My midterms that must be posted today are 95% current and the other 5% won't make or break anyone, so those papers can just wait until next week to be put on their grades. It's Friday and I'd like to go home, but I have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 students in my room finishing a Math 1050 Test. They are all super stressed and didn't finish in class, so I told them I'd give them 15 more minutes after school. It's now been 35, but we've had a few interruptions and I'm just a pushover. I'll give them a few more (or wait until this post is finished) and then I'll tell them to wrap it up.
Here are my frustrations I am posting about today:
#1 Hitler was the leader of which country? . . . British.
I graded a student's WWII test today. She needed the score for her midterm (though her grade is still bad). She failed the test. I gave her ample time. She could use any notes or assignment she had. There was a map portion of the test that asked them to identify a few key countries significant to WWII. She said she couldn't identify any of the countries on the map. I told her to at least try and write the name of the country if she new what it was and I would give her credit for that. She has some mega family issues and has stopped coming to school every day because she would rather work (she HAD to work for a while months ago, but now WANTS to work even though her mom says she doesn't have to any more . . . tough situation). I know she misses a lot, but Hitler? Come on. You have to know that one!!!!
#2 You are in a class for college credit and you pull this kind of stunt?
My SLCC Math 1050 kids had a test today. It was a pretty tough test on Matrices and Conics. 12 STUDENTS DIDN'T SHOW UP!!! Yes, it is hard. Yes, I know the class is tough. Guess what? Figure it out! Man up and take the test!
I was pretty ticked. Two of the students had told me ahead of time. One I would have pegged as a no show. The rest? _*(#($$*(#&#*($@)_
The bad thing is I hear my my mom on one shoulder going, "It's ok. They probably are really stressed and you should be nice to them and let them take the test whenever and then just let them color." On the other shoulder I hear James telling me, "You should give them all 0's, tell them they are college students who have just failed, and then make them stand in a corner with a dunce cap on." In reality, I usually have 1-3 absences on a test day and I'm a pushover and let them make it up regardless of the reason. I'd like to not let them take it, but I have no recourse in my disclosure. It doesn't include a statement that says "Students cannot make up tests for any reason." . . . . . I don't know. Blah!
I did tell them all (those who were here) that I would give them a free question on the test (5% bonus). I might even bump it up more. We'll see how generous I feel while grading them.
That's it. There are 2 students left in my room. They are done. Have a good weekend.
