late homework
I teach a class that meets four days a week for 4 hours. Because it is such a big portion of the week, students are bound to miss a few days. I want students to be able to turn in late work, but on the other hand, I do feel that it rewards laziness. I struggle with how to handle this. Right now, I allow late work (minus 10% each day it’s late). Does anyone else do differently?
Hi Jennifer,
It seems like our students need constant reminders about due dates so that they will not play the card, "Oh, I did not know" this was due even though it indicated on the syllabus.
Patricia
Thats why I always mention my policy when assignments are due, over and over again.
Hi Brian,
I have learned you have to hit students hard so that they feel it. When a student realizes the highest they can get on a late assignment is a 50, they think twice about turning in their work late the next go round. This practice encourages students to turn in their work on time.
Patricia
We don't have homework but, we have lab worksheets that students are required to turn in at the end of the day. They often will try and turn them in several days late. Because of limited lab time, there is very little time to make up work so if it is not done on the day it is asigned, I take 50% off. This is a very good motivator to get it in on time because, 70% is passing so if it's late it still gets them points but not a passing grade.
Hi Cynthia,
I think this is more than fair. I take up homework at the beginning of class because there are so many students that will try to do their homework during class and not pay attention to what is going on during class time.
Patricia
I teach a class that meets once a week. The homework is due at the end of the class. If they do not turn in homework when it's due, they receive a zero. If they miss a class, they have one week to turn in their homework.
Hi Deanna,
I certainly understand your perspective! It is nothing more than the TRUTH! Sometimes I think we baby our students way too much, and then they get in the real world and they either sink or swim...most swim, but I know of some that have sinken.
Patricia
Hi Diane,
Fair enough! You are up front with your students, therefore they know the consequences before hand.
Patricia
I think that there are students that will just continue to take advantage of the system regardless. Those who are committed will follow through and/or make arrangements regarding turning in their homework. As long as the rules regarding late homework are applied fairly across the board to all,and everyone has a clear understanding of the rules, as adults they will have to make the decision to turn in the assignments or take the lower grade.
Hi Sharon,
I concur! We have a lot of students that are very immature, and we have to teach them how to be professionals.
Patricia
Hi Q'iana,
Fair enough! Life happens, and those extenuating circumstaces will occur. As educators we do have to be empathetic and sympathetic.
Patricia
Although I understand the motivation to assist in their sucess, they are probably not going to have that luxury given to them out in the work force.
I tell my students, who are in class 4 hours a day, five days a week, that this is their choice to attend school. If they cannot commit to attending 20 hours a week, how are they going to commit to 40 hours a week?
For those students who work full time and attend school, I remind them of why they are doing it. We cannot baby them because their boss won't.
i do, because our school is based upon monthly modules--some modules may have 2 classes in them. So i make it clear to students, that unless it is an extinuating circumstance--which I should be notified--late work is not accepted. The homework is not 100% graded--they receive credit for it's completion and vice versa if it's not--then we cover the answers in class.
This seems fair without too much penalty. Many of our students are just out of High School and their maturity level needs some coaxing.
When I start a class and as I go over the syllabus, I also have a separate page that I had out to students regarding "late homework" that I go over with them. It states: If the student is absent I will take the homework from them the 1st day they return to class for full credit. If they were in class and forgot to turn in their homework I will take it the next day for 50% credit. If I do not receive the homework by the 3rd day out they get 0 credit.
I like your breakdown for late homework. I start a new class in a month and I am going to try this approach. It may encourge the people that are always late to know that some points are better than no points. Also let the students who are always on time with their assignments, that their work is more valuable.
Hi Valerie,
I understand your compassion for your students. You may want to look into a limit of how late the work can be turned in. I accept late homework up to 4 days. Here is my breakdown, -10 points for Day 1, an additional -5 points for Days 2, 3, and 4, after the fourth day I issue a 0. I feel this practice is more than fair.
Patricia
I usually stay strict to my deadlines but I do allow students to turn in their work in different ways. For example, if a student can not make it to class but has saved their work on a USB drive then they can just simply email me their work without having to come to class (just in case there involved in an emergency). Also I allow them insert their assignments in my box early if they already know that will not be in class during the next session. Hope these options work out for you.
