What looks better to a student, A zero or a sixty?
I have a few students that have yet to complete maybe one of the easiest assignments I've ever given. Sure, that's subjective, but a reflection over a video we watched is hardly heavy lifting in my mind.
I have reminded the same student several times and have yet to get the assignment. All I get are excuses. "Oh it's probably too late for credit by now." "I think my grade can take it, so I'll just do better next time." These were frustrating, but the one that really made me think twice was the "well a zero looks better in the gradebook to me than a sixty" argument. How could that possibly be the case? That doesn't make any sense to me. Even a 1 is better than a zero mathematically right?
I followed up with the kid who explained that a zero was easy to explain away by saying that he just didn't do it, but a sixty meant that he tried and failed so that was worse. He went on to say that he'd be scrutinized at home much more harshly for not doing just ten points better.
His mindset hurts me, but after he explained it, I guess I can understand. Still, turn in that assignment child that will never read this. Just reminded him again today. Hopefully he takes me up on it. If not, I'm fine with that zero if he is.
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I have reminded the same student several times and have yet to get the assignment. All I get are excuses. "Oh it's probably too late for credit by now." "I think my grade can take it, so I'll just do better next time." These were frustrating, but the one that really made me think twice was the "well a zero looks better in the gradebook to me than a sixty" argument. How could that possibly be the case? That doesn't make any sense to me. Even a 1 is better than a zero mathematically right?
I followed up with the kid who explained that a zero was easy to explain away by saying that he just didn't do it, but a sixty meant that he tried and failed so that was worse. He went on to say that he'd be scrutinized at home much more harshly for not doing just ten points better.
His mindset hurts me, but after he explained it, I guess I can understand. Still, turn in that assignment child that will never read this. Just reminded him again today. Hopefully he takes me up on it. If not, I'm fine with that zero if he is.
Follow us on Facebook; Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher
Related Articles:
Rewarding Dallas Students
Changing our Idea of Success in Dallas Schools
One on One Conferences with Dallas Students
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