Handling late students
Explaining that everyone has the same responsibility to be on time with no exceptions and late is late weather it's 1 minute or ten it's still the same thing and will be delt with accordingly
I have found that the clearer I am with classroom expectations the less hassle I have later on down the road...I can always refer back to day one and what the expectations were...Plus since it is given to all of the class the student will know that it is across the whole board.
Hi Jose,
You present a thorough presentation on the first day. Your students know exactly what to expect. What a presence to make on the first day! Keep up the good work!
Patricia
THIS IS WHY DAY ONE OF CLASS IS SO CRUCCIAL, THIS IS THE DAY I GO OVER THE CONTENT OF THE COURSE AND EXPECTATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STUDENTS, YOU SET THE RULES AND POLICIES OF THE CLASSROOM, I WRITE IT IN THE SYLABUSS, I LET THEM KNOW THAT ATTENDANCE WILL BE CALL DURING LINE UP AT EXACTLLY THE TIME THE CLASS IS TO START AND IF YOU MISS LINE UP YOU ARE CONSIDERED LATE PERIOD, I ENPHAZISE THIS AND TERM PROJECTS DEADLINES IN DETAIL ON THE FIRST DAY OF CLASS AND AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.
Hi Diane,
You are definitely on point! At my institution it is a policy that if a student is late the student loses points off of their attendance grade. I also tell my students the same thing you tell your students, being late can cause you to lose your job.
Patricia
Students know that they must be in line up at a certain time, if they are late they loss grade points for being late and may loss grade points for skills test that are scheduled. When you work you must be on time or you will probably lose your job and that is what I tell them.
Hello Jason,
You're right, late is no exception. I like the verbage you use to address your students about being late.
Patricia
I instruct the student that if they can be late, they can be early. They drive down the same road daily so late is no exception.
Hi George,
You are on point. Late is late. No exceptions, consistency is key.
Patricia
I agree, Jim. Late is Late. You cannot make exceptions for certain students or the others will expect the same. Consistency is the key to managing a good classroom enviornment.
Late is late no matter how you look at it.
Hi James,
I like your attitude toward time. Continue to be an early riser, and you will reap great rewards from being an educator.
Patricia
I totally agree that everyone has the same responsibilty to be on time. If I am not at least ten minutes early, I am running late. I had many bosses who would "give me the keys to the shop" because they new I would be there early enough to get everything started. The student needs to realize that high school is over and the real world is right around the corner.
They need to understand that tardiness carries consequences and those consequences will evidence themselves quickly in an actual employment situation.
I like to explain to the entire class that school is preparation for the "real world" and employers/managers (use my own experience as a manager) do not tolerate habitual tardiness. When it's time for performance appraisals they will be the ones who get 0 or very little raise, they will be the ones considered for job termination, and in general, will NOT be successful.
I agree with my colleague Mr. Benningfield on this and I want to add that students need to have a clear expectation, goal and clear penalties if certain expectations aren't met.If you give 1 student a break, your credibility is now degraded and you can loose control, confidence and credibility among the other students. Be consistant and all will be good.
That is the key...consistency. You have to handle every student exactly the same when it comes to attendance. I am experiencing this now as I have a student that obviously has problems, and other students pick up on the fact this student (in some cases) is treated differently.
Hi David,
You are absolutely right! You must be fair. Policy is policy. What good are policies if they are not going to be enforced? I understand that it broke your heart to do what you did to this student, but he created the situation not you.
Patricia
It is hard, but you have to be firm. I had a student in the week of his graduation come in late by 4 minutes, this time plus time missed earlier in the phase put him over our missed time allowance causing him to fail and not graduate. I knew he was a good student that was making poor choices, but we have to be consistent. As I explaned to him, if I let him slide, what message does it send to other students in the class, and what does it say to the students that have I have failed in the past.
Hi Jeffrey,
Wow, you have a bell in college! With or without a bell, I am with you, attendance is not debateable. Late is late!
Patricia
