Vignette 6

Don’t Borrow Trouble!

            Trying to motivate and control the students is sometimes very challenging. However, I think the rule of thumb is to get to know the students on a personal level as well as on a professional level. I think at the beginning of the year it is important to set ground rules and make sure the students understand and respect them. As the year goes on developing relationships with students on a personal level can go a long way. It allows the teacher to know what is actually going on in the student’s life, and lets the students know that the teacher cares and they are someone that the students could talk to when they need to. I don’t think this is considered favoring, I think it is beneficial to both parties. The students will be more likely to get things done on time and to at least a satisfactory level, and the teacher will not have to chase homework and fight with students about the quality of work they are producing.

            In my classroom the consequences that I will establish for late/missed/incomplete homework will be giving up a privilege. Students will have the opportunity to come in at recess or lunch time or even after school to complete the homework. If this do not happen (they were given the choice and didn’t take it), I will accept the homework the next day if it is completed. However, if it is not done then they will have the choice of coming in that day’s recess, lunch or after school once again or take an incomplete on that homework. This way they are the one who are making the choice of what the outcome will be. I think when students are given a choice they are most likely to choose the one with a positive outcome rather than the negative one.

            However, if a student is consistently having late/missed/incomplete homework than I will have them call home and explain to their parents in front of me why the homework was not completed. I think if a parent is aware of what is going on between report card times, then students are more likely to be pushed at home to get their work done.