I know.  I know a few teachers who read this post will disagree with my newest idea.  But, like what else is NEW?

As a teacher, I'm faced with late submissions from students in every class. This semester I have maybe 100 students.  We are all working together to complete our research projects.  I work on mulitiple campuses.   I know students today have different responsibilities, pressures, and challenges than I experienced when I was their age. Many of them  have families and work extensive hours.  Many have complicated schedules and classes.  I also know I provide my students with a demanding work load.

Believe me when I say I have asked other teachers what they do with students who have missing assignments.  Many teachers  have very clear guidelines for accepting late work.  They take off a certain amount of points for late work.  10 percent.  30 percent.  50 percent.  I'm not sure I am so comfortable PENALIZING student writing. That brings a heavy and unneccesary amount of stress into the classroom.  My goal is for students to complete their assignments and feel good about it.

When I grade the first time through on Canvas, I don't like to put a ZERO in the grade column. The sight of a ZERO often creates grief and tension between student and teacher.  Instead, I've created a FLOATING deadline. If students can't get their work done for one reason or another, I extend the deadlines – for the entire class. It means a lot more WORK for me, but It WORKS for me.  My grading system may not be STANDARDIZED or PERFECT,  but I find most of my students appreciate the opportunity to hand in late work without a substantial penalty. 

Recently, I opened JAY'S SECOND CHANCE STORE.  I'm way past questioning student motivation for not submitting an assignment.  IT'S TOO COMPLICATED.  The grades for those students who miss assignments, rarely reflect the skill and thought I see in their writing.  Many teachers believe that lax grading policies do not prepare students for the real world. I hear things like "It doesn't give them very good work habits," or "Why not teach them not to be late in the first place?"  But, not me.

I like where we are going in the classes I teach.  Each week the writing improves. With a little more time, my students write with more depth and insight in regards to their research topics. I plan to keep my point deductions to a minimum. I expect more of my students to meet the standards of the course.  At the end we will celebrate our writing with a publication party for our research papers.