The term “classroom management” implies a process used by teachers to ensure students are learning during instruction even while disruptive behavior is occurring. Teachers use a variety of strategies and techniques to prevent distracting behaviors or to impose consequences for said behavior. Classroom management has become increasingly more important as the stakes continue to rise for students to score better and achieve higher. At the same time, management has become more difficult during the technology-rich era of instant gratification.
Enter classroom management technology. These web-based programs and apps allow teachers to take the burden off of classroom management and focus on instruction.
Google Classroom – Google Classroom is a platform for teachers to create, distribute, and grade assignments paperlessly. Students can receive assignments and other information with their device or desktop. You must have a Google Education account to use this program and sign up is free.
Edmodo – Edmodo is a secure, social learning platform for teachers and students. Teachers can share information, post assignments, and store vital information for parents and students to access. It is similar to Facebook but a controlled environment that is school appropriate.
Too Noisy – The Too Noisy App ($3.99) is a noise level meter that tracks the sound level in the classroom. The app will indicate noise level increases beyond the acceptable level.
The Great Behavior Game – For K-5 students, the Great Behavior Game rewards students for displaying on-task behavior during instructional times. Monitor student progress, generate and print reports, and send home weekly progress reports.
Teacher’s Assistant – “Document student behavior and communicate with parents. Teacher’s Assistant helps you track behavior, notice trends, communicate with parents, and manage your students.” You can create categories to monitor recurring behaviors like talking, bullying, etc. It also allows you to log positive behavior. Try the free version (iOS) or upgrade to Pro on iPad, iPhone, and Android.
Class Dojo – Encourage positive student behavior using a virtual reward system. Using private, digital student portfolios, students can showcase their work for their parents to see. Teachers can share photos, videos, announcements, and message parents. Class Dojo can translate into any language. Download the app for use on your device or log in using your desktop computer.
Teacher Kit – This is great for K-12 and beyond. Manage multiple classes and students simultaneously. Log student attendance, record grades, track behavior, create student seating charts, and print and share reports. You can download the app on your device or use Teacher Kit on the web.
Learn Boost – LearnBoost allows teachers to create and manage lessons, track grades, share student progress with parents, and monitor attendance in a secure platform.
What is your favorite classroom management program or app?
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For a parent, they are few things more frightening than handing over the keys to their teenage children for the first time. Especially knowing that the risk of crashing is the highest between 16-19-year-olds than any other age group.
These teen driver safety tips can help ease your worry and make sure your teen is safe and ready to get behind the wheel.
Enroll Them In Driver Education.
A dilemma for many parents is deciding whether to teach their child to drive or leave it up to an expert. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends enrolling new drivers in a driver education program. This can help develop life-long safe driving habits. Each state has a list of approved driver education programs, often found on your state’s department of motor vehicles website. A resource for all states can be found at www.dmv.org/drivers-ed.php. teen driver safety
To ensure young drivers have the training and experience they need, safety groups are pushing for a national, mandatory graduated driver licensingsystem (GDL), which has proven to save lives.
Research Which Vehicles Are Safer for Them.
When shopping for a vehicle for younger drivers, The National Highway Safety Institute recommends:
Looking for bigger, heavier vehicles that offer more protection (no mini or small cars were on the list)
Avoiding vehicles with high horsepower
Considering vehicles with an electronic stability control system to maintain traction and control on curves and slippery roads
TheInsurance Institute for Highway Safetydoes extensive crash tests on cars and trucks to rate them for safety. Since many parents opt for a used vehicle for new teen drivers, they created a list of those that meet important safety criteria. The prices range from $2,000 to nearly $20,000. They found 53 “Best Choices” under $20,000, and 62 “Good Choices” that start at under $10,000.
Some of the “Best Choice” vehicles $20,000 or less include:
2007 and newer Volvo S80 – large cars ($4,000)
2013 and newer (built after October 2012) Volkswagen Passat – midsized cars ($6,600)
2014 and newer (built after October 2013) Mazda CX-5 – small SUVs ($10,700)
These are some of the recommendations for “Good Choices” priced at $10,000 or less:
2010-2016 Buick LaCrosse – large cars ($6,200)
2009-2014 Volkswagen Jetta sedan and wagon – midsized cars ($3,800)
2007-2011 Honda Element – small SUVs ($4,400)
Most of these vehicles now include safety technology – such as collision avoidance systems and full airbag protection for drivers and passengers. See the complete list at https://www.iihs.org/ratings/safe-vehicles-for-teens.
Observe Their Driving Habits.
Before you let your new driver start on the road to independence, check that he or she knows the vehicle and understands safe operating procedures, such as:
Adjusting the seat and mirrors before leaving the driveway
Putting on seat belts and ensuring that all passengers are buckled in
Using turn signals
Looking in all directions before pulling into traffic (even at green lights)
Accelerating and braking smoothly
Following at a safe distance
Avoiding distractions
To help avoid confrontations with irate drivers, parents can put a “New Driver” sticker on the vehicle the new driver will be using.
Reinforce the Dangers of Distracted Driving.
Distracted and inattentive driving is one of the leading causes of crashes for all drivers. Especially for teens. The crash rate for newly licensed teens was almost double that of teen drivers with a few years of experience, according to the NHTSA.
Here are some strategies to help prevent inattentive driving:
Pledge, along with your teenage driver, to avoid texting or using social media behind the wheel.
Use appsthat block incoming calls and texts, and send alerts when the app is turned off.
Teach children to speak out when they are with a driver who’s distracted.
Request that they not speed, goof off, or drive impaired (or get into a car with someone who is upset or impaired).
Help your teen map out routes and create music lists before heading out.
Impact Teen Drivers, a non-profit founded through a partnership between California Association of Highway Patrolmen, California Casualty and California Teachers Association, offers free, creative ways for parents and teens to educate young drivers about the dangers of distracted and careless driving. Visitwww.impactteendrivers.orgto learn more. teen driver safety
Fully Insure Your Teen Drivers.
While higher auto insurance premiums are a hard reality for parents, you don’t want to skimp on your coverage. Did you know that California Casualty has really good rates for teen drivers?
Lack of experience behind the wheel makes them more likely to be involved in a collision, even a minor one. Increasing your liability limits, and adding full coverage, ensures that your insurance is enough to cover your assets. (Now is also a great time to learn more about an Umbrella Policy if you don’t already have one.)
Here are some ways to help manage the insurance costs for teen drivers:
Take advantage of good student discounts
Purchase cars that have modern safety features and a good safety rating
Consider a monitoring system that tracks your young driver’s habits
Enroll them in a defensive driving course
Cut driving miles by carpooling and using mass transit
Let your insurer know if the driver is away at college
Hopefully, your teen driver will gain experience, and you’ll feel more confident each time they get behind the wheel, knowing they are in the safest vehicle, armed with the best advice, and are paying attention to the road and other drivers.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Our Education Blogger is a public school teacher with over a decade of experience. She’s an active NEA member and enjoys writing about her experiences in the classroom.
Educators spend 4 years in college learning how to be effective teachers. However, they are never really taught how to handle situations with difficult or upset parents. Here are a few tried and true tips for teachers when dealing with a difficult parent of a student.
Listen
The most important thing you can do is listen. Let the parent share first and don’t interrupt. Parents deserve to be heard, even if you feel that their concerns are ill-founded.
Acknowledge Parent Concerns
Let parents know you are aware of their specific concerns, regardless of your feelings on the issue. When you and the parent are “on the same page,” you can begin to work together toward a remedy.
Face-To-Face Meetings Are Best
Talk to parents in person. Meeting parents face-to-face is recommended, but a phone call will do if necessary. Speaking in person allows both parent and teacher to focus solely on the issue at hand. It is also good to avoid emails. The tone in an email can be easily misinterpreted and cause unnecessary confusion and frustration.
Don’t React
Remain calm, polite, positive, and professional when interacting with an upset parent. When a parent lashes out, it is simply a sign of their frustration. Calmly remind the parent that you have their student’s best interests in mind. If the parent becomes belligerent or aggressive, ask to continue the meeting another time. It’s okay to be an advocate for yourself if you are feeling uncomfortable or unsafe. If you think a parent meeting might get nasty, ask your administrator to attend.
Keep A Paper Trail
Document everything! Keep track of student behaviors and consequences, and parent communications. The “evidence” will speak for itself if necessary.
Stick To The Facts
It may be difficult, but you should keep your own opinions and emotions at bay. Dragging your feelings into the situation will not help the student. Your focus should remain on the student and the concerns you have. What facts will you use? Test scores? Behavior log? Grade book?
Use Everyday Language
Don’t bombard parents with education lingo and acronyms that they may not understand. Instead, use everyday language, or provide explanations. You don’t want an already upset parent to become frustrated.
Be Kind
Show the parents that you genuinely care about their student. Provide some examples of the student’s strengths, or positives. By doing this, you demonstrate that you have built a strong relationship with their students.
* If you find yourself dealing with a parent who becomes abusive, or poses a threat of danger to you or the student, please immediately contact your administrator, local police, or your NEA representative.
Recommended Reading:
How To Handle Difficult Parent: Proven Solutions for Teachers by Suzanne Capek Tingley
Dealing With Difficult Parents by Todd Whitaker & Douglas J. Fiore
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
It’s time again to meet with parents and guardians of your students one-on-one during parent-teacher conferences. You may have had interactions with students’ families before, but this time, it’s a little more serious. Unfortunately, you may only have 15 minutes to discuss student progress. These time constraints can make conference time stressful for teachers. Be prepared and make your conferences meaningful by using our quick parent-teacher conferences guide.
Parent-Teacher Conferences – Do’s & Don’ts
Do:
Share specific examples of student work or behavior. If a student is struggling with a concept or in a subject area, provide “evidence.”
“Sandwich” negative information. Start with positive information, share the negative, and end with another positive.
Ask parents to share concerns prior to their conference. If you have this information ahead of time, you will be better prepared to answer questions during the conference.
Be tactful. Communicate any concerns with clarity but also with sensitivity.
Display student work. Parents like to see what students are working on.
Hang a sign outside your door indicating a conference is taking place. I like to add a note that invites parents to knock quietly on the door if their conference time has arrived.
Provide a comfortable, welcoming environment. I always have a few things on the table during conferences: tissues, pens and pencils, sticky notes, candy, and breath mints. I also like to play light, classical music in the background. To make the room smell “home-y,” I use plug-in air-fresheners, scented wax warmers, or candles. In the hallway, I place chairs, children’s books, blocks, and other toys to keep little ones busy while their parents are waiting.
Emphasize the positive. Show parents you really know and care about their students by providing some examples of student strengths.
Keep the focus on the student. Your time is limited. Veering off topic isn’t productive.
Recommend resources. Have a handout prepared that includes resources for all students (websites, apps, books, activities, etc.).
Don’t:
Sit behind your desk. It can make some parents uncomfortable and makes you look inaccessible. Instead, sit at a table in the classroom and provide plenty of chairs. Sitting on the same side of the table sends the message that you want to work WITH parents.
Tell parents what they should or shouldn’t do. Provide specific suggestions.
Do all of the talking. Invite parents to ask questions and provide feedback.
Speak using educational jargon. Use everyday language and avoid acronyms, euphemisms, and professional terms.
Provide too many suggestions for student improvement. It can be overwhelming for parents. Focus on a few things for a student to work on.
Forget to invite all parents/guardians to the conference. You don’t have to conduct separate meetings for each set of parents (unless you want to). Share with families that conference slots are limited and that meeting together will allow other families to sign up for a conference.
Forget the data! Whether it’s your computer, a student data folder, or printed test results, keep it handy for easy access during a conference. Seeing a student’s progress in graph form can be helpful for parents.
Make assumptions. If you speculate about what happens outside of school, you create a tense atmosphere and parents may feel defensive.
Our Education Blogger is a public school teacher with over a decade of experience. She’s an active NEA member and enjoys writing about her experiences in the classroom.
While you’d prefer to have a fantastic relationship with the parents or guardians of every one of your students, we know it isn’t always possible. Be sure to check out How Educators Can Deal With Difficult Parents for some helpful tips on handling difficult situations.
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
Our Education Blogger is a public school teacher with over a decade of experience. She’s an active NEA member and enjoys writing about her experiences in the classroom.
Emergency situations can happen any place and at any time, that is why it is important to prepare your classroom for any type of emergency.
1. Know Your School Emergency Procedures
Be aware of your building’s emergency procedures, how often drills are practiced, and the expectations of teachers and students during such drills. Your building should have protocols in place in the event of a fire, tornado (in certain regions), earthquake (in certain regions), intruder, and medical emergencies. Take time each month to review procedures with students and go over lockdown/evacuation routes and guidelines.
2. Learn where Medical Equipment is Located
Does your building have an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)? All fifty states have laws or regulations requiring that AEDs be available in public gathering places, and in some states this means schools must keep and maintain AEDs. Find out where the AED is located in your building. If you haven’t been trained on how to use it, ask your administrator to arrange a time when staff can be shown how to use it. If your building doesn’t have one, contact your administrator or school board.
3. Keep an Updated Class Roster With Important Information
Check your class lists to identify students with medical conditions. If necessary, talk with your school nurse about what to do for these students in emergencies. For more serious conditions, have a plan in place with the office and nurse if a serious medical event occurs. In most situations, students with serious medical issues will have some sort of individual health plan (IHP) on file for your reference. If a student who has an ongoing medical condition does not have an IHP, contact your building nurse who can get the process going if the family requests it.
4. Ask Your School to Invest in Emergency Staff Training
If you haven’t been trained in first aid, CPR, or other important emergency procedures recently, ask your administrator or nurse to arrange regularly scheduled training for staff.
5. Emergency Supplies You Should Keep In Your Classroom
These classroom emergency supplies should be stored in the classroom in the event of a shelter-in-place situation due to an emergency or lockdown. If your school does not furnish emergency supplies, ask your building’s parent-teacher organization, a local Boy or Girl Scout troop, or even an area church, for assistance obtaining supplies.
bucket (can be used to store items, can also be used as an emergency restroom)
tissues and toilet paper
baby wipes
disinfecting wipes
blankets or large towels
flashlight and batteries
hard candies
first aid kit with medical gloves and instruction manual
folder marked “confidential” with:
class list with student pictures
student emergency contact information
list of students with special needs and description of needs (i.e. medical issues, prescription medicines, dietary needs)
list of school emergency procedures
plastic bags or sheeting
work gloves
duct tape
masks
whistle
can opener
food
water (pouches or small bottles)
activities for students (cards, inflatable ball, travel games)
If your school doesn’t provide one, create a classroom “Go Bag” with necessities. An old backpack works well. Place or hang it near your classroom emergency exit. The bag is meant as a portable supply kit if a building evacuation is necessary. Recommended items include:
water pouches or small water bottles
first aid kit
whistle
baby wipes
disinfecting wipes
tissues or toilet paper
paper, markers, pencils
flashlight and batteries
list of school emergency procedures
activities for students (cards, inflatable ball, travel games)
folder marked “confidential” with:
class list with student pictures
student emergency contact information
list of students with special needs and description of needs (i.e. medical issues, prescription medicines, dietary needs)
Be sure to update your supply kits and bags yearly. Replace any expired items and be sure each kit is properly stocked and stored.
Are you prepared for an emergency at school? What emergency preparedness advice would you give fellow educators? Leave your thoughts in the comment section!
This article is furnished by California Casualty, providing auto and home insurance to educators, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nurses. Get a quote at 1.866.704.8614 or www.calcas.com.
