Random Fail: First World Problems

**Aksannyi** · 2016-09-22 20:29

I'm often amused by parent emails.

"I've been checking the gradebook and I see <name> has a low grade in your class, can you help me understand why that is?"

So when I take a look (although I know these kids and I'm fairly sure I know the answer), I see several zeroes from work that wasn't turned in. And the parents can also see that their child has these zeroes. I mean, it's pretty obvious to me why your kid has a low grade. Because I'm not just handing out zeroes for fun. It's just that I literally can't grade work I didn't receive. I don't know, I guess it just annoys me a little bit. Obviously the reason your kid is failing is because of all the zeroes.

I mean I'm no math teacher, but it's fairly simple to see.

**BaneTheBrawler** · 2016-09-22 21:41

Well, the question they're really asking is "Why are these assignments zeroes?" They're trying to be nice by phrasing it the way they did. Gives you an opportunity to explain without feeling like you're being attacked. Which obviously worked since you're here making fun of them instead of ranting about how entitled they are.

That's the first and most likely interpretation that springs to my mind, anyway.

**Aksannyi** · 2016-09-22 21:54

Oh I'm sure they just want me to explain. Not sure if they ask the kids first but in most cases, I doubt it. I haven't had any parents actually get angry with me over grades. Then again, the ones who are supportive of their kids to the point where they actually view the grades and send emails are less likely to be the entitled sorts who think that I'm failing their kids on purpose.

**dasva** · 2016-09-22 22:53

It's because you clearly hate your students more than the schools around me do. Around here missing assignments get a 50%. Which also happens to be a C somehow.... get on this school districts level! Oddly last I heard parents aren't liking it and asking why aren't my kid's grades worse

**Greatguardian** · 2016-09-22 23:40

Report card grades or intermediary grades? It's not uncommon for teachers to give minimum grades of around 60 on report cards so that it's mathematically possible for the kid to pass the class if they decide to get their shit together by the end of the semester.

Give a kid a 10 on a report card and regardless of whether they earned it or not you've officially lost them for the next 12 weeks because it's impossible for them to pass.

edit: I've also known some teachers who split grades on in-class assignments to 50% participation and 50% actual responses, so even if a kid doesn't turn something in they get a 50 because they (presumably) did it at some point. Prevents the scatterbrains from losing points on crap they shove in a pocket and forget. I'm not a big fan, though.

**TheDirtyHobo** · 2016-09-23 00:05

I watched a co-worker today fall for the "OH SHIT YOUR SHIT'S GOT VIRUSES ACCORDING TO THIS FLASHING GIF BETTER CLICK THIS LINK TO FIX IT" popups for a solid 20 minutes today.

**Aksannyi** · 2016-09-23 06:22

Originally Posted by Greatguardian

Report card grades or intermediary grades? It's not uncommon for teachers to give minimum grades of around 60 on report cards so that it's mathematically possible for the kid to pass the class if they decide to get their shit together by the end of the semester.

Give a kid a 10 on a report card and regardless of whether they earned it or not you've officially lost them for the next 12 weeks because it's impossible for them to pass.

edit: I've also known some teachers who split grades on in-class assignments to 50% participation and 50% actual responses, so even if a kid doesn't turn something in they get a 50 because they (presumably) did it at some point. Prevents the scatterbrains from losing points on crap they shove in a pocket and forget. I'm not a big fan, though.

I literally do not give any homework, so all of this is stuff we have worked on in class. I circle the room and make sure they're working on it, offer advice if they're stuck, and somehow things don't end up with me when I ask for the work back.

Even worse are the things we do together, when I'm doing guided practice with the doc cam, and I still don't get it back. I'm practically giving them the answers lol.

I do a lot of grade buffer assignments though. If you do it, here's some points. Basically not even looking at the content of it. But I'm not going to give a student credit for work I don't see. That's not fair to the kids who actually do it, and it's also teaching these kids that it's okay to not do something, because you'll still skate by anyway. Not in my class.

**Astylla** · 2016-09-23 10:19

Originally Posted by BaneTheBrawler

Well, the question they're really asking is "Why are these assignments zeroes?" They're trying to be nice by phrasing it the way they did. Gives you an opportunity to explain without feeling like you're being attacked. Which obviously worked since you're here making fun of them instead of ranting about how entitled they are.

That's the first and most likely interpretation that springs to my mind, anyway.

I couldn't have said this better. Sure they SEE the low grade but that doesn't explain the why or how. Maybe they aren't familiar with why they are getting zeros , you do owe an explanation to the parents since they aren't in the class so they are aware of how your class works and can followup with their child regularly.

If they don't see any homework assigned it's not always easy to follow up with their kids. How many of us were asked in school " how was your day/what did you learn" only to respond with an "okay. I mean if I had no guideline for your curriculum and they have to go solely based on what you say/ show in the grade book I would be questioning it too.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**synistar** · 2016-09-23 10:53

The paper towels and soap at work feels so cheap lately that I'm constantly thinking of "The Office" episode where Dwight makes a machine to half-ply the toilet paper to cut costs.

**Melena** · 2016-09-23 11:25

For the third year in a row, I've had the best Fantasy Baseball team in my money league. For the third year in a row barring a miracle over the next 3 days, i'm going to flame out in the second round, costing me about 200 dollars.

**tyven** · 2016-09-23 11:56

probably because baseball is the worst sport.

**Zetanio** · 2016-09-23 12:05

I used to like baseball. Now I can't even listen to it on the radio.

**BaneTheBrawler** · 2016-09-23 12:08

baseball is hours of boredom interspersed with a few brief exhilarating seconds of boredom.

**FNH** · 2016-09-23 12:13

Originally Posted by BaneTheBrawler

baseball is hours of boredom interspersed with a few brief exhilarating seconds of boredom.

Go play with your Legos then.

**Tokitoki** · 2016-09-23 12:18

Going to a game is fun. I can't watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio.

**BaneTheBrawler** · 2016-09-23 12:43

Originally Posted by FNH

Go play with your Legos then.

MAYBE I WILL

i'm actually in a bit of a builder's block at the moment. I know what I want to do with this one ship I'm working on, but I'm struggling to come up with a way to do it that is both structurally sound and looks good. also, the original intention was to have this be a dropship with a flight crew of 2 people, but after adding all the cockpit greebling, i can only fit one person, so i need to re-think some things.

**Brill Weave** · 2016-09-23 13:59

Originally Posted by tyven

probably because baseball is the worst sport.

**Seraph** · 2016-09-23 14:38

Originally Posted by Tokitoki

Going to a game is fun. I can't watch it on TV or listen to it on the radio.

^

**BaneTheBrawler** · 2016-09-23 14:57

I believe it. Going to a game, the dull periods are filled with hotdogs, chatting with your friends, soaking up the atmosphere of the place, etc, instead of

**Melena** · 2016-09-23 16:08

I grew up around the game. Played till I blew out my shoulder and couldn't even swing a bat without it dislocating and jamming back into the socket. Two surgeries later, still can't swing a bat. But yeah, also used to go to games all the time as a kid as my dad was a season ticket holder, still try to go to 1-2 games a year, but fuck it's god damn expensive now.

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