I have to admit of all the things I do with my students giving them homework gives me the blues the most. Not that I don't think that I should provide home learning. I mean I think it is great practice for my kids and it lets the parents know what they are doing in class each day. What I hate with a passion is explaining home work.....TO PARENTS!!
My home work packets (which now have to be referred to as home learning...we don't want the kids to feel like that are doing more work...ain't that about a bitch?) are very detailed. I am a teacher that listens to my parents. So much so that each packet starts off with a letter to parents about that home learning ANNNNNNDDDD why it is being featured this week along with some web addresses that will help with any problems they might run into. Since the bulk of my parents say that they students can't possibly read at home because they have no books there (yes, my school has a library and, low and behold, there is one in the neighborhood. Imagine them having books there?!) I have instituted the dollar book club. In short, once per month your child pays a dollar for a novel we will use with home work (uh, learning) during the month. Many times the book is two or three times that amount. I cover that cost.
Yeah.
The comedy to me is that students will 'forget' to bring this dollar (even though I have texted parents, send notes home, added to the agenda...you get the picture) they will always I MEAN ALWAYS have a dollar for a snack in the cafeteria. The cafeteria, so you know, sells the quarter size packs of chips for a dollar. The kids buy two and three pack of chip at a time (per day). Now the conversation has been that the chips are because they do not like school lunch. I guess packing a lunch for them to take...
Anyway students who don't bring their dollar don't get a book. Therefor they can't complete a portion of their home work (damn....learning!!!). Mind you there are other activities for the week. This is a very through packet. Needless to say at least three times a week I have a conversation via phone or face to face with a parent about the packet.
Time out Corner: I hate face to face conferences because I am forced to keep my straight professional teacher face on. I am not good at it. I end up look like this to parents in meetings...
My home work packets (which now have to be referred to as home learning...we don't want the kids to feel like that are doing more work...ain't that about a bitch?) are very detailed. I am a teacher that listens to my parents. So much so that each packet starts off with a letter to parents about that home learning ANNNNNNDDDD why it is being featured this week along with some web addresses that will help with any problems they might run into. Since the bulk of my parents say that they students can't possibly read at home because they have no books there (yes, my school has a library and, low and behold, there is one in the neighborhood. Imagine them having books there?!) I have instituted the dollar book club. In short, once per month your child pays a dollar for a novel we will use with home work (uh, learning) during the month. Many times the book is two or three times that amount. I cover that cost.
Yeah.
The comedy to me is that students will 'forget' to bring this dollar (even though I have texted parents, send notes home, added to the agenda...you get the picture) they will always I MEAN ALWAYS have a dollar for a snack in the cafeteria. The cafeteria, so you know, sells the quarter size packs of chips for a dollar. The kids buy two and three pack of chip at a time (per day). Now the conversation has been that the chips are because they do not like school lunch. I guess packing a lunch for them to take...
Anyway students who don't bring their dollar don't get a book. Therefor they can't complete a portion of their home work (damn....learning!!!). Mind you there are other activities for the week. This is a very through packet. Needless to say at least three times a week I have a conversation via phone or face to face with a parent about the packet.
Time out Corner: I hate face to face conferences because I am forced to keep my straight professional teacher face on. I am not good at it. I end up look like this to parents in meetings...
So here is this mornings parent discussion about this week's home work:
Confused Parent : (holding the home learning packet up to my face like I like I don't know what it is) Did you give (insert any name) this homework yesterday?
Me: Yes. I did. They get their packets each Monday.
CP: Well it says here that you want the kids to make "flash cards"? (This is said like a question, because, be real, I could not have possibly meant that, right?)
Me: Yes, I need you to quiz them on prefixes and suffixes. It will help them with vocabulary.
CP: But why must I make flashcards! (insert shock and bewilderment here) You have the worksheets here too. . I just think it is too much!!!
Me: OK. Well, it is your choice. (now I have switched to my most professional, very proper, all textbook, white teacher voice) Home learning benefits the student by allowing them to practice the skills we have learned in class. I am including other activities that will strengthen their skills for the statewide assessment that is coming soon.
CP: It says here is they show you the flashcards on Friday.
Me: Yes, ma'am. Home learning is due each Friday.
CP: So I can choose not to do them?
Me. Sure!
CP: So what will happen?
Me: He will fail home work for this week.
CP: So you are saying you want them done? (now she is angry!)
Me: No. I am saying it is what was required for this week. You make the choice on what they do.
CP: But you said you would FAIL him on homework this week?
Me: Yes ma'am.
CP: Why?
Me: Well, I make the choice for the grade. Is there anything else this morning?
CP: No.
She then turned and angrily walked away. Down the hall. In pajama pants with no foundation garments (we'll talk about that trend another day)
I love a good parent conference.
Confused Parent : (holding the home learning packet up to my face like I like I don't know what it is) Did you give (insert any name) this homework yesterday?
Me: Yes. I did. They get their packets each Monday.
CP: Well it says here that you want the kids to make "flash cards"? (This is said like a question, because, be real, I could not have possibly meant that, right?)
Me: Yes, I need you to quiz them on prefixes and suffixes. It will help them with vocabulary.
CP: But why must I make flashcards! (insert shock and bewilderment here) You have the worksheets here too. . I just think it is too much!!!
Me: OK. Well, it is your choice. (now I have switched to my most professional, very proper, all textbook, white teacher voice) Home learning benefits the student by allowing them to practice the skills we have learned in class. I am including other activities that will strengthen their skills for the statewide assessment that is coming soon.
CP: It says here is they show you the flashcards on Friday.
Me: Yes, ma'am. Home learning is due each Friday.
CP: So I can choose not to do them?
Me. Sure!
CP: So what will happen?
Me: He will fail home work for this week.
CP: So you are saying you want them done? (now she is angry!)
Me: No. I am saying it is what was required for this week. You make the choice on what they do.
CP: But you said you would FAIL him on homework this week?
Me: Yes ma'am.
CP: Why?
Me: Well, I make the choice for the grade. Is there anything else this morning?
CP: No.
She then turned and angrily walked away. Down the hall. In pajama pants with no foundation garments (we'll talk about that trend another day)
I love a good parent conference.