🚀 go-pugleaf

I teach several levels of college prep physics including a Calculus based
course of highly motivated and competitive students.  My AP-C students
are 2nd year students who had a different teacher last year.  He assigned
homework, expected the students to at least attempt problems and come to
class prepared to discuss their solutions and learn from their mistakes.
These students did not perform well on{homework, they obviously felt they
could do last minute preparation for tests and put their homework time in
other persuits. This created a problem that was not resolved.
        Given the benefit of this teacher's experience with these
students I began this year with the usual admonitions reguarding the
importance of homework in the learning process.  I also began checking
homework daily for completion/effort and giving points for that work.
Points were all or nothing.  They seem to have risen to the bait. These
students are so competitive that the possibility of losing points was
more than they could stand.  Physics homework became a nightly priority.
As the year has progressed the checks become random and less frequent, at
times only once a week, but concern over losing "points" seems to be a
major motivator.
        Assignments are about 4-5 problems per night.
 Gene Newman
Woodlawn High
Baltimore, Md