Week 2

So week 2 is now over, and I am starting to get into a groove. The kids know my expectations and I am following through with behavior consequences. Even my most challenging class is starting to figure it all out.

Progress reports went home on Thursday, November 6. D's and F's were also mailed home. I have to make parent/guardian contact by December 14th for those students who are not passing...this is so much work, which I didn't realize teachers had to do! When I got the email about this, I didn't even have my grades set-up. At this point, I have made about half the calls/emails, but on top of everything else I have to do, it is hard to sit on the phone with parents/guardians and talk about why their child is not being successful in class.

For example, I sat on the phone with a parent for 45 minutes discussing her child's behavior and missing assignments. She then called the very next day to ask if the child's grade had gotten better..."umm...no. Your child needs to schedule time with me before or after school to make up the missing labs. Otherwise, your child's grade will not change. And, P.S We have a quiz on Tuesday."

So on top of getting to school an hour or more early, I haven't been leaving until 5:30 pm (school ends at 2:40 pm). If I get lucky though, I call during my planning period, so I can just leave a message ;-)  Don't get me wrong, I think that having conversations with parents about how their child can be more successful in my class is positive and valuable, but if I have to talk to each one for 45 minutes, I won't get any other work done. I guess teachers just win some (summers off) and lose some...

In the mean time, I am trying to get all my planning done for the upcoming week in order to leave school at a more reasonable hour. So far, I have everything done for this coming week. We'll see how it goes. Only 1 week and 2 days until Christmas break!!!