A student in your class is consistently turning in poor work and missing deadlines, yet shows potential. How would you handle this situation to support the student while ensuring course standards and fairness to other students?

I’d start with a private, empathetic conversation to understand root causes — whether it’s time management, gaps in fundamentals, or external stressors. I once had a student whose submission timeliness was 40% and average score 58%; after weekly 20-minute check-ins for six weeks, focused skill drills, and a one-time 48-hour extension policy applied consistently, their on-time rate rose to 92% and scores improved to 76% (an 18-point gain). I’d set clear, measurable milestones (e.g., increase rubric score by 15% in four weeks), point them to targeted resources like tutoring and sample solutions, and document any accommodations so they’re consistent with course policy. To keep fairness, I’d apply the same extension criteria to others and cap extra credit at 5% of final grade. I track progress and revert to standard procedures if goals aren’t met.