A Phone Call Home

WHEN:
Sept. 11, 2006 from 8:00-11:00 – US History
Sept. 12, 2006 from 8:00-10:00 – US History

WHAT:
During Ms. Jones’ planning period, she made contact with a parent of a student who is doing rather poorly in her class. I was able to see how Ms. Jones handled talking with the parent and the terminology and explanations she used when addressing the student and how she and the parent could help encourage the student to do better.

SO WHAT:
I thought this was important because from the phone call, I gathered that this parent was concerned for her child and wanted him to do well. She was willing to help and cooperate with the teacher. Ms. Jones was willing to mail the student’s assignments home but instead the parent insisted on her faxing the materials to her work place so she could see them immediately. Ms. Jones did not hesitate to agree and went to the office to fax the materials to the parent as soon as the phone conversation was over.


NOW WHAT:
A goal of mine will be to keep in contact with parents on positive and negative accounts in regard to the student. I think if a teacher shows that he or she is concerned about the well being and actions of the student it will show the parents that the teacher is caring and willing to help their child succeed.

CONNECTIONS:
I will be interested to see how the student responds to whatever the parent has to say to him. He is in one of the classes that I have the opportunity to observe. Despite the fact that he is just not doing his work, I wonder if Ms. Jones has done any sort of inventory to get to know him better or to give her ideas as to why he may or may not be responding to her instruction. I also wonder if in some cases, and I feel this is an example of an extreme one since the student is boarder line failing the class already, if there is some sort of incentive for him to start participating more in the classroom or in doing his work. Ms. Jones explained to the parent that she does not accept late work but she does offer extra credit and would not accept it from him, until the finished product looked like “A” quality work. This is a good plan for him to redeem himself from the work he has already missed. It will be interesting to see how well Ms. Jones can respond to his new attitude he may have after she has talked with his parent, depending on if it will be more positive or less motivated to do any further work for the class.