Lines and Redos

The summative assessment on carbon chemistry was last week Wednesday. Students were informed they would be able to schedule retakes/redos/do-overs starting Monday. 

Many did.

How did most of the students prepare?

Well, I started the day on Wednesday by holding my hand on a hotplate....then screaming. Then again, I held my hand on the hotplate and screamed.

For most of the students who retook the assessment or portions of it, it was a lot like putting their hands back on the hotplate, BUT, expecting a different outcome. By their scores, it was obvious that students had 

spent too little time preparing for the redo.

I'm not sure what they thought would happen with the retake, if they didn't change their strategy....or better yet, prepare at all.

Many students on this assessment are yet to be proficient, in any of the benchmarks, let alone the whole standard.

Of course, some students have made attempts to improve their scores and have...which is good. Students at the B+ range that wanted to get to the A, you gotta love a push to excellence.

I drew a line in the sand today. Students had to speak with me or schedule the retake by Friday OR they were stuck with the original score. Their attention peaked at that statement on the board.

BTW, the hotplate was not armed, so no science teachers were harmed in the motivational speech.