maybe you could...

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Home : 2003 : February : 26

maybe you could...
By j.l.

You are in a difficult situation with this girl, but I wonder if you could do either of the following:

1. Ask her to read her limerick aloud to you (to make sure she can) and then have her write an explanation of the limerick
in her own words--have her explain each and every line. If she cannot adequately perform this task, then tell her that while you thought her limerick was wonderful, you are worried that it is written in a way that is difficult for her to understand. Tell her she needs to rewrite the limerick using words and ideas that she can explain back to you and the class.
2. Copy every students

limerick onto the top half of a piece of paper. On the bottom half type up some sort of honesty pledge that verifies "this work is my own original idea" and then require each student in the class and their parents to sign the pledge (magazines for children frequently ask participants to do this for publishing student work, in fact, so does our local newspaper when they do the "Kid's Page" each week). If anyone questions why, explain what plagiarism is and that it is your job to make sure all students are being honest. This way you don't single anyone out.

Good luck.