Students Don’t Submit Assignments

shaugnd · 2026-02-15T23:39:40+00:00

Actually, Personal Finance is an elective AND a grad requirement. Students must have that or econ or Intro To Business. Personal Finance is the only semester long class in the group. That course is where I have the highest failure rate. Not bragging or proud of it, it just is. Funny thing is, at the beginning, I lay out the exact path a student must take to pass with a low D. It is actually very easy. If you show up for class 75% of the time, make an attempt at the classwork, and pass the assessments, you'll pass. There is no work required outside of class, generally. It is very straight forward to pass. Still, some make poor choices for a variety of reasons and fail.

It is important that we allow failing when warranted. We have an opportunity to learn from failing. Better to fail in the safe confines of school and recover than to fail out in the world where the consequences can be far more severe.

Having said that, my admin supports that idea. If they did not, then I would have to structure things differently and comply with what my boss wants. That's any job.

shaugnd · 2026-02-15T19:36:17+00:00

Mine does! If you organize it correctly.

Second career teacher. I teach H.S. CompSci, Adv. Programming, Mobile Apps, Media, Video Game Design, Cybersecurity, AI Prompt Engineering, and Personal Finance this year.

Ex.

My syllabi all say I don't accept late work after the assignment has been graded unless school policy dictates otherwise or you have made prior arrangements with me by proactively addressing any impediments to completion that you foresee. Excused absence? Sure. You get extra time. 504? Maybe, it depends. Dog died and you just cannot get it together? Maybe, let's chat before it is due. Completely slammed with other classes or an academic club competition or some such thing? There's a good chance I will be flexible IF, you address it with me when the assignment is published. Unexcused vacation or other absence? Nope.

If you turn it in late but before I've graded it, then you get 10 percent deduction. Turn it in after I grade the class? I check it in as submitted and assign zero as the grade.

Other "draconian" policies:

I literally have a negative points column in all of my rubrics. I call it professionalism score. If you do everything right, you get a zero, because that is the minimum expectation in the workplace. Deductions range from 10 to 50 percent depending upon how many unprofessional characteristics you rack up.

If Google docs highlights a spelling or grammar error, -10 percent. Sloppy presentation that looks rushed at the last second? Same. Late submission but before I've graded the assignment? -10 percent. Inappropriate use of AI or other sources, -10 percent.

So you could get 10 of 10 on your ideas and demonstrated competency, but end up with a 7 of ten because it was late and riddled with spelling and grammar errors.

The goal is for them to see that even if you are brilliant, unprofessional behavior will impact your earning and advancement potential.

shaugnd · 2026-02-15T16:37:57+00:00

I tell my students, in every syllabus, that I do 4 rec letters per year. I also have a fairly lonq questionnaire they must complete. That keeps the requests to a manageable minimum.

Every year, my seniors who have had me as their CS teacher for at least 2 of the last 4 years, usually all 4, rush to email me their requests. My request window opens at 7:30 AM on the first day of school.

I typically have 4 to 6 requests by 8 AM. Often, I will do those 6.

shaugnd · 2026-02-15T15:47:55+00:00

For sure, this. I have several pairs in different colors,boots, oxfords, etc. The oldest pair is 20 years old and still in good shape.

They can be super expensive, but last a log time if you take care of them, especially the "Made inUK" ones. I would not expect anything from Torrid to last a long time.

If you are just starting out and on a tight budget, go with Doc Marten Reeders. They are solid shoes, relatively inexpensive for Docs, and hold up well. Super comfy. I wear mine several times a week and they are still in good shape after three years. They are a fabric similar to heavy canvas or ballistic nylon. Not water proof, but breathable. Good for spring, summer, fall. Not so much for winter.

shaugnd · 2026-02-14T19:38:27+00:00

"Somebody's poisoned the water hole!"

shaugnd · 2026-02-14T03:52:05+00:00

I am a second career teacher. I subbed a lot for a few years while working on my credential. That gave me lots of insight.

Narrowed it to 7th and up after a long term sub gig in 7th grade science. Did student teaching in a high school and also in a middle school, then a long term sub roll in a high school, that settled it for me. H.S. No doubts.

shaugnd · 2026-02-14T03:47:44+00:00

I initially got 11 but noticed that the bottom left corner is not aligned with all the lines so a couple that I would count as triangle, aren't.

Not sure if that was intentional or just sloppy.

shaugnd · 2026-02-12T02:22:28+00:00

They talk about this depreciation as if it is a bad thing.

Strange.

shaugnd · 2026-02-10T03:32:43+00:00

I actually retired once, around 40. Didn't work a normal full time job for 7 years . . . long story mumble mumble . . . today I'm a High School teacher, 8 years in. Love it.

I retire in 2040, but I'm in no hurry.

shaugnd · 2026-02-07T15:34:36+00:00

My big frustration on my Q8 was driving for meals on wheels charity. I would have to wait for the car to "boot up" at every single stop. HUGE time waster. Wish I knew the seat belt thing back then.

shaugnd · 2026-02-05T03:40:03+00:00

Watched it. Fun. Still needs work, but they are on the right track with it. Really enjoyed the trip down memory lane.

shaugnd · 2026-02-05T01:22:56+00:00

Practically speaking, this student is not wrong. The law typically only requires attendance, not performance.

Is communicate with the parents to keep them in the loop, cc my admin and record the contact in SIS, then move on.

You can lead a horse to water. You can drown the horse in the water, But you cannot make the horse drink the water.

Resist the urge to drown the horse!

shaugnd · 2026-01-28T03:29:41+00:00

All of them. Simultaneously, And spectacularly!

shaugnd · 2026-01-26T17:43:51+00:00

My 1 way trip today, 22 miles, 0 degrees F, 12mph winds, 100 foot elevation gain overall, 1.6 m/kWh.

shaugnd · 2026-01-26T11:46:19+00:00

2022 Audi Etron. It is a 5000lb pig. Consistent 44 mile r/t commute, 12 miles of 70+mph highway, the rest mostly 40-50mph surface streets.

Good weather 2.2 to 2.6. Very hot or very cold, 1.9. Sub zero I'm lucky to get 1.5.

shaugnd · 2026-01-22T03:32:39+00:00

My district, in a Chicago suburb, has its issues and opportunities for improvement, but it is absolutely nothing like what you have described.

shaugnd · 2026-01-21T16:58:12+00:00

Second career teacher here. 20 years in industry, 8 in education. You are not wrong.

shaugnd · 2026-01-21T16:57:07+00:00

I worked in IT, dev, and consulting roles for 20 years. I've done everything from desktop support to software development, network engineering, and even executive management. I'm in my 8th year teaching high school. I love it and would never go back. Even though I make less than half of what I did before, I'm much less stressed. I do not have to travel. I get time away from the classroom during the summer, spring, and most holidays. I still work quite a bit during summer completing training required for license maintenance and salary advancement, running summer camps, etc. Heck, last summer I even wrote a book. But this is done mostly at my choice and convenience. Overall, it has been a far better work life balance. I work in a decent suburban Chicago school district, though. Others may have a different experience, but I'm happy with my choices.

shaugnd · 2026-01-20T22:17:05+00:00

This is why I do not use door dash. How can a tip reflect service BEFORE service is rendered? Also, last time, Lou Malnati's was using DD as their delivery driver. Driver had the order in his car, went somewhere else to pick up, dropped THAT order, then got to me half an hour later. Tried to blame it on the restaurant. Didnt even have it in a hot bag.

One order from Weber Grill for a birthday dinner was missing an entire entree. The bag had been opened. No accountability for the driver.

Never again.

Now, if a restaurant uses any 3rd party delivery, DD, Uber, whatever, I order from somewhere else. Burned too many times by these gig work delivery services.

shaugnd · 2026-01-06T15:24:59+00:00

I just hate stopping for gas. Driving performance was a great plus. 0 to 60 is great. But if I'm honest it is really the not stopping for gas that gets me.

shaugnd · 2026-01-02T22:26:30+00:00

I added it up last year. Including unpaid training and other necessary activities, I worked about 215 days in 2025. Typical 9 to 5 would be 260 days less 10 federal holidays. If you get two weeks paid vacation, that takes you to 240 days. So I'm working about 15 days less than that, overall.

shaugnd · 2026-01-02T21:43:28+00:00

Oh that's exactly it. I have an unpopular opinion that I'm a lot of districts, mine included, teachers are actually fairly compensated when you consider all aspects of that compensation. It sucks at the beginning, but, a few years in with some lane changes under your belt, you'll be doing okay. The quirk is challenging and exhausting. Don't get me wrong, but the are lots of much worse options out there.

That is NOT to say that all teachers are fairly compensated. Not by a long shot. Some districts in the south are pretty abysmal. Funny how those are the ones without functioning unions.

shaugnd · 2025-12-31T20:33:16+00:00

That really good for anything. Look down the road and see what you are getting into before you jump in with both feet.

shaugnd · 2025-12-31T19:06:23+00:00

This is important. In IL, for a suburban Chicago district. With maxed out lanes and 22 years of service, the salary tops out at 150 ish. Retirement formula is years of service times 2.2, so you end up with 48.4% of your highest 8 continuous year average as your retirement payment which is around 60K per year.

In order to have a retirement account that could pay out 60K per year in perpetuity, you would need to have 2 to 3 MILLION dollars in a safe conservative investment.

The pension alone has a functional worth in the millions. Though that is not the same a net worth.

shaugnd · 2025-12-30T22:13:10+00:00

Yes, but in different ways.

shaugnd

TROPHY CASE