Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Zero Tolerance for Errors

Zero Tolerance This is a new type of zero tolerance set up specifically for Reading Workshop. Students are expected to write without mistakes. Each student has tools available, including a computer with word processing and spell check, a dictionary, online sites like Answers.com and Dictionary.com, peer assistance, and spelling buddies. There really is no reason for writing with mistakes, other than a lack of effort.

Students are expected to use correct punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and grammar. When an assignment is turned in with errors, students will redo it until it is correct. Amazingly, in only three days, the writing has improved dramatically. Students have begun to edit with attention to detail. What seemed to be a totally unfair demand, has shown astounding results.
Surely students would not have been trying to slide by with a minimal amount of effort! Once again, students show how they can rise to the level of expectation. With the drastic improvement already, I cannot imagine the quality of writing I can expect in a few weeks. I anxiously await some of the phenomenal pieces of work that will be produced this year in Reading Workshop.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really agree with zero tolerance because whenever the students bring up their paper and has some mistakes they shouldn't have an excuse for missing the incorrect spelling because they could've used Ask.com or the dictionary on our computers. If you don't have a dictionary then go to Ask.com, but if you don't know how to work Ask then I don't know what to tell you.

Anonymous said...

I think that the Zero Tolerance rule is great for people who do not get their letter right the first time. I think that it is great because when people don't get their letter right the first time and when they go back and write the letter or what ever over again they will see the silly mistakes they made. We have also checked other people's paper's and read them out loud to them and they see many mistake when you read out loud. We have seen that if they read their letter out loud to you they will some times change the words as you read them. When another person reads your letter you will find mistakes that they did not find. Give your letter to another person and and maybe they might find more mistakes that the person before did not find, and when you go back to your seat then retype your letter and mistakes. So when you turn it in you might have a little mistakes that some people have missed.

Anonymous said...

I think zero tolerance for mistakes is a good idea. It will probably get more students to double check their work. I know that I am double checking my work before I turn it in. If I was a teacher and students bring up papers with a lot of mistakes in them it would make me mad. Also if you give them websites to check their spelling on that would make me really made. One reason I think students turn in papers with some many mistakes is because they want to be the first one done with the work for the day. This is because they think it makes them look smart. That is what I think about zero tolerance for mistakes.

Anonymous said...

Zero tolerance is a good idea.Mainly because some students just write something down and turn it in with a bunch of mistakes.Also because they have a dictionary on the computer to check their work. Some students will take their paper to Mr. McGuire and he will give you a B,C or D because there is a bunch of mistakes.

Anonymous said...

I agree with zero tolerance because it will help you become a better writer between now and then. You will also will know your strengths and weaknesses in reading. I know it will get annoying sometimes but, I'll get over it. Hopefully I can get a better grade by redoing stuff. I think I will. Thank you for all your help

Anonymous said...

I think that zero tolerance is when someone don't turn in assignments and fails that class. Also when they turn in a assignment that has a lot of mistakes.

Anonymous said...

I think zero tolerance is when you are not doing something good enough. Like if you go up to a teacher and say will you check this. Then once the teacher checks it and it turns out there of a lot of mistakes.She/he will tell you to go back to your seat until you get it right.

Mr. McGuire said...

Ryan,

Do you mean like when someone doesn't know when to use do or does?
Or the rules for a and an?

Anonymous said...

I Like zero tolerance because I can get better grades. For example someone might make a lot of mistakes on a letter or on a post and they would have to turn it in like that. But not now, we can get it corrected instead of having anybody that you don't know laughing at you. How do you like zero tolerance?

Clix said...

Belatedly: do all of your students have access to a networked computer every day? I'm jealous! how did you manage it?

Mr. McGuire said...

Clix,


Thank you for writing. All fifth and sixth grade students have their own desktop computer for language arts. We use refurbished PC's with open source software. They use Ubuntu for an operating system, Open Office for word processing, and Firefox browser. They are networked to an HP 4000 laser printer.

You can buy refurbished PC's for about $100 - 120. By using freeware, you can furnish a classroom for less than $3,000. We also have projectors with doc cameras in each classroom to share examples of students' work.

Most people think having a classroom of computers is impossible, but with smart choices, it is really economically feasible for most schools.

Anonymous said...

why don't you do poem of the week anymore?
Are we going to sing this year?