Students called Texas "Tyler" on my infamous map quiz. Do I still give them points?

I mean, your first mistake was saying that jokes will not be tolerated. The more you push back on these things the more they get reinforced.

I would have just leaned into it and accepted that answer for points the whole year. The goal is that they know where Texas is, and the kids certainly do.

What is your test assessing, their knowledge of states, or their strict adherence to your expectations? Because it seems like you know that these students know the material, but you’re wanting to give them a zero to prove that you have authority and they should respect it.

Do you think these kids genuinely don’t know what Texas is called?

If you don't have a sense of humor, you have nothing.

it's not vulgar, and Tyler does not seem to mind his nickname, so don't be a grump and enjoy it. All the kids know the right answer and are having fun with it. That means you are doing a good job! Enjoy it.

You don't give 0% for people who did it with 95% accuracy. That's unethical grading.

UNLESS it's out of 0 points and the entire assessment is extra credit.

I'd edit a picture of Tyler's face into the shape of Texas and put that on the map for the rest of the year. Then, I'd accept Tyler as the correct answer for the rest of the year.

This joke has already gotten to the point where you are no longer in control. Own it so you can control it.

Also, I'd probably put an X on the papers of the students who wrote Texas instead of Tyler. And still give them the points.

Well, you set the expectations and they didn’t follow them. You can either laugh and give the points, because they clearly know where Texas is, or you can give them the zeroes.

You could also do option #3 which is tell them they’ve earned zeroes and give them a chance to fix it.

I give credit for an obvious joke as long as it isn't harmful (to Tyler the student, not the state). If a kid can make me laugh at their wit, then hell, why not give 'em the points?

Obviously, they know the answer. They have to know that the state is Texas because they took the cognitive next step and gave a satirical answer.

They are proving they know the answer. Now, will you prove that you are the humorless stick in the mud who can never laugh at themselves? Marking it wrong may lead to that in their view.

If you pride yourself on being a stick in the mud and that is part of your classroom management, ok. Not my style but sure. My husband is like that and he is an excellent teacher, but he will act no-nonsense on things when he believes that a test is neither time nor place to joke around. So, no harsh judgment from me if that's you, too.

I will say, though, having a sense of humor about these things will work out for you in the long run, both with your classroom management/rapport with the kids as well as your own morale.

Either way you choose, though, having a chat with the cheeky individuals to say, "Yes, it was very funny, but in the future, it was a risk to take on a test. Always know your audience" is advised.

What is the goal? To show that they understand something right?

Give them the points AND THEN be clear when you hand them back that they really do have to not do that on a quiz and thank them for making you laugh

I'm with you-- you were pretty explicit in your instructions. You could just go into class with them all and say "Nice practice quiz- no one passed, let's do it again and do it right and this time the grades stand"

But, can I ask why it is 100% or 0% ? Is it that you're wanting them to know them rather than wanting to let them just learn just enough to pass-which some of the kids would definitely do?

You don't just grade what they get right or wrong and give them a score based on that?

I recall in grade school Have a vocabulary quiz. I was NOT prepared for and as a ‘good’ student I was a bit on edge (Jimmy Carter was president for age reference and it is important later)

One of the words was “laud” and I had no idea so I wrote

“How the president speaks of god”

I got it marked correct , I made sure I actually knew what it meant after that and have never forgotten it.

My advise is mark it correct :) you never know what you’ll say that will have an impact

You could put another question on the test about Tyler, and they will need to answer Texas.

 just put both parts of the joke on the test.

It's fun. Learning can be fun. Laughing makes you learn better.

Yes, as they've shown they know where Texas is.

Also, that's a solid joke.

Why are you docking kids their entire letter grade and giving them a zero if they miss ONE state capital? What's the logic here beyond strictness for its own sake?

I think you set up a no-win situation for yourself, and the only logical solution is to grade it as normal (i.e. no "100 or 0" policy) and take off one point if they wrote "Tyler". Then give Tyler extra credit for every kid who did this.

The only assignment I ever took where I could understand the "zero or 100" concept was my chemistry class's introductory safety quiz. Our teacher who was known for extreme strictness said we got 25/25, 24/25, or 0/25 and had to retake.

You grade hard asf, friend 😭.

I don’t know how to answer your question because our processes are different. I don’t do all or nothing grading in this manner and would be happy the students know at least one state because of how they figured out to remember it, but that would be the extent of it.

Their answer proves they know the material so why would you penalize them? Just to make sure there can never be anything lighthearted in school?

 I told them that jokes will not be tolerated

Did you say this right after tying a lady to some railroad tracks? Chill out.

my infamous map quiz of the United States, where you either name every state and capital without error and get 100%, or elsewise get a 0%

Christ, what an asshole.

I'm normally very fun and casual, but honestly I wouldn't give them points. You set an expectation, and they chose to be funny rather than correct.

It can be really casual. Just mark it wrong, don't need to say anything. And when someone complains be very non-chalant "that doesn't look like Texas to me shrug"

I think that if you explained the consequences of what would happen if you did that joke, then you should follow through on the consequences.

HOWEVER I think the problem here is that you're not taking partial credit at all. I think it's important to know the states and their capitals, but making one mistake and getting a zero is a little ridiculous. I'm a harsh grader myself, but I don't see any world where you can learn from an all or nothing exam. Fail them but giving a 0% when the worst thing they did was answer one question out of 100 wrong is crazy work to me.

Drop the test that requires memorizing all the states and capitals and doesn't give any credit for anything less than 100%. I still remember doing this in middle(high?) school (the only test I remember) and it was absolutely the worst test I've ever taken. Just straight Regurgitation that was forgotten as soon as it was written on the paper and as someone with ADHD memorizing names, places, and capitals is a nightmare ESPECIALLY when I can look up at any time the state or capital im looking for OR tell the person I'm talking to "the capital of X state".

As for your question, I'd give them half credit because I love humor and they obviously know the real answer. But it's a 0 or 100 test so I guess you just fail them for comedy and do what my teacher made me do- come in during lunch and retake it repeatedly, lowering my grade Every time and engraving in me the hate for that test for my entire lifetime a la Dolores Umbrige.

It’s clearly a joke and they are just trying to be funny. Why punish that behavior?

Moreover, what kind of adult do you want them to be? One who jokes around and is pleasant with their coworkers, or one who doesn’t?

I live for the bit so to me, if they WOULD HAVE gotten the 100%, then give it to them. I can guarantee that they will know where Texas is for the rest of their lives. They’re learning, they’re having fun in school, and they’re kids.

I just feel like taking what they clearly put in work to learn so you can reassert your control over them feels like a worse option. We’re all humans surviving World Changing Events on a daily basis and it seems like a gift to have this joke with your students. 💛

If you’re going to constantly threaten something you have to follow through with it. Otherwise, you’re opening a door for them to continually test boundaries.

Hand back their quizzes with their zeros and tell them you were serious about how this quiz is graded despite the jokes in class. Tell them they can reassess once with correct answers, or they’ll have to keep their grade from the first time around.

You handle it with grace. You write "ha ha" on the papers (giving them credit for the answer) and you admit to them they got you. Then you say they're aura farming and that next time you will take 6-7 points off (stealing this idea from another poster). Tell them it's skibidi to make fun of you and it's chopped of them to continue.

Then lighten up a little. They've clearly bonded and if you don't get in with them, they'll make you the enemy.

Whether I agree with your rules or not: if you don’t stand firm on them, you might as well not ever make any again.

You said “jokes will not be tolerated.” There is nothing ambiguous about that for them to have “misunderstood.” They DEFIED you. So, if you tolerate it, you’ve lost credibility.

Give them zeros.

Then let them stew for a few days.

Then offer an extra credit assignment that — for much more work — they can earn most or all of those points back.

Maybe an oral presentation each on a different city from Texas. Then remind them of the “no jokes” policy.

If they do it again, that’s 100% on them.

My students also had to identify all 50 states correctly, but the test wasn't "infamous." I told them NOT knowing where all the states were is a little like living in a house and not knowing where all the rooms are. We used mnemonics (MIMAL the elf, Vermont is roughly V-shaped, etc.), and they had practice quizzes daily. ON average, over 90% got a 48 or above.

Use your sense of humor here. You know they know that Tyler means Texas. THEY know that Tyler means Texas. It's not like Texas is someplace they've never heard of. It's a joke. I'd give them points and comment, "Why can't you be more like Texas and use the REAL name for the state? 🙂"

I actually love this whole thing. I wish I were in your class! 😁 Of course you give them points for it. Especially since you STUDIED that way.

I’d even frame it as: “…clearly some of you got confused when you wrote ‘Texas’ here, instead of Tyler, which is crazy to me, ‘cause like, didn’t we cover this, people?” And then explain how happy you were to be able to break your “no jokes” rule for this class. Because they earned it.

I’ve gotten sky comma, top comma (apostrophe) and fake verb (for a verbal adjective/noun) that I absolutely allow if they’ve shown mastery of the original “correct” term so they don’t look like an idiot later. As a grammar teacher, I personally prefer clarity over absolute correctness. And it’s fun as hell.

I had a class in which we all toasted (myself included) “to the Brookie-o!” whilst holding our limited edition Oreos in the air… like, if you aren’t do that shit, you’re missing the best part of teaching young people.

Honestly, your infamous test sounds like bullshit. Perfection or failure? Really? Giving children 0% on a test that they may have been 99% correct on is asinine especially considering there are 100 answers that need to be correct.

I’d say give them all 100s and stop testing people like that.

Is the objective of the test to listen to commands or is the objective to see if they know their states and capitals?

If it's about states and capitals then give them the points. But if the goal was to test how well they listen to instructions then you can't give them points.

They are trolling you. Therefore, you need to troll them back. You could start class with a “very serious talk”: “it saddens my heart that the entire class got a question so egregiously wrong. We are going to have to begin remedial teaching immediately. Please be prepared for a pop quiz.” Then do some slides. “This is Texas. (Slide one: Texas). This is Tyler (slide two). This is Tyler, Texas. (Show Tyler Texas on the map). This is Tyler standing on Texas (draw a wonderful stick figure of Tyler standing on Tyler Texas.).” Have all the students draw their own stick figures of Tyler standing on Tyler Texas. Then have them turn those in.

Or you can give them their papers back with grades written as 001% since we are flip flopping everything. (Then put them in the computer as the real grade.)

Why exactly are you a teacher? This is something these kids will remember forever. Plus, it’s difficult to be the new kid and Tyler has certainly received a special welcoming…. Why wouldn’t you support that? They clearly know where Texas is. Isn’t that the ultimate goal as a teacher? Kids gain knowledge, you support their well being.

Also, that’s a terrible way to grade a quiz. 100% or 0%? wtf

“Jokes will not be tolerated”

-Username is LuciusDickusMaximus on Reddit 😂🤣

i'm a high schooler and future band teacher that lurks this sub a lot but as someone that watches stuff like this happen from afar since i'm not really one to start running jokes, i can tell you that anything you try to do to deter people from keeping a running joke going just makes them want to do it more just to push your buttons in a streisandian way. maybe not even to push your buttons, it's just fun to have inside jokes yknow?

there was no scenario where joining in on the joke would've been a bad thing; either it stops being fun because the teacher is in on it so they stop (unlikely but it is what you wanted in the first place) or you become more likeable to them for being in on your students' in-jokes and you set yourself apart in their minds from the "buzzkill" teachers that are all business all the time.

also this is more petty than anything but i don't think "you better be ready to explain to their parents why they gave up their chance at an A in my class for a joke" isn't the snarky line you think it is LOL. if i was in your class i would've gladly explained to my mom why i can't get an A in my social studies class anymore because i got one incredibly easy question wrong out of a hundred on purpose (which the whole all-or-nothing grading thing seems weird and pointlessly cruel in my opinion but i'm not a teacher so i'm not really qualified to argue about pedagogy)

I wouldn't have even put my name on that quiz when I was in school. One wrong answer and you get a zero? Not playing that game. Can't stand teachers like that. Don't be a teacher that's like that.

But to answer the question. I would mark any answer wrong that wasn't correct. What is the point of teaching and grading if that's not how you do it?

Your quiz is infamous because that's a fucking stupid way to grade.

There are a few very specific things in which an all or nothing pass/fail make sense(usually when safety is involved), and knowledge of US geography is not one of them.