Communicating with teachers (and parents) Part II

As a teacher, nothing bothers me more than putting an F in my gradebook. Regardless of how unmotivated he may have been, I take it personally when a students fails. When a student fails, I fail.

As a teacher who is also a parent, I have a few ideas which I think can help prevent this from happening, but the key word is HELP. Everyone has to do his or her part.

For instance, as a teacher, I can personally vouch for the fact that the proverbial squeaky wheel will get the oil, the proverbial early bird will get the worm, the emailing, phone-calling, conference-attending parent's student will have a teacher's clear attention.

If your child's first semester grade card for the 2010-2011 school year had anything less than a C+ on it and you have yet to contact a teacher in any way, shape or form, then SHAME ON YOU! (Regardless of the grades though, communication is imperative.)

Please remember that your child is one of dozens of students and that teachers are only human. Timely communication is imperative. Study after study verifies that parental involvment enhances the educational experience. Parents who care enough to take the time to communicate with their child's teachers in one way or another will see better grades, better attendance and a better education!

Best of all, it shows your child you really do care. AND guess what? Your child may be a 17-year-old man-child who does little more than grunt as he leaves the house for school after breakfast, but I can assure you he really does want you to be involved. He wants you to email his teacher. He wants you to call his teacher. He wants to know you care enough to mind his school business.

To teachers, I offer this: We should relish having what we, at my school, call FIERCE conversations with parents letting them know we care about their child not only as a student but as a person and will do whatever we can to help their student be successful.
A phone call, an email, a note in the mail, can make the difference between failing and passing, apathy and excitement, between KNOWING what is best for kids and DOING what is best for kids!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Intentional

The teenaged man-child sat across from me and wept openly. His Thanksgiving had been horrible, he told me. His sobs wracked my heart as I fought back tears of my own.

I took his hand and squeezed it three times. I didn't want to embarrass him but in my family that means I LOVE YOU.

I reassured him that his teachers wanted the best for him that we were his biggest cheerleaders.

He shook his head and smiled.

The fact is as much as some kids say they hate school, it is often their only respite. The warmth, the food, and the fellowship from 8 to 3 is the best they have in their lives for now.

I am an intentional teacher. The way I teach, the way I deal with students, the way I supervise--all intentional. I am on the look out constantly for those downward cast, sad eyes, which can be found on solemn and happy faces. Some think they are good at hiding the pain they feel in their hearts, but I am an intentional teacher, an intentional person. I am looking--constantly.

I will say hello. I will ask how you are. I will make conversation. I will be looking.

I am intentional.

Take my hand and squeeze. I LOVE YOU!

Merry Christmas!