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3/31/2017 12 Comments

Real Talk About Re-Dos: Why They Matter

Re - Do Policy for Math Class: How & Why to Implement
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​Assigning and grading homework can be tricky. The point of homework is to give students a chance to practice on their own, allowing them to truly concentrate on the problem without time constraints or worrying about what classmates will think.

However, the reality is that a lot of students hastily throw together an assignment just to get it done in time.
 
It’s not exactly a surprise. Between other classwork, sports, extra curricular activities, and of course their ever important social calendars, there’s not always a lot of time. They think that if they just hand in something, anything, it’s better than nothing. And yes, in one way, it is better than nothing. But at the same time, it also kind of defeats the purpose. When this happens, the students don’t actually get the practice that they need in order to truly learn the concepts at hand. 
That is why I allow (well, to be honest, more like REQUIRE) students to redo their work sometimes. To me, it’s not acceptable to allow students to hand in assignments that are not fully complete or have been thrown together at the last minute.
 
For assignments that I feel need to be redone, I put an “R” footnote in pencil in the gradebook instead of a score. They are aware that this placeholder acts as a zero unless they bother to go back and do a more thorough job on the assignment.  Then it’s treated as late work and they can earn up to a ¾ score. (The same score as a complete, late assignment).  
Redoing work in math class
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Of course, I could have offered a score of 2/4 or ¾ for “incomplete” work at homework checking time (see my full homework scoring policy here (link).  But that's what a student who scribbled out a few lines on the way into class is often hoping for.  It's the easy way out, and what some students in a rush are willing to settle for instead of putting in the effort.
 
I’d rather have the students actually go back and get the practice they need than handing in sloppy work just to have something counted. The temporary zero motivates them to take the time and effort to actually TRY over the next weekend when they have the time.
​However, the key to this working and remaining fair to everyone is that the students don’t get the full amount of credit they would have if they would have done it thoroughly and correctly the first time. Don’t let them be lazy and get off without doing the work just because they don’t mind getting a lower grade. As teachers we need to make them step up and do it. Basically, it’s all about accountability.
 
Being accountable for the work and also knowing that they aren’t going to get off easy are valuable lessons in life. That’s why letting students redo their work is actually very beneficial for them.
 
I believe that this type of policy also goes for assessments; allowing students to correct their tests where they can earn as much as half of their missed points back. For a full explanation of how I make this work, make sure to check out my post on Procedures for Test Corrections.

How Students Benefit from a Good Re-Do Policy:

  • ​More practice and familiarity
  • Boosts their confidence
  • Builds accountability
  • Prepares them for the real world
 
When students get to redo their assignments, they get to re-address the problems and actually get familiar with the material. Knowing they get a second chance helps them be more motivated to complete the assignment. Their self-esteem also comes into play when they realize that you believe in their ability to get it done right.
 
As Rick Wormeli, a 30-year teaching veteran, stated in his article Redos and Retakes Done Right, “Students hope that teachers see the moral, competent, and responsible self inside them, waiting to shed its immature shell.” Students like to feel that their teachers know they have potential.
 
And it also gets them ready for the real world. So many high stake professions allow for practice and retakes. It’s rare that in the adult world you find a one and done situation. The Bar exam is a perfect example. It can take some lawyers years to pass this test. But they always get to try again. Redoing equals practice, which will only enhance the wealth of knowledge. Many exams we take as adults allow us retakes, so why not let students redo a few assignments with less credit?
 
The same holds true in the workplace.  If students turn in a sloppy report or show a hastily thrown together project at work someday, they’ll have to re-do it to meet the standards, and suffer the consequences of disappointing a boss, staying overtime, or losing a client for example.  Student life can get busy, and at times, grading techniques must reflect this. 
Benefits of a Good ReDo Policy in Math (& How to Make it Happen)
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​I’ve collected more thoughts to share about my grading techniques that may be useful for you and beneficial to your students. From points to footnotes, there are a lot of tips and tricks here to help you keep track and also keep students accountable. Read more about it here Grading Homework: A Four-Point System.
 
Do you allow retakes? Let us know why or why not in the comments below. We would love to read about systems that work well for this!  Thanks for sharing.

For more tips, ideas, and resources for math teachers, enter your email to subscribe:

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12 Comments
Shelby
4/1/2017 06:11:06 pm

I do totally agree with what you are saying. In my class students get those chances to practice without the pressure of a grade to help them see where maybe they can ask questions or correct mistakes. Then they receive an assignment for a grade. Yes, some are happy with half and move on. The frustrating part for me is that I am the one giving up my spare time or time with my family when they are perfectly capable and choose to do the fun stuff on their time. Do you run into that and or have a policy for that such as a limited number of times that can happen when they go from getting nothing to getting them all? I know they are busy but I'm big on time management as well, and approachable in cases of problems or issues. My own son played sports and took honors classes and just had to figure out how to manage it all. It sometimes feels like a lose-lose. Any advice on not taking advantage of this? Thanks

Reply
Math Giraffe link
4/2/2017 05:17:30 pm

Hi Shelby,
Yes, absolutely. It's frustrating. I love the idea of limiting the number of times. Actually, I've found that after one or two of these per student, they realize they ended up wasting effort doing it twice - once quickly and sloppy and once thoroughly. And they still don't get full credit. So far, everyone I've tried this with has pretty much stepped up and realized that it benefits them to do it right the first time instead. But I definitely like the idea of limiting it. Thanks!

Reply
Jen
4/6/2017 04:35:47 pm

I love this post! This is the first time I have come across anyone else that allows students to redo work. My fellow teachers look at me like an alien every time I bring up allowing redos. I'm a firm believer in learning from mistakes. I require them to make corrections and explain what they did wrong the first time. Thanks so much for this! There are a few things you mentioned that I hadn't thought of especially the R which acts as a 0 on work that was hastily done.

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Brittny
9/23/2017 04:26:30 pm

Maybe your colleagues should read some of the new brain research that shows mistakes are a VERY important part of learning. They cause the brain to grow, math teachers should be fostering that idea that it's ok to make mistakes and that you grow more from that than if you make no errors. Gather anything from Carol Dweck and Jo Boaler as well as youcubed.org!

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Math Giraffe link
4/6/2017 06:24:44 pm

Hi Jen,
Thanks so much! I hope that idea works well for you. The "R" is just a placeholder and the student is responsible for changing it if they want any points at all. It's great for accountability. :) Thank you for commenting! Have a great evening,
-Brigid

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Michelle
4/8/2017 11:59:16 am

I as well LOVE the idea of re-do's; however, at my school we have a BIG problem with students cheating. They have school issued MacBooks and my students have worked very hard to find ways to cheat on their work instead of just actually learning how to do it. They will look online for answers (that include scratch work) or just flat out copy from a classmate. So in essence I see them taking two options: a) copy/cheat the first time to keep from a re-do, or b) copy/cheat if they are issued a re-do. Any thoughts/suggestions on that? Also, is this including a re-do for the ones who tried hard but made lots of mistakes or just those that wrote some slop down?

Reply
Math Giraffe link
4/9/2017 08:07:28 pm

Hi Michelle,
No, this is not for mistakes - we correct those together. I have really only done this for the sloppy / incomplete work. Cheating is an issue if you do grade for accuracy - I don't generally do that, especially on a frist try homework because it is the first attempt on their own with a particular concept. You can check out how I grade homework here - http://www.mathgiraffe.com/blog/grading-homework-a-four-point-system
With the combination of these two systems, cheating is not usually an issue until a quiz rolls around. Hope this helps! :) Thanks for commenting. Have a great week, and happy spring!
-Brigid

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Melissa
7/17/2017 11:49:37 am

I have a similar plan in place as well. It is effective; however, I still get students who are willing to take a zero instead of handing in a re-do assignment. Typically, parent contact is made to inform of academic choices their child is making and in how it is impacting their view on work and semester grades. This will help to some degree for a few students but not all.

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Tara link
9/29/2017 01:00:06 pm

Love everything about this post! My favorite high school math teacher who I had for Algebra 2, Pre-Cal and Calculus had a re-do policy like this and it made such a difference in my own learning!

Reply
Math Giraffe link
9/30/2017 10:41:32 am

Thanks so much, Tara! I am so glad this type of plan helped you :)
Thank you for taking the time to leave your comment! Have a wonderful weekend!
-Brigid

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Lori
10/20/2018 07:39:20 pm

Your free download of the doodle notes for goal setting does not work.

Reply
Math Giraffe link
10/22/2018 11:02:04 am

Hi Lori,
Your computer or browser may be blocking the direct download. I can send it to you through email. :) Just email me at mathgiraffe.bd@gmail.com and I can send it your way! Thanks!
-Brigid

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