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FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).
This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!

Blog Post - Week 7
This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6
For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5
This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4
Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3
Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2
Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"

Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1
Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Contacting Parents

We have a system where we contact parents two times following problems. When a third occurrance arises we note problem and it is referred to a counselor. At the fourth occurrance it is referred to a vise principal. Each occurrance after this is automatically referred to a vise principal. I have had mixed results with parents, I have been told by about half that they are out of ideas to handle problems. From these I have ongoing problems. Of the other half, the parents that seem to have a handle, I have experienced good results with only a few requiring a follow up call. I have yet to receive back a note sent home to a parent. As a result of this I will always call and log my call. It is required to keep a phone log in my county and I would do this anyway. I only E-Mail as a last resort, and then only to ask for a call back. As with the notes most are erased by the students before the parents receive it anyway. The phone is my best friend.

2 comments:

Teresa said...

I really dislike calling parents even though I typically have the same results as you, positive. Parents are generally so happy that a teacher is interested in their childs school performance that they are appreciative. One teacher that I work with calls every parent at the beginning of the semester just to set the tone. With an early call he can generally comment positively on the student and that makes the parent happy as well as forming a parent/teacher relationship. If you really don't mind parent phone contact, try calling with good news early on and that may motivate the student to "keep up the good work".

Dr. M said...

Teresa shares a very effective strategy by her colleague who calls every parent early on - that really does set a good tone for future benefits.

Ken - if the parents say they are out of solutions that may respond well to your suggestion that the two of you are working together to help their child solve the problem, whatever it is. Especially if it is a single parent sometimes they just need to feel like someone is in their corner helping out. Maybe even a suggestion or two from you may help the parent move towards a solution with their child. The longer you teach the more strategies you will use and see that are effective with teenagers and you will be able to offer suggestions to parents who have only dealt with their children and maybe have not thought of your ideas.

Glad to see your school has a system in place.