Spring 2014 Post #2

"What is something you want to change about your classroom management?"

Honestly, my management hasn't been too much of a problem at all in my time teaching. I am lucking to work with high school students who are generally well behaved and who I relate with well. With that being said, I do wish to improve student motivation. My precalculus students are quite motivated. However,  my algebra 1 students work hard during the 55 minutes I have them in class, but put forth very little effort outside of the classroom. A strategy that might help build investment in these younger algebra 1 students is to send positive notes/make positive phone calls home. I struggle to find time to call home as I am at school from 6am to 6pm everyday (coaching adds the two hours at the end of the day). I have also found phone calls to time consuming because for every time a parent picks up the phone, four calls go unanswered. I will start with sending handwritten notes home with students first to see if motivation improves. If not, I will find a way to make phone calls happen.

Spring 2014 Post #1

"Did you receive training regarding children with Emotional Disturbance?"

No, I have not received any specific training in regards to dealing with students with Emotional Disturbance although we do have many students you are indeed emotionally disturbed. No, there is not an emergency team or protocol for dealing with students with Emotional Disabilities. Generally, our counselor works one-on-one with struggling students. The special education department also works with students with Emotional Disabilities. Teachers are given IEPs but I have never seen an IEP that was for anything other than a "specific learning disability".