High School Teachers Chatboard

Sarah Powley writes in her March 2014 piece in Teachers.Net Gazette:

Maybe teachers should get hazard pay. Here are some other dangers I’ve exposed myself to in my long life in an American classroom...

Hopefully there's a hyperlink below, but if not, copy and paste: gazette.teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/sarah-powley/danger-zone...See More

Mar 5, 2014

Danger! Teachers Face Threats of Broken Bones,Orwell,Auton'y

Mar 5, 2014

Need posters willing to test some links

Mar 1, 2014

Someone reported difficulty opening links in the new, March issue of the Gazette. We would appreciate it if some of you would test the link below, then try some of the article links in the Table of Contents. Post here or email webmaster at teachers.net with the results of your test.

Thanks!

What do you do about persistent tardies?

by What do you do

Jan 9, 2014

Believe it or not, my school lacks any school-wide tardy policy and I have 4 or 5 students who are continually late to my first period class. I am considering running my own detention program maybe once a week after school but need to be sure it's worth it before I implement it. My concern is that it will cause me more aggravation (kids not showing...See More

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Steve On 1/26/14, re the tardiness issue wrote: > > It is impressive how hard some of you are trying to solve this > frustrating problem. Since I agree that detention does not seem > effective, why not try some type of reward system? It may not work > because,as has been noted, some of these kids just do not care and > come from unstruc...See MoreOn 1/26/14, re the tardiness issue wrote: > > It is impressive how hard some of you are trying to solve this > frustrating problem. Since I agree that detention does not seem > effective, why not try some type of reward system? It may not work > because,as has been noted, some of these kids just do not care and > come from unstructured homes with little parental support. For > example, I have called parents and been told that the mom makes the > kid stay home until they get a younger sibling on the bus. The parent > was not concerned about the effect on the older kid.

I think especially these days that many people are just getting by. And I have to say I left my own two children at home alone in the mornings - I had to be at school at 8 and left the house at 7:30. Their bus came at 8. I certainly wanted them to get to school and on time but I could not stay home with them in the morning. We need to earn our livings and I earn mine at a school half-hour drive from my house.

So that parent who seemed unconcerned may retreat into denial because she like me had a job she had to be at. Our lives are not always ideal nor our solutions to problems always perfect ones.

I think lateness is something we're going to have to live with in the modern world particulary in stressful times like these. I teach the kids in front of me. I think it risks looking pretty silly if we start giving real rewards to kids who come on time. I don't know about your schools but mine has so many problems that the number of kids who come in late pales in comparison to other issues none of which have any easy answer either.

Don't perseverate. It's not worth it, it doesn't change anything. It's like an ER doctor complaining about people being sick. People get sick, kids are late. It's the nature of the job that is teaching - like the people seen by doctors aren't always taking good care of them and the kids in our school don't always come in on time. We don't live in a perfect world and we work with people whose lives and family dynamics can be pretty convaluted.

As far as mom > was concerned, this was how it had to be. You could ask the kids what > would provide an incentive for them to get to school on time, if > indeed this possible. Give them a menu of choices of rewards that > they could earn, such as five minutes of computer game time at end of > class, sit next to and work with a friend during partner work, choose > your preferred seat, a token that they can save up to redeem for > stuff, etc. There are some kids for whom nothing will work, but this > may be worth a try. > > >

Jan 27, 2014

KGreene I would come up with my own tardy policy. I would explain it to the students and I would stick to it. It is easier to ease up after you have put your foot down. On 1/09/14, What do you do wrote: > Believe it or not, my school lacks any school-wide tardy > policy and I have 4 or 5 students who are continually late > to my first period class...See More

Feb 26, 2014

This week's writing prompts by Jim Wayne now posted!

This week's writing prompts by Jim Wayne are posted at the link below!

Here's a sample from the writing prompts for Feb. 28:

Most of the people of Curiepe, Venezuela, make their living fishing for sardines. Every year on this day, they have a funeral for the sardines they have caught during the previous year. The funeral serves to...See More

Feb 24, 2014

8 Black History Study Strategies to Avoid by Jennifer Davis

Feb 10, 2014

Jennifer Davis Bowman, Ed.D. writes in Teachers.Net Gazette:

After thinking about the curriculum that most educators (including myself) fall into during the month of February, I compiled a list of 8 things to avoid during the study of Black History. [Click below to read her list.]

Questions That NEED answering! Please Help

by Lucas

Jan 31, 2014

I am writing a informational book and need your help. Please answer any and all questions that you are able to. Please include your name, what you do, and possibly your email and webpage. I will be more than happy to publicize what you do and who you are in response to their help in putting together this information packet for school boards, admini...See More

Maritime Literature in Google Earth

by Ira Bickoff

Jan 31, 2014

I am a high school teacher and have been adapting primary source, maritime books for Google Earth touring. It's a fun way for students to explore science, history and geography. Feel free to use/share the material at: [link removed]