Being the paragon of straightforward, up-front, direct dialog that I am, I explained in detail on the very first day of class to all of my students exactly how I would be tracking grades for the semester. There are sixteen weeks of class with the final week being slated for the exam. This leaves fifteen weeks for attendance and participation for a point total of 150 (ten points each day). I told them as well that there would be two or three assignments at 40 points each. The grand total in one particular class is 253 points.
I explained this again today for the review. As I did so, I could see the look of oh fuck, what can I do spread over several students' faces. Of course, this information should have come as no surprise to them, especially when I had even reiterated the grading criteria a few different times during the semester. It still did not prevent one of the students calling me over to him for the following conversation.
"Oh teacher, I did not finish one of the assignments..."
"I know. You had the opportunity. You had the chance. Why didn't you do it?"
"I did not understand."
"Then you should have talked to me about it. Speak with me after class."
Even more impressive than that is one other student whose face I had no recollection of whatsoever.
"Have you been to my class before?"
"Aah?"
"Have you come to my class before today?"
"Oh. Yes."
"Who are you? Find your name on my list."
(Pointing to his name) "This is me."
"You have never been here when I have taken attendance. Speak to me after class."
Of course, when the class was over, they proceeded to leave. "Oh, no, no. Come see me." I told him that if he passed the exam, did the assignment that he missed, completed some of the homework, and memorized Romeo's monologue he would be able to receive a passing grade.
