Ahh, the end of a marking period...

I’ve been fielding frantic requests for makeup work for the past week (No, you can’t have makeup work- I offered an extra credit project, but you didn’t do it!)... 

My desk is covered in tumbleweeds of crumpled papers that have been left in hopes of gaining a few extra points before grades are entered... 

Students are turning work in that was assigned in September and expecting me to magically add it to my gradesheet in April...

My veins are filled with nothing but caffeine, hopes, and dreams, and the bags under my eyes have turned into a full set of luggage….

Ah, the end of the marking period. The time when even the least motivated student will suddenly become a rabid hyena, following his or her teachers around, begging for extra points, extra work, anything to bring their grade up. The time when teachers 
will question themselves; should I give extra work? Is it wrong if I don’t?

My take on it: If you said 'no makeup work', if you gave an extra credit project instead and nobody completed it- stick to your word!

Stay strong, fellow teachers! Monday starts a new marking period!