It absolutely helps
Yeah, just as an update... had a sitdown with the girl. We talked for a bit, and I asked about certain elements of the homework that need parent help/interaction/signatures. I asked if they were hard to get. She said yes, and was pretty honest about it... said mom is very disorganized and not dependable, dad doesn't believe in signing things, grandmother is senile. I explained my own position; that part of me almost WANTS to fail her because she is not taking care of her responsibilities as most other students do, but at the same time I don't want to punish her if she is doing her best to get it done. So we agreed that, instead of getting "reading signatures" every night (where the kids record their reading and the parents sign that they know the reading was done) I would let her write just a single sentence about what she read as her own version of a signature. It actually seemed like a pretty good conversation; another teacher was there and listening and thought there was a good connection.
This morning? Still no homework. I called her over, told her "I'm extremely disappointed in you" with a very nasty look in my eye, and send her off. I am hoping it made an impact, and I'll talk to her again tomorrow. The lack of effort kills me, and definitely points me towards simply failing her.
*sigh*
That said, it was "Dress as your kids/teacher" day today. I wore my typical shirt/tie and snarled at anyone who asked why I didn't dress like a kid... usually saying something like "Because I am an adult at work." But another teacher organized that half the kids in the grade came in with khakis, shirts, ties, and lanyards studded with pens with IDs around their necks. They were very entertained. I just said I thought the classes looked very nice today, and wondered aloud if maybe they all got haircuts or something. Somehow I think they are almost MORE entertained when I snarl and complain, rather than be all sweet and nice