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Addie /MO - hi Linda
Linda/CA - Hi Addie--long time no see
brteach - I have a question for all of you. I have a student who rarely does her homework or studies. Any ideas on how to motivate her?
Linda/CA - What grade?
brteach - 5
Linda/CA - Is homework to be returned daily, weekly or other?
Linda/CA - Have the parents been told that she is not doing homework?
brteach - usually daily. She gets daily hw in math and lang arts.
brteach - The parents are part of the problem. They are not very supportive of her.
Linda/CA - does she have problems doing the work in class?
brteach - She can do the work if she cares to. The problem is getting her to care enough.
Linda/CA - You could require them to sign it daily--or have a homework log that they have to sign
Linda/CA - Addie-any suggestions?
Rhonda - Does she need parental help to get the work done? Can she complete the work without help?
brteach - She has an agenda that she writes her hw in. Even though her father says he works with her, I don't really believe it. I have started working with her after school but I don't think that's enough.
brteach - She can do most of the work without much help. She constantly calls me over to her during seatwork. I know this is for attention. I don't know how much attention she gets at home.
Addie /MO - sorry I was not paying attn....talking on the phone
Linda/CA - How is her reading level?
Addie /MO - several of our teachers do nightly assignment sheets sign and return
brteach - That's a good idea.
brteach - She reads on grade level.
Addie /MO - if the assignment sheet is not signed parents are called
Linda/CA - is she of an ethnic minority group?
brteach - What do you do if the parent's keep on not signing it or don't sign it that often?
Rhonda - Another VERY good way to present homework is to give a weeks worth on Monday and have it due on Friday. Or to even have it assigned on Monday due the next Monday so there is a weekend in there for working on it. This gives families time to "plan" for it and work around their schedules.
brteach - No. She is Caucasian.
Addie /MO - required nightly....parents called at work or whatever
Addie /MO - that is good Rhonda
brteach - Rhonda, I like your idea.
Addie /MO - a lot of our homework is unfinished work from the day. I am not sure how the Monday to Monday thing would work under these circumstances
Rhonda - This is a 5th grade student. She is old enough to understand that doing the homework will effect her grade. Make it clear to the parents as well that if it is not done that will equal a zero as a certain percentage of her grade.
Addie /MO - if it were truly homework assignments for practicing concepts the weekly concept is great
brteach - What about tests? She won't always study. If she doesn't , she fails. I give her a retest but she doesn't always study for them either.
Darcy/pre-k - I agree with Rhonda. But mine was for kindergarten. I sent home "homework packets" every Monday and they were due Friday. Worked out well.
Rhonda - In our school unfinished work would be a responsibility above and beyond the assigned homework.
Addie /MO - at some point the students do just have to accept responsibility for their work. what would she (or her parents) do if she started failing? would that make her kick into gear?
Linda/CA - What is the school policy on not turning in homework?
brteach - I think it would make her parents angry with her. That might just be the motivation she needs.
Melissa - wow
Rhonda - It is not your job to make sure she passes. She must take on the responsibility for her own learning.
Addie /MO - if the grades were really bad, the parents might take more interest and see that she is doing her homework
Melissa - sticky situation
brteach - Homework is only ten percent of the final grade. You are not allowed to lower the final grade significantly because of homework.
Melissa - hi hat
Darcy/pre-k - And I wouldn't
Melissa - I teach at a small private school
Hat - hi Melissa
Melissa - every morning there is a homework report so the principal knows who is doing there homework daily
Darcy/pre-k - And I wouldn't giver her retests. You keep on giving her "redo's" and she'll expect them all year. What will happen at the end of the year when she has to repeat?
Addie /MO - but if the homework were truly necessary and part of the learning, then she would suffer in other areas of her grade because she wouldn't know everything she needed to
Addie /MO - Darcy, it is another "re-do"...just kidding
Melissa - it seems like a power trip on the girls part
Darcy/pre-k - huh?
Melissa - her way of having control
brteach - I think that's exactly what it is. Her parents aren't behind me and I think she knows it.
Addie /MO - if she repeated the grade it would be a "redo"
Melissa - yep
Melissa - that is why they do a lot of what they do for the power or control over a situation
Darcy/pre-k - Yeah, I had a parent chew me out today because HIS kid gave me the finger yesterday (age 4).
Darcy/pre-k - got it.
Melissa - because there are so many things the can't control
Addie /MO - Darcy, sorry, don't get it...how is that your fault?
Melissa - isn't great that we are always wrong
Melissa - even when flipped off by a four year old
Addie /MO - that is possible Melissa...I think at that point she just needs to suffer the consequences
Darcy/pre-k - you tell me. lol Because I "expected" the parent to come to the school instead of standing on the street corner drinking.
Linda/CA - Hey Darcy--I had one complain to the principal because I wouldn't let his K kid sit on the floor of the cafeteria to eat his breakfast--traffic hazard
Melissa - yep, but even harder when the parents don't support you
Melissa - how dare you
Rhonda - Be firm. Call the parents in and tell them why the assignments are important. Show them how the zeros will add up in addition to the lack of knowledge hurting her on tests. Put the responsibility on the girl and her parents...and document, document, document
Melissa - I got ratted out for not tying a child's shoes
brteach - That's true. Even a four-year-old needs to learn that there are consequences for every situation.
Melissa - one of 19 kinders
Darcy/pre-k - ok, that is rough Linda. lol you can stick a collar on the kid and tell the parent he was pretending to be a doggie.
Addie /MO - that is crazy!!! that kid will not learn to accept responsibility for his actions with parenting like that. of course, obviously the parents aren't all that responsible either
brteach - Good idea Rhonda. I am keeping a log of all conversations with her parents as well.
Linda/CA - Well, he did have his face in the cereal bowl, lapping it up
Addie /MO - go Rhonda, go Rhonda, go Rhonda
Melissa - nope, and the sooner they learn to be responsible the better off they will be
Melissa - documents are important
Melissa - lol
Darcy/pre-k - What is with parents who rather "tell" on you with the principal then have a reasonable conversation?
Darcy/pre-k - that rocks, Linda!
Melissa - I have a lot of them this year
Melissa - they are like the k's I teach
Addie /MO - Linda, he was just pretending to be a dog...lay off of him! LOL
Melissa - always have to tattle
brteach - Those parents are treating us like second class citizens. We are not important enough to them.
Melissa - yeah, you are to harsh
Melissa - yep
Addie /MO - that is frustrating when parents run to the office. how does your office react to this behavior?
Melissa - it is just the whole power trip again
Melissa - they feel they have one up on you
Melissa - it depends on the situation
Rhonda - Addie, isn't that what principals and APs are for? Hearing tattles?
Linda/CA - But Addie, there were over 300 kids trying to get and eat their breakfast in less than 20 minutes--don't have time or patience for kid sitting in the middle of the line
Melissa - sometimes I am right and sometimes I am wrong even when I am right
Linda/CA - BUT, I AM THE AP!
Addie /MO - they aren't really interesting in solving the perceived problems in this case, they just want to throw a fit.
Melissa - ha
brteach - My parent was almost to the point of being abusive towards me. My principal is very supportive of me. He told the father if he has a problem to call him. He will then talk to me.
Melissa - yep just like the kids
Addie /MO - I am the AP too, and yes sometimes that is what we are for, or so it seems
Rhonda - Oh, poor Linda!
Melissa - I would not want that job
Addie /MO - Linda, I was being facetious. I would never allow the "dog-child" behavior either.
Linda/CA - k teachers--are you seeing more students with physical problems this year?
Melissa - next step is reading specialist or speech therapist but never admin.
Melissa - physical problems how?
Darcy/pre-k - I am in Head Start this year, I miss teaching K.
Rhonda - I LOVE my APs...gotta problem? Push the call button and they come a running!
Melissa - have one with aspergers
Linda/CA - I am seeing lots of students with vision, hearing, and nutrition problems
Melissa - no not really, but I am in private school
Darcy/pre-k - luck you, not typical, Rhonda
Linda/CA - also have one with MD, one with leukemia
Melissa - wow
Addie /MO - yeah, Rhonda, that is what I love...Mrs. so and so needs you NOW. I never know what I am getting into.
Darcy/pre-k - I saw a kid with aspbergers. I feel for you. It's rough.
Rhonda - We have so many kids that qualify for SDD that we might add a SDD class at our school.
Linda/CA - to say nothing of 3 who are selective mutes
Melissa - he is mild so it is not to bad
Darcy/pre-k - is this a special ed class, Linda?
Rhonda - We already have 3 EBD classes and several self contained language classes.
brteach - I have to give you credit. I don't know if I could teach a class like that.
Melissa - I have one in my religious ed class who is a lot worse
Linda/CA - nope
Addie /MO - today I was talking about a problem with a parent on the phone and the secretary was fidgettedly waiting to talk to me. finally she wrote the message down to go to the classroom.
Darcy/pre-k - it should be.
Linda/CA - well, we also have 4 biters, and one who tried to stab another kid with scissors, and one who tried to throw a chair thru a window
Melissa - no kidding I feel for you
Melissa - I have the aspergers, one who doesn't speak English and three with social/anger management issues
brteach - Linda, How many teachers are in the room with you?
Melissa - I will say a prayer for you
Melissa - all in one class
Addie /MO - a fifth grader who was throwing broken pencil pieces and refusing to move to the "safe seat" which is a time out area in the room. I walked over to him quietly and said, "come with me." then I walked away and he got up and followed. I put him in ISS. he will have to earn his way back
Melissa - people don't believe the stories until they see it for themselves
Linda/CA - that is so true Addie--the mess I really love is "Mrs. so and so needs you" and when you get there she wants you to take over her class so she can run to the restroom--and then she is gone for 25 minutes
Linda/CA - brt--I am an AP, not a classroom teacher
Melissa - good old in school suspension
Melissa - he, he
Rhonda - I have 12 ESOL, 1 EBD, 1 SDD, and I had 2 autistic student until they got placed.
Melissa - she hasn't learned the five second pee yet
Melissa - it is a competition to see who can go quickest
Addie /MO - our teachers only call for emergencies...but I never know what is going on until I get there. usually they want a student removed. I have had good luck getting kids out without any physical altercations. a time or two last year, I evacuated the classroom of kids first, because I thought that the upset student might get violent
Linda/CA - then we had a k student who asked to use the restroom--not in classroom--over 45 minutes later, the teacher (finally) calls the office to say he has not come back
Rhonda - I don't call for crap...pardon the "image" that might bring to mind...like that. I call when the mom that was arrested for beating up the bus driver is peeking into my window and won't go to the office to sign her child out. Fun stuff like that.
Melissa - that is scary Addie
Addie /MO - they have another teacher watch the room for restroom needs
Melissa - ha, ha
Melissa - wow, the stories just go on and on he, he
Linda/CA - after 20 minutes of phone calls, and having every available person searching the campus and the surrounding streets, we called the sheriff
Darcy/pre-k - you sound like you work in the kind of schools I'm used to, Rhonda. Inner city?
Mr. C - Oh I have tons of bathroom stories from my students. lol
Addie /MO - sheeesh....Linda, sounds like you need to have an inservice on "what does an office emergency look like?" "what does an office emergency sound like?"
Linda/CA - kid was finally found hiding on one of the buses
Melissa - the three b's blood bathroom or barf
Addie /MO - Rhonda, that is truly an emergency
brteach - Where was the bus driver? How did he not notice the child?
Mr. C - Melissa, are you a teacher?
Melissa - yep, kindergarten
Mr. C - I teach kindergarten, too
Linda/CA - well, Addie, I had to put out a memo last week about letting parents taking kids early without signing them out at the office. they were letting them go as much as 45 minutes early
Addie /MO - Linda, how scary to have the child missing
Rhonda - Believe it or not, no. I work in the best county in our state but I'm on the poor side of town.
Melissa - yep
Darcy/pre-k - wow
Linda/CA - brt--buses parked on the street 1/2 block away. Drivers double as maintenance and/or gardeners
Melissa - we lost one on a field trip for a short while a few weeks ago
Addie /MO - good grief! why were the teachers allowing that
Linda/CA - new teachers
Mr. C - Wow, how did that happen Melissa?
Melissa - ah
Melissa - the dreaded corn maze
Darcy/pre-k - That happened to me today. We were in the yard/parking lot for recess. A car pulls up, and two kids going running over and get in it. 2 teachers run over trying to stop the car and the guy curses at them and tells them he's picking up his kids. All@#$%breaks lose.
Mr. C - Oh my gosh! Corn maze?? I've heard of that! Are you from Minnesota?
Melissa - she came out and we turned around and she went back in and was standing in one spot talking to some older girl
Melissa - a bit of a heart attack for all of us
Mr. C - I bet!
Melissa - nope NJ
Melissa - lots of corn hear to
Linda/CA - Darcy--I can believe that. They seem to be insulted if you ask them to go to the office to sign out their kid
Mr. C - Wow...I'm surprised there's two corn mazes
Rhonda - We have corn mazes here in Georgia too
Darcy/pre-k - but the kids weren't from that teachers room. So she didn't know the parent. They could've been kidnappers.
Melissa - glad to hear that the insanity is not only where I work
Melissa - I used to get lost in the rows when we went picking when I was little
Linda/CA - yep--we have these people who think they can have access to the kids at any time they want
Mr. C - My principal -- he's insane. *sigh*
Linda/CA - how so?
brteach - What happened?
Melissa - and if you didn't flip they would have complained that you let the kid go with anyone
Rhonda - Spill the beans Mr. C
Linda/CA - I'm campaigning to get more the gates closed--their are 7 open gates that allow access to the campus
Darcy/pre-k - EXACTLY!
Mr. C - He's so impersonal, I think. Because...
brteach - 7 gates, that's way too many. Especially today.
Linda/CA - better believe it
Mr. C - One my students brother was sick and had to go to the hospital, right?
Mr. C - And, this student, of course, was very sad
Mr. C - And I was talking to my student in the hall while a volunteer I had watched my class -- it was just for a second
Mr. C - and he later informed me, by memo...
Mr. C - very coldly, how I need to stay in there at all times especially with the volunteer
Mr. C - and how I could've spoken to the child in a private part of the room
Mr. C - but that's not so private -- is it?
Darcy/pre-k - private part of the room? what planet does he live on?
brteach - I understand where he is coming from but there needs to be exceptions, espec8ially in your situation.
Mr. C - He said, perhaps, like at my desk
Mr. C - I mean this child was on the brink of tears while he was waiting for his mother to pick him up
brteach - your desk?! All your student's are right there. How is that private?
Mr. C - As I said -- he's insane.
Mr. C - He was so worried about the volunteer and liability -- he didn't seem to care about the child's needs
Rhonda - Darcy, are you coming or going?
Linda/CA - No, he is not. State law here says you cannot leave students unattended. Volunteer is not school personal
Mr. C - Was I wrong to do what I did?
Rhonda - It's called CYA
brteach - I don't think so. Were you right outside your door?
Darcy/pre-k - we'll I'm going on a field trip to an orchard tomorrow with 60 3-5 year olds, so I don't know what I am doing.
Mr. C - So I am supposed to ignore this 5-year-old boy who's obviously in a lot of pain?
brteach - lucky you.
Mr. C - yes it was right outside my door with the door cracked
Linda/CA - Darcy--be sure you take your Valium
Rhonda - I have 2 interns and I have to get someone to watch my class if I need to go the restroom.
Darcy/pre-k - don't let my enthusiasm scare you. not.
brteach - As was said before, its all about liability. I think if I was in your shoes I would have done the same thing.
Rhonda - Have fun Darcy...Have you read the Dinofours book about a trip to the orchard?
Mr. C - *sigh* I was not going to let him just sit there! His brother was in the hospital!
Linda/CA - Or Mrs. Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip?
Darcy/pre-k - I don't think there is such a book, unfortunately
Linda/CA - which book?
Darcy/pre-k - I met the author this past spring. He is senile and crotchety. The Ms. Bindergarten books.
Linda/CA - yes, there is such a book, I saw it at the children's bookstore last month
Rhonda - You teach pre-k right? Four yr old? The Dinofour books are GREAT!
Darcy/pre-k - argh, and how could I have missed it.
Linda/CA - Any of you been to any Linda Holliman workshops?
brteach - Who is She?
bengi - Hi everybody
brteach - hi bengi
Rhonda - No such luck here but I have 2 of her books
Mr. C - I don't know who that is, I'm sorry
Linda/CA - does a lot of workshops. Got one here in Jan on centers
Mr. C - How do you all handle tattle-tales?
Darcy/pre-k - ok, this is really getting annoying.
Linda/CA - Chronic tattle talers have to write it down for me
Rhonda - >Oh, those evil tattle-tales!
Darcy/pre-k - I did that for first grade, but Kinders and pre-k's aren't really able to do it yet or get the concept.
brteach - I have to go. I really enjoyed this chat. This was my first time in any chat room. I will be back for the next one. Good bye.
Mr. C - Hmm...would you recommend something like a stuffed animal to go tell it to and then you just point and say "tell the tattle-bear"
Rhonda - They have to go talk to each other about what happened and come tell me when they are happy.
Mr. C - Unless of course it's an emergency
Darcy/pre-k - that is such a good idea, Mr. C!
Rhonda - I know of several folks who have done the "tell it to..." thing and they say it works. I haven't tried it.
Mr. C -
Mr. C - He would say, without looking up, "emergency?" ...if not, then he would point
Darcy/pre-k - it sounds gross, but I tell the kids that an emergency tattle can only be said if "they are hurt or someone else is hurt, someone is throwing up or has pee coming down there leg.
Mr. C - lol, me too Darcy
Mr. C - Like someone said in here: The three b's
Rhonda - Well, gotta go. Later!
Darcy/pre-k - what are the three b's?
Darcy/pre-k - bye Rhonda
Mr. C - Blood, barf, and umm...
Rhonda - Bathroom, blood, barf
Darcy/pre-k - bowel movement?
Mr. C - bathroom....that's right
Mr. C - How do you all handle "can I go to the potty" questions ten-million times a day?
Darcy/pre-k - gotta go. ttyl
