The assignment was due March 5. Today is April 2. So far, only six students have received grades. Why? Because only six have fulfilled *all* the requirements, and I’m refusing to mark assignments that aren’t complete.
Before you get worried, I don’t think I’m overly demanding. The basic assignment is to write a 100-word memoir. A complete assignment has a title and a story that is exactly 100 words. Students must use a spelling/grammar-check (I’ve recommended LanguageTool, but some use Grammarly) so that no underlined problems remain, and they must label three “craft moves” – or good things in their writing. For the last part, a poster in the classroom lists things we’ve studied and they’ve seen multiple examples.
Some students have only been through one round, but most are on their third or fourth attempt. In years past, I’ve marked what came in, no matter how incomplete. But this semester, something changed. I decided that every single student was capable of following all four steps:
- Title
- 100 words
- Spell check
- Label
What is different? I wish I knew. The closest I can come to explaining is that I am taking my role as a “warm demander” increasingly seriously. To the very tips of my toes, I believe that every student in my class is capable of completing the assignment. Even more, I believe that they are capable of completing it well. So I keep returning the assignments with plenty of feedback (“I really appreciate how you’ve opened this fun memoir. Next you need to give it a title and run it through LanguageTool.”) and insisting they do it again. This weekend, one student turned in the identical assignment three times. Last night I caved and wrote in all caps, “USE THE FEEDBACK.” Today, they finally asked for the explanation they required to finish their work.
I’m not sure that I’m making the right choice, and I need to be clear that I am consistently upbeat and encouraging as I hand back the assignments (again and again with no mark), but I figure if they learn nothing else this semester besides “follow all the steps” that’s probably a reasonable life skill.
Now, off to write, again, “True compliment about the writing. Next, you need to give your good work a title and run it through LanguageTool.” I’m betting I can get 24 completed assignments by the end of next week because I’m pretty sure I’m more stubborn than they are – at least about getting this right.
Persistence and Pedagogy 
You go, friend! (And yes, I may be doing the same thing).
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What a great assignment. I bet it’s harder than it sounds. Actually three craft moves within 100 words sounds quite challenging. Good for you for holding the line. I need to be more “warm demander.” Was it Zaretta Hammond who shared this term? It’s a good one.
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Ha! Gotta be more stubborn than the teenagers–sometimes I think that’s the secret to teaching high school. There’s something about outlasting the resistance with relentless good cheer that just wears them down. “Follow all the steps” is absolutely a vital life skill, and the steps you’ve outlined are not too much to ask. Here’s hoping the 15th round of feedback will be the charm!
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Hold that lantern high! 🙌🙌🙌
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Following the steps is absolutely a valuable life lesson, worth the exhaustive returning and returning of their assignments. You reminded me about true belief that all students are capable, and holding that bar high.
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Years ago I was doing moderated marking with a group of grade 4 teachers. I asked one of them to show me what a Level 1 would look like in her class. She said to me, “I don’t have any Level 1 work. I don’t accept Level 1 work. I send them back with a few things to fix and they can bring it to me when it isn’t Level 1 any more. I don’t have very much Level 2 work either for the same reason.” I have never forgotten that! Since then I have always sent kids back to make improvements and I don’t accept any work until it really is the best that child can do. Good for you for holding those kids accountable for the stuff that is on the list!
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Your high expectations are a sign of how much you care. I am a true believer that part of our role is to hold that bar high. Also, I LOVE this assignment!
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Yeah. I was always surprised when kids left the blue or the red underlines in their work. I’d send it back and say those were clues that something might be amiss. I like this assignment for the boundaries and because I like counting words.
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Amanda,
I’m late turning in my assignment to myself, which was to read this post and. moment. I know what you’re seeing is a big problem among teachers. Kids really don’t expect teachers to read their work or be persistent and consistent in expectations. I wish I had an answer and a solution for you.
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