Catch-up Days

Most days in the classroom feel like it’s full steam ahead.  It can be difficult for students to keep up with the work especially if they miss a day because they are sick, have extracurricular activities like sports or concerts, or field trips.  It would be nice if students prioritized school over other outside activities, but they face a lot of pressure from coaches, teachers, and parents. They may also work a job to support their family or do volunteer work in the community which prevents them from completing homework or reading the book.  Siblings and screens can be a distraction at home or even something as simple as feeling tired from a bad night’s sleep.  There are a lot of reasons why kids fall behind and catching up might feel impossible since they have to keep up with the current workload of a course. 

The solution to all of these challenges might be simple:  the catch-up day.  While it might feel like giving extra time to students who didn’t do the work, it can also serve as an opportunity for students to make sense of their notes and get clarification about what gaps exist in their understanding.  Even if it’s not a full class period, time to catch up allows a teacher to check in with students to make sure they are clear about what due dates are coming up and recently submitted work.  In addition to catching up on missing work, a catch-up day gives students a chance to check their grades online or to conference about their essays.  They could spend the time reflecting on their writing or reading an assigned novel.  

Studying or preparing to write an essay involves reviewing classwork and reading notes, which helps students form an independent interpretation about class discussions and quotations from the text.  They can organize their thoughts and notes into a graphic organizer or mind map.  Even if they are not completing missing work, they can still spend the time in a meaningful way.  I will often create a list of options on the board so that students can move from one task to the next. 

Fridays are a good day for this type of work, or if your school has a longer block period, this time could help students get a short break from listening to a lecture or speaking in a discussion. 

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