Your Mouth is Writing Checks

Student: "Man, why do I have an F?  I turned in one of my missing assignments on Monday.  My grade better go up, otherwise I'm going to call my mom."

Me: "I would be happy to talk to your mother about your grade and your work in class any time she likes."

*Student's eyes go wide, and he sits down quietly.*

End of Quarter Whining

I am genuinely impressed when a student is passing after only having been in my class for a total of 11 days, but if you start complaining about your grade I am quickly going to lose sympathy.

Grade Shutdown

Student: "I am going to be gone for the next two weeks.  Are you going to freeze my grade?"