I'm amazed at what students will try these days. They have definetly gotten creative. I had one student try to send text messages with the answers to other students during class. That was the last day bookbags and purses were allowed at the desks during exams for that class.

I have learned in the last two years of teaching, that students have an excuse for everything! My struggle has been to be empathetic while still enforcing the rules. I've learned that if you treat the situation with understanding, but also explain that rules/policies are in place to make them better students, they are usually more understanding.

I teach a class that meets four days a week for 4 hours. Because it is such a big portion of the week, students are bound to miss a few days. I want students to be able to turn in late work, but on the other hand, I do feel that it rewards laziness. I struggle with how to handle this. Right now, I allow late work (minus 10% each day it’s late). Does anyone else do differently?