Tag Archives: phone calls
What Would You Do? – The Awkward Parent-Teacher Conference
Ryan was a student in my English 10 class. He was a nice kid – kind of goofy, kind of awkward, not very motivated, but nice and very smiley. He wasn’t doing well in my class and we both knew the reason was that he didn’t do his homework and he resisted coming in for help before or after school.
I called home one night and spoke with Ryan’s mom about Ryan’s grades. She was pleasant, but asked me to just speak to her and not her husband. I thought it was troublesome, but I made a note of it. The next day, Ryan approached me and said he’d do anything if I didn’t call home. Again, troublesome. Continue reading
Ten Things that Successful New Teachers Do
The first year of teaching can be challenging, rewarding, stressful, joyful, difficult, and fun. The first year will always be memorable, with some ups and downs, but also with many valuable learning experiences for the teacher. While some teachers describe their first year as “a trial by fire,” or a “sink or swim” experience, there are strategies for making the first year more productive and less stressful. The following strategies will help you to get organized in your first classroom and to achieve success with your students. Continue reading
How to Encourage Challenging Students to Turn in Homework
Alicia was a student of mine. She was a smart girl with a giant chip on her shoulder. The kid could write, though. Once you got past the angsty teen stuff, her poetry was inventive and full of symbolism. Despite her best bluster, we became reluctant allies. She liked that I read her work and I liked that she worked.
We still had trouble when it came to Alicia turning in assignments. She wasn’t a fan of the day-to-day reading and writing expectations I had for my sophomore English students. She had no interest in reading nonfiction and less interest in creating plot diagrams. Continue reading
How to Redirect Chatting Students
I remember as a new teacher I had trouble with what I perceived as the whole class talking. Sure, this was the problem – at the end of September. The talkers had taken over to the point where I felt like I had to hold the entire class after the bell – never a good idea.
However, if I could have looked back at the beginning of the school year, I could have picked out the major talkers. But, I was new. I didn’t know that to stop the problem of the whole class talking, I had to redirect those big talkers right away.
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5 Ways to Discourage Parent Communication
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. Continue reading
Here’s What I Do: Zero Papers for Missing Work, Part Two
Hemet, Calif., middle school language arts teacher Syndi Carlson uses a system she calls Zero Papers to encourage students to turn in assignments. Students who have not completed the day’s assignment turn in a piece of paper with the assignment name, the date, the reason they did not complete the work, and their parents’ phone number. Carlson calls parents about the missing work. Continue reading
Call Parents Sooner Rather Than Later
Brad was a pill in fourth period. You talked with him, you moved his seat, and you kept him after the bell rang. That was yesterday. And today. It was last week, too. Brad’s behavior is disrupting learning in your classroom and you need to call home. Now.
No one wants this phone call, not you and Brad’s mom. The longer you wait, the worse the situation becomes, though, so don’t postpone parent contact. Continue reading
Here’s What I Do: Zero Papers for Missing Work, Part One
Syndi Carlson has been using this Zero Papers system for dealing with missing work in her Hemet, Calif., middle school language arts classes for 10 years.
When a student has a missing assignment, the student writes the usual heading on a blank sheet of paper. In addition to the heading, he writes the name of the assignment, the date Carlson collected it, a phone number where a parent can be reached, and the reason the assignment was not completed. Carlson calls these Zero Papers. Continue reading
Five Documentation Strategies that Work, Part Three: Making Documentation Work for You
This last installment contains two tips for improving classroom management and discipline through documentation.
Friday phone calls. This isn’t really a documentation technique, but I did document it in my computer grading program (see part two of this series) and it was very useful.
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