Something wicked this way comes:

the end of the marking period. (Cue the ominous music!)

Predictably all of a sudden students who haven't cared a whit about their work, their grade, our class or more generally, school, are now in a panic as they realize time is up and that ugly, ugly F that my co-teacher and I kept warning them about is about to become part of their permanent record and make its way into their parents' hands. Forget all the extra running around and grading their frenzy is generating, and all the unnecessary negotiations and arguments about late work policies and unauthorized absences that have ensued. I just wish I had some way of making them understand that if they put just a shred of the energy of these last minute efforts into their work when it was first assigned (after all, they have to come to school and sit in our class anyways), they wouldn't be in this situation in the first place.

Luckily, something sweet this way comes too: Spring Break! I'm willing to give them a clean slate when we get back - have they learned enough to appreciate it?