Calling parents during the middle of class

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Classroom Discipline Chatboard

Calling parents during the middle of class

by Daniel Hanson

May 21, 2011

This was a thread from the High School chatboard that I wanted to get your guys' feedback on as well. I teach in a public high school in California.

As for calling parents during the middle of class, I know at least one teacher at my school that has done that. I did it a few times during my first years of teaching, but not much since then. It was very effective the time I didn't in my last period of the day a few years back. The students just loved to chat in there. I called one girl's mom at work and handed the phone to the student after a quick explanation, and the girl got real quiet as did the class. She didn't have so much attitude. But I was inconsistent about it. It seems like some classes come along and just want to push the envelop. I also remember having one girl talking during a test. I called up the mom and had their girl talk to her. Well, the girl started arguing with the mom on the phone in front of the class and that didn't work. So, I kicked her out of class. ...See MoreThis was a thread from the High School chatboard that I wanted to get your guys' feedback on as well. I teach in a public high school in California.

As for calling parents during the middle of class, I know at least one teacher at my school that has done that. I did it a few times during my first years of teaching, but not much since then. It was very effective the time I didn't in my last period of the day a few years back. The students just loved to chat in there. I called one girl's mom at work and handed the phone to the student after a quick explanation, and the girl got real quiet as did the class. She didn't have so much attitude. But I was inconsistent about it. It seems like some classes come along and just want to push the envelop. I also remember having one girl talking during a test. I called up the mom and had their girl talk to her. Well, the girl started arguing with the mom on the phone in front of the class and that didn't work. So, I kicked her out of class. Needless to say, that girl eventually ended up having to go to an alternative school until her senior year anyway.

One administrator, although supportive, mentioned that there might be a privacy issue with calling parents during the middle of class. So, I don't know. I could wait until the class is dismissed to make a quick call with the student there, but I feel like the consequence should be more immediate than that. It might not have the same effect as doing it while the class is present. It definitely would be nicer in a way so I don't have to wait until my prep period, my lunch or until after school to make parent phone calls.

I teach mostly freshmen and sophomores. Calling parents during class might be more effective with them than with juniors and seniors because they view themselves as more mature (although some of them don't act that way) and don't like it when mom and dad are involved. They would feel like they were being treated as children. And I know, at least, for seniors, they are close to eighteen and some don't pay much attention to what their parents say. Some of them have a fallout with their parents and go live with friends, etc. I know that happened with one of my seniors in Spanish II this year when he had a fight with his mom over something.

Anyhow....

On 5/20/11, Mae in Texas wrote: > You will have to tell me if you think this tactic will work in > high school, but for me, if a kid gets out of control and > becomes a true disturbance, I will put them on the phone to > their parents -right then, right there. Mae

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Joe/HS/CT I have called parents during class before, but usually I bring the student to a nearby (empty) classroom or office and do it there. Most of my students with behavioral problems are in my class that I co-teach with a special education teacher, so it is not difficult for one of us to leave the room for a few minutes to do this. A lot of my parent com...See MoreI have called parents during class before, but usually I bring the student to a nearby (empty) classroom or office and do it there. Most of my students with behavioral problems are in my class that I co-teach with a special education teacher, so it is not difficult for one of us to leave the room for a few minutes to do this. A lot of my parent communication nowadays is via email, though, so I have the paper trail documenting the behaviors and parents' responses.

On 5/21/11, Daniel Hanson wrote: > This was a thread from the High School chatboard that I > wanted to get your guys' feedback on as well. I teach in a > public high school in California. > > As for calling parents during the middle of class, I know at > least > one teacher at my school that has done that. I did it a few > times > during my first years of teaching, but not much since then. > It was > very effective the time I didn't in my last period of the day a > few years back. The students just loved to chat in there. I > called > one girl's mom at work and handed the phone to the student > after a > quick explanation, and the girl got real quiet as did the class. > She didn't have so much attitude. But I was inconsistent > about it. > It seems like some classes come along and just want to push the > envelop. I also remember having one girl talking during a > test. I > called up the mom and had their girl talk to her. Well, the girl > started arguing with the mom on the phone in front of the class > and that didn't work. So, I kicked her out of class. Needless to > say, that girl eventually ended up having to go to an > alternative > school until her senior year anyway. > > One administrator, although supportive, mentioned that there > might > be a privacy issue with calling parents during the middle of > class. So, I don't know. I could wait until the class is > dismissed > to make a quick call with the student there, but I feel like the > consequence should be more immediate than that. It might not > have > the same effect as doing it while the class is present. It > definitely would be nicer in a way so I don't have to wait until > my prep period, my lunch or until after school to make parent > phone calls. > > I teach mostly freshmen and sophomores. Calling parents during > class might be more effective with them than with juniors and > seniors because they view themselves as more mature > (although some > of them don't act that way) and don't like it when mom and > dad are > involved. They would feel like they were being treated as > children. And I know, at least, for seniors, they are close to > eighteen and some don't pay much attention to what their parents > say. Some of them have a fallout with their parents and go live > with friends, etc. I know that happened with one of my > seniors in > Spanish II this year when he had a fight with his mom over > something. > > Anyhow.... > > On 5/20/11, Mae in Texas wrote: >> You will have to tell me if you think this tactic will work in >> high school, but for me, if a kid gets out of control and >> becomes a true disturbance, I will put them on the phone to >> their parents -right then, right there. Mae

May 21, 2011

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Ben If it works for you, fine, but I wouldn't do it myself, for several reasons.

1. The parents would rightfuly be angry with me. She could say "my daughter disturbed your class? Well you disturbed my job!" I also feel that as soon as the parent is gone or off the phone, the kid will act up again. When the kids are in my class, it's my problem...See More

May 24, 2011

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