next quiz.
What about the rubrics? Do they not tell you where the student needs help?
Hi Colette- Welcome to ED 103! This is a real problem for many of our students, especially those with jobs and families. It can be a real challenge to make them understand that for the brief period that they are studengts they must strive to make their studies a real priority. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
I try to get them help as quickly as possible - like extra tutoring or encouraging them to go to skills class.
It is challenging - most of my students who fail - do so because they have external pressures that keep them from studying or even fully absorbing the class content.
One of the things that I do is have the student come in and meet with me once a week and also take advantage of the extra help that can be given by other instructors.
Hi Andrew - you are wise to assess weekly. It is essential to regularly check for understanding and retention so that problems can be repaired before it is too late. Best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
I grade weekly as well if a student is not doing well I will meet with them to discuss what they need to do to achieve success we have free tutoring on campus as well as skills class's
HI Don - What a caring instructor you are! I know that your one-on-ones has got to take a big chunk out of your day , but I also know that you have realized what a dfference that time makes for your studnts success. Congratulations and best wishes for continued success in your teaching career! Susan
I also give out grades reports to students not doing well. Then I sit with each one and talk to them and try to understand wear the problem is. Then I set out to tutor each and everyone of them. It works very well.
Hi Andrea - As you point out, it is really important that our students be made aware of how thet are doing in a timely manner. Waiting till the mid-term exam is too late to get a student back on track. Best wishes - Susan
Working with the failing student to help them succeed is our job. How we do that will change per student. You have to find out what will or does motivate them. Hopefully they will respond.
I think it is important to always keep the students motivated even if they are failing.
I give out grades sheets every week. When the student consistently does poorly, I meet with them one on one. This typically allows the student to know that I am aware of their progress. I try to assess how they are studying for quizzes and exams. I use the grade sheets as encouragement. I also constantly remind them of the grade that they need to pass the class. If they are doing poorly in a particular subject, I have them to get with me the last hour of class, and we work on that topic together one-on-one. After a few sessions, I see their level of comprehension improve thus their grades. Hope this helps!
