What do YOU do when you catch your students cheating?

[Vagabond]

This could be a life-changing moment for your student IF you handle it the right way. But what is the "right" way?

[John V55]

That’s it go on, congratulations you’re getting there. Now all you need is your advice using no more than 500 words instead of asking others.

[Prometheus]

I do the very same thing my teacher did to me when I cheated when I was 7. I make them wear a dunce hat that says "cheater" on the front and back. They never cheat again.

[John V55]

I do the very same thing my teacher did to me when I cheated when I was 7. I make them wear a dunce hat that says "cheater" on the front and back. They never cheat again.

Oh FFS, not another new one arrived with the same spam signature line. OK, I give up. As no one else is bothered, so be it.

[Blue Moon]

I do something similar but not so traumatic on the student. Making him lose face in China will definitely get a mother complaining to your principal faster than you can fart. I make the cheater wear the "Green Cape Of Shame". Nothing is written on it and nothing is said publicly to the student. But everyone in the school will know that he/she cheated. If the child refuses to wear the cape, I give them the choice of calling their father (not their mother - Chinese kids fear their fathers). They always will choose the cape over the dreaded phone call, and they turn the cape in when they go home at the end of the day. It works well. I would assume it would work in and Asian country, not just China. May not be so effective elsewhere.

[Cricket]

Why not just gouge out their eyes so they cannot ever copy off another student again?!? You can start with just one eye as a warning. I don't believe in half measures. (Of course I am just joking)

[Vagabond]

I too use an old-school form of punishment. I put the cheater at the whiteboard and make him print one hundred times "I will not cheat again. Cheating is wrong." That is what I do on their first offense. If there is a second violation, I tell him to write the same thing out 300 times as homework and have his mother sign every page. If there is a third offense I suspend the student from class for a day and have him write the same thing again 500 times and ask his father to sign every page. It usually never gets as far as Step three.

[Prometheus]

Just curious... How do you handle this problem John V.?

[Blue Moon]

Those of you who taught in China may already know that some Chinese parents actually show their kids ways to cheat on the dreaded Gao Kao college entrance tests. So for those kids it's hard to change their ways.

[Prometheus]

My colleague just came up with a tactic that I think I will adopt. When she catches the kid cheating on a test she just walks over to the kid and without saying a word, picks up the test paper and crumples it up and tosses it into the trash can. After the class the mothers usually show up to collect their kids. At that time the mother is told that her child needs to schedule an hour with the school to retake the test alone and pay for a TA to attend the testing. It works.

[Prewitts23]

Impressive! Thanks for the post.
When i see a student cheating during an exam, it stirs a lot of emotions inside him/her.while your impulse as a teacher may be to stage a teacher rant in the middle of the exam, you have to keep a cool head and proceed calmly.

[PatrickSt]

That is a very important question. I think that conversation is the first step. You need to explain why cheating is not ok, why they did it, and also talk about consequences.

[eggshell]

Have a private discussion with the student(s) involved, presenting the evidence and giving them an opportunity to explain their actions. Clearly outline the consequences for cheating, emphasizing the importance of academic integrity and the impact of their actions on their learning and future opportunities.