* Missed instruction: Students who are frequently late miss crucial parts of lectures, explanations, and discussions, hindering their understanding of the material. This makes it harder to complete assignments and succeed on tests.
* Missed assignments/tests: Late arrivals can mean missing deadlines for submitting work, leading to late penalties or even zero scores. Similarly, they might miss the opportunity to take quizzes or tests.
* Negative teacher perception: Consistent tardiness can create a negative impression on the teacher, potentially influencing grading in borderline cases or affecting the teacher's willingness to offer extra help. While this shouldn't happen, implicit bias can affect how teachers perceive students.
* Lack of participation: Being late often means missing opportunities for class participation, which can be a significant portion of some grades.
* Increased stress and anxiety: The constant worry about being late can increase stress levels, negatively impacting a student's focus and academic performance.
* Underlying issues: Frequent tardiness can be a symptom of underlying issues like lack of sleep, poor time management, transportation problems, or even more serious problems. These underlying issues can directly impact academic performance.
In short, while tardiness isn't a direct cause of low grades, it's a strong indicator of potential academic struggles and often contributes to lower grades through the various indirect factors listed above.