Thursday. The bell had just rung to let the kiddos out of school. One of the students had hung back to talk to me.
He started off by referencing an assignment that had been due on Tuesday. Then he explained...
"I was with my cousin. It was his birthday. I had my work out. We were playing with his dog..."
At this point I interrupted. "Are you going to tell me that the dog ate your homework?"
"No. He peed on it."
Ahem.
I got another copy of the assignment and gave it to the boy, and he was on his way.
A couple students had turned in this assignment (our second of the school year) to me hesitantly, so I announced to the classes that I was accepting late work (better late than never). While I'd prefer that they get the work in on time, I'd rather they turn it in eventually and not have a bunch of missing assignments.
They're seventh graders (12 years old). I want them to get in the habit of getting their work turned in. I'll snarl at them about late work another time.
I agree with the better late than never. Thursday isn't that late for a Tuesday due date! I can think of so many things ruined by pet pee! Mostly from cats though, not dogs. Pet rats too.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't. I'm still getting those assignments turned in today.
DeleteThere are two learning experiences going on here. One is the subject of the assignment, the other is in organizing time.
ReplyDeleteVery true.
DeleteYou are so good with kids!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm terrible, actually. I just look good on my blog ;)
DeleteWell, it's more realistic. A dog wouldn't often chew paper. Peeing on it, however...
ReplyDeleteI could see this happening. Fortunately he didn't bring in a sample as evidence. I would also, at this point in time, go with the better late than never philosophy.
ReplyDeleteI am very glad he didn't bring me proof.
DeleteMy late husband had to go back to his doctor and get more referrals to other doctors one time because he left his referrals too close to our rat's cage and the rat torn them to pieces. LOL
ReplyDeletePaper is not safe near rats.
DeleteThe dog ate my homework is oldest as time it self.
ReplyDeleteA very good excuse!
ReplyDeleteI funny one, anyway.
DeleteI laughed. Heartily. As I read this. Well, it could be true too!
ReplyDeleteI laughed as soon as he left the room.
Deletewell on the flips side of that, it was pee, not what it will come out with if he ate it! lol.....I just wonder how that phrase got started, "my dog ate it"? I never tried that one. Back in my day, there was hardly NO turn in late days, there were the turn in day and that was when it got turned in or it was an F.
ReplyDeleteIt had to have started somewhere, but it was a cliche when I was in school, so...
DeleteI would've given him the benefit of the doubt as well. I'm happy to hear you accept late work, especially for that age group. Better to do it, than not!
ReplyDeleteIn the teacher's syllabus, she stated that the firm deadline for all work is the quarter. That's a week or so into October. (Late penalty applied to grade.) I don't have a problem with that, so that's what I've been doing.
Deletethecontemplativecat here. My brother 16 yr Bill had a 2 yr. old quarter horse, Sunny. The first thing he always did was to go visit it. One time he set his English book on the fence post and left it. When he realized where it was, he found it had been bitten and chewed on it. Next day he told his teacher that his horse at his homework. Farming community? bound to happen.
ReplyDeleteThese things do happen. I hope he didn't have to pay for the book.
DeleteGlad you're handling the situation well by accepting late work and encouraging your students to stay organized.
ReplyDeleteA good one, I have never heard it ;) When it's not the dog, it's the baby sister/brother who's eaten it :D
ReplyDeleteI worked with someone whose Dog ate the Australian equivalent of the Senior's Finals! The entire cohort! (Trial HSC for anyone playing along at home).
ReplyDeleteOh man. What a nightmare.
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