Early in my teaching career, I heard countless excuses--most of them amusing--for why students didn't have their homework. "The dog ate it" was one of them. As time passed, I grew tired of hearing "I don't have my homework because..." So I stopped accepting any1.
When I was2to another school, I took my straightforward attitude with me. "No excuses, no extensions!" I3my eighth graders on the first day. I4homework at the beginning of each class. When a student didn't have the homework, I never asked why. 5, I sighed loudly, shook my head in disgust and6a zero in the grade book. One afternoon, shortly after the 7bell rang, Anthony 8 me. "Could I talk to you a minute?" he asked shyly. "I know what you said about our homework, but I don't want you to think I'm a slacker(懒虫) because I come to school 9 mine so often."
Anthony looked up at me, and I could see his lower lip trembling. "It's just that...well, my dad moved out, and my mom works at night, so I have to10my little brothers. Sometimes they cry a lot, which makes it hard to11." I put my hand on Anthony's thin shoulder. "Why are you just now telling me…" I stopped in mid-sentence. I knew why. So I12the question. "Would it help if you stayed here after school and worked on it?" He swallowed hard and 13. The next day, I announced to all my students that I'd be offering an after-school study hall. Anthony was the first to 14. Several days later, Terrell joined him, 15 by twins Sandy and Randy. Before long, I had a room full of eighth graders to work on their lessons. I never asked why any of them was there, but I soon had a large 16 of "I don't have my homework because..." stories. All were very 17. None were amusing. The things I learned weren't 18 in college. I discovered not all kids come from homes that are safe and 19 . Not all kids have a quiet bedroom with a desk and study light. Some don't have a home where a parent is even around. And some kids do go to bed 20 . Most importantly, I learned that "I'll listen" works better than "No excuses".
