Inside the School Articles

5 Ways to Discourage Parent Communication March 10th, 2010

We all know that parents, as our students’ first teachers, have a tremendous amount of influence over our students. However, some of us aren’t terrific about communicating with parents. Instead of reaching out, we draw back.

Dodge phone calls and e-mails.

The situation: Look, I have seven classes with 25 kids in each one. With over 170 students, I don’t have time to use the restroom, let alone return a call. I get to my e-mail when I get to it. I have papers to grade, lessons to plan, and another class in 15 minutes. Maybe I’ll get to that phone call or e-mail after school. Tomorrow. No, wait. Friday.

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Breaking Barriers: Unleashing the Potential of Black Males in School March 8th, 2010

“With education, I know I can go beyond my wildest dreams. With help from my teachers, family, and friends, the sky is the limit!” said 8th grader Zaniriusz. Zaniriusz lives in a community with a dropout rate above 50% for Black males, but aspires to graduate from college and return to his neighborhood to “build a new playground,” make sure “every family has air conditioners and heaters,” and “get rid of criminals and gangs.” He shared his experiences in “A Mile in My Shoes Writing Project: African-American Males Telling Their Own Stories.”

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Breaking Barriers: Ending School Violence, Improving Security and Creating a Culture of Learning in Schools March 3rd, 2010

I witnessed one of my best friends getting shot in the daylight and I couldn’t do anything – we were in the wrong place at the wrong time… It takes time but I am going to have to take back everything the devil stole from me. It’s a work in progress, but with prayer and supplication I will do it.
Eleventh grader, Dyquan Caldwell, shared his tragedy in “A Mile in My Shoes Writing Project: African-American Males Telling Their Own Stories.” According to a recent study, teenagers like Dyquan are more likely to walk to school, pass through a metal detector when entering school, have major distractions from doing school work, have fewer opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, and sadly, more likely to report that their teachers say and do things to make students feel bad about themselves.

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Classroom Discipline: Don’t Ask Why March 1st, 2010

Teens are impulsive. That spontaneity is part of their charm. And it’s part of the problem, too.

Picture this: Nick sees a cute girl downstairs by the lockers. He thinks that he can impress her if he jumps over the stair rail from the upstairs landing to the commons below.

Not impressive, Nick, when the paramedics have to haul you to the clinic for a cast.

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Upcoming Seminars

• Breaking Barriers: Reducing Gang Violence, Improving Security and Creating a Culture of Learning in Schools March 15, 2010
• Middle School Classroom Management March 22, 2010
• 5 Ways Teachers Can Close the Achievement Gap March 29, 2010
• Communicating with Parents and Community Stakeholders April 12, 2010
• Strategies to Improve Teacher Hiring April 19, 2010
• Ways to Retain Teachers When Budgets are Tight December 31, 1969

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