Documente Academic
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Documente Cultură
Establish community
KNOW THE STORY
School Characters
Principals Secretaries
Guidance Counselors Custodians
Media Specialists
Resource Staff
Teachers
New Teachers
KNOW THE COMMUNITY
School procedures you need to know . . .
How attendance is taken?
Are there specific discipline referral forms, where are
they located, who gets them, what are the procedures
for referrals?
How is money collected? Where are receipt books
located? Where/to whom is money turned in?
What are the procedures for fire drills,
tornado drills, etc.
And you also need to know
Where to get classroom supplies?
What are procedures for student check out,
tardies, absences?
Who has substitute list? How are subs
contacted?
What is the policy for work days, leave days,
snow days?
What about extra-curricular
duties?
PREPARE THE SCRIPT
Theatre style
Chevron Style
Traditional
Chairs lined up in Classroom Most interactive of large
rows facing the front Style group setups.
of the room. This set-
Promotes a sense of
up is efficient with
participation. Allows
the participants are
Teacher/students to see
part of an audience.
each other and provides
for easy movement &
access.
To establish security and consistency, a
teacher must provide
A well-organized, uncluttered, attractive room
that gives a professional, authoritative image that
students respect
Find at least ONE positive comment to make about every student each
grading period. Use mailing labels to keep track of notes sent.
When you have concerns, let parents know!
Dear Parent or Guardian of _______________________
The purpose of this communication is to inform you that I am presently
experiencing some problems with _______. I would greatly appreciate your
cooperation in working with me in trying to take corrective measures to eliminate
these problems.
The attitudes and habits listed below are important elements that have a
significant affect on the success of a classroom. I have checked the areas that are
making it difficult for your child to be successful and reach his/her potential in my
class:
AREAS OF CONCERN
___Excessive talking _____ Disturbing others _____ Lack of effort
_____ Inattention _____ Disrespectful of others _____ Bad attitude
_____ Excessive tardies _____ Excessive absences _____ Low grades
_____ Not prepared for class ___ Does not complete work on time
_____ Incomplete assignments __ Missing assignments __ Sleeps in class
_____ Excessive detentions
continued
Sincerely,
Parent Conference
Are you prepared?
Document, Document,
DOCUMENT!
Keep accurate documentation of all academic
and behavioral problems
- Use notebook with one page designated
for each student, 3x5 index card, back of
information sheet
Provide specific, factual, observable data
Keep folder with student work,
copies of correspondence, notes of
phone conversations
The All-Important Conference
Focus on the positives, as well as the areas that need
improvement.
Your goal is to forge an alliance with the parents.
Behaving with sincerity, displaying knowledge of the
individual student, and having a plan of action in
mind will go a long way in getting the parent on your
team.
Consider asking your mentor, counselor, or a
member of the administrative staff to be in
attendance. However, parents need to be
informed if additional school personnel
will be present.
Practice the very best of manners, treating
each parent with full respect and dignity,
whatever their occupation or
socio-economic status.
Address parents by their last names preceded
by the appropriate Mr., Mrs., or Ms. until you
are invited by them to use their first name.
Balance the air time. While you have many
important points to make, it is crucial that the
parents have adequate time to speak about
issues of their own concern and to ask
questions.
Keep your cool. Remember that the student and
his/her needs come first.
Remember to ask for parent suggestions (for the best
times and ways to provide feedback, insider tips on
the student, strategies the parent has discovered that
work best, etc.)
NEVER, EVER meet alone with parents. Schedule
conferences in public places such as the Guidance
Department or main office. Whether or not some
other school official is actually seated
with you during the meeting, make sure
other school personnel are nearby
After the conference:
Follow through on your agreements.
Go back through your notes and reflect on
your next course of action.
Document the time, place, participants, and
conversation of the conference for future
reference.
Some traps to avoid:
discussing family problems
discussing other teachers' classroom
treatment of the student
comparing the student with siblings, arguing with the
parent
attempting to psychoanalyze the student
blaming the parent for the student's misbehavior.
putting the parent on the defensive.