I’ve been grading smaller homework assignments by memes (students get a fair homework grade behind the scenes, especially when their character’s story goes from “not caring what I write when I do work” to “I am thinking about why this work works”).

These are two of the cheating grades. One means “I suspect something,” and the other means “you cheated,” and it is always accompanied by evidence. You get too many Angela Bassets and you have to see me and talk to me, and explain to me why you are not improving at one of two things, one of which is cheating.

The student who I spoke with today told me he didn’t want to get a “Samuel Jackson” on his homework. I told him that he should be far more concerned with the Angela Bassets. I think he is going to do well in the course.

Tonight, he submitted a video where, in it, he explained a concept from class to his grandfather, who then asked questions that were properly answered. I was kind of touched by it. I got a little mathemotional. It was clear in the video that his grandfather loved him, knew a lot about mathematics, and was enjoying that his grandson was being challenged to talk about math out loud.

At the end of the video you hear his grandfather warn him: “if you’d put that phone down, you might not have to see Angela Basset.” I think I might sleep better tonight…