Call a Parent

I'm a parent-calling teacher. I try to call every one of my students' parents to launch the year just to establish a relationship... but I also have this thing... if you act up in my class, I call your parent. In front of the entire class. Right then; right there. I call.

Because to "send a child out" of my room is stupid. I don't understand the philosophy. We teachers are in charge of teaching... if a kid "acts up", sending him "out" tells the rest of the class you don't have control. And I have control... not of much, but at least of my instruction.

Okay, okay... I understand that sometimes teachers have to "send a child out" from time to time in order to teach the rest of the class. And don't think for a minute that I don't consider the rest of my class when I'm dealing with the one or two or three kids who are there to make trouble. I do! In fact, I look directly at those who are there to learn to reorient myself and remind myself of my mission...

to teach.

And yes... I did lose my temper today with a particularly rambunctious class today. I said, "My instruction is a privilege; not a right. If you choose not to participate in my elaborately planned lessons... that is your decision. But, I can provide you with the same material in the form of 'seat work' versus my fabulous lessons".

Perhaps that is stupid... of course it is! I know! I have a teenaged son myself. I get it. But, that's mostly what I "get". These are kids. Kids who come to class with their own agendas that don't always align with mine. Their job? To test me out. My job? To win them over.

So when they talk back and tap tap tap their pens or "act up", I am stern... I also call their parents because it's more effective to deal with discipline parent-to-parent. I say "parent-to-parent" vs. "teacher-to-parent" because of two reasons... I am also a parent and I'm a school mom. If my kid (and when my kid) acts up... I want to know. Right then. Right there.

So, that's what I do. I call.