Important+Information

My cooperating teacher gave me the opportunity to ask her three questions each week via e-mail. I have been given permission to share her responses. I felt that I learned a lot of valuable and useful information from our e-mail exchanges. My questions are in black, and her responses are in red.

Do you do anything specific at the beginning of the year or throughout the year to develop a good relationship with parents? I know that some people have told me that they make phone calls or send e-mails. When I start teaching I want to make sure that I do this, as I have been told that parents can be a challenging part of teaching. There are a couple of key things to creating a warm and respectful relationship with parents. 1). be warm, welcoming and respectful to them. You are in charge of their child for about 6 hours. They're naturally curious about this time and how it is spent. Be open. 2). Set boundaries. Have expectations for the kids, but also their parents. For example, let them know you will check email 3 times/day, before the day begins, at the end of your lunch and at the end of the day. Be sure they don't overwhelm you with media! Also, NEVER discuss a child over email, it is not legal, nor secure. Call a parent back if they email you about specifics regarding their child. 3). Welcome their help and support. Face it, they can be you biggest supporter or enemy. 4.) If a parent wants to meet, ask what their agenda is. Don't walk in blind. It's not fair.

About how often do you rotate or change your reading groups? I try for every 3 weeks, but something always delays this goal. Basically, I shift kids as needed and change books/genre when they finish with one.

Do you have specific classroom management techniques that you use in your classroom? I saw you talk to individual students today, but I wondered if there was any other methods you used, or would recommend. Firm, fair and consistent is my motto. I also find that "gentler" is better, but I also don't suffer foolishness. It makes it hard to teach. I'm very firm at the beginning of the year so that later I don't feel like I have to rein them in. It's better to start strict, then soften.

How do you deal with/respond to the student with Tourette Syndrome? When he occasionally has an outburst in class, do you respond or do you ignore it? I try to ignore or use gentle touch or proximity to help. Sometimes I have to be more insistent as he can try to "wear me down" to get what he wants. Just watch, you'll see! Being a yeller or someone that can't compromise with him doesn't work...he has a very tender self-esteem and really does want to please and be a good boy.

What are some strategies that you use to motivate unmotivated students? It's important to build trust with them, and also find out what their gifts or interests are. Then a teacher can often use that to inspire them and motivate them. I also make sure the child gets lots of face time with me.

"The best teacher in the world is someone who loves what he does & just loves it in front of you."