Learning Outcome #10: Promote parental involvement and collaborate effectively with other staff, the community, higher education, other agencies, as well as parents and other caregivers for the benefit of the students.
Teaching a student and helping them with their success can only go so far. The parental involvement plays a huge role, which at times could be positive or negative depending on the students’ home lives. At Homer Junior High I have had the opportunity to call a few students' parents to let the parents know how well their child is doing in school. Most phone calls are negative when a teacher is conversing with a parent, but my host teacher and I both genuinely believe that it is nice to hear from time to time that their children are doing great. At Homer they have what is called a “grade book” that is online where the students and their parents can go to view how the child is doing in school. It states assignments, so if one is missing, it isn’t a mystery. They also have homework hotline, which tells the students (if they forget) and the parents whether or not there is homework that night.
Then there is sometimes the negative phone call or email where all teachers are emailed by one set of parents. These parents are concerned for their children, and when I emailed the parents back they were concerned about their child and asked what they could possibly do at home to support the child and his education. This was a student I had to discipline multiple times, but who is a good kid. It is great when one can see as a teacher just how much the parents care.
At Homer Junior High there are teams. There are two teams in the eighth grade meaning there is one math, social studies, science, and ELA teacher for each team. We have team meetings every Wednesday seventh period. This is a time where we discuss the needs of certain, if not all the students, upcoming events, changes in the district etc. Most of the time the principal will join us as well as the counselors of the school. If there are a few students who are in danger of failing, who have checked out, or whose parents continue to email us, we discuss what to do as a team. I couldn’t believe the amount of collaboration I was witnessing because I had never seen it before. The supportive atmosphere is wonderful and a success when it comes to the education of our students.
Then there is sometimes the negative phone call or email where all teachers are emailed by one set of parents. These parents are concerned for their children, and when I emailed the parents back they were concerned about their child and asked what they could possibly do at home to support the child and his education. This was a student I had to discipline multiple times, but who is a good kid. It is great when one can see as a teacher just how much the parents care.
At Homer Junior High there are teams. There are two teams in the eighth grade meaning there is one math, social studies, science, and ELA teacher for each team. We have team meetings every Wednesday seventh period. This is a time where we discuss the needs of certain, if not all the students, upcoming events, changes in the district etc. Most of the time the principal will join us as well as the counselors of the school. If there are a few students who are in danger of failing, who have checked out, or whose parents continue to email us, we discuss what to do as a team. I couldn’t believe the amount of collaboration I was witnessing because I had never seen it before. The supportive atmosphere is wonderful and a success when it comes to the education of our students.
"Showing you care makes the students Listen."
Not only do I teach, but I am also one of the teachers who has lunch duty, and tenth period duty. In lunch duty I walk around and get to know the students out of the classroom. I also have become close with one of the other staff members who I probably would have never met if it weren’t for this obligation. During lunch, after the students eat, my host teacher and I take the time to bring the students to the gym to play crossfire. This game allows them to release a lot of their energy, play with their friends, and then when time is up they go back to education mode.
Every year the junior high has what is called “Class Night,” where the 7th and 8th grade come to the school on a Friday night to play games and compete for the trophy. Not all students participated, and not all teachers volunteered. I decided to be one of the teachers to volunteer without knowing what to expect. It is a great way to get the students off the streets, and come together as a class. The eighth graders wore blue shirts, and the seventh graders wore grey shirts. All night the two grades would play games like cross fire, wii fit, just dance, and karaoke. Then the parents and teachers played games at the end. When your students are chanting, “Backus, Backus, Backus,” in the background, how could I not participate? I ended up winning a game that is called “Shipwreck.” By the end of the long night, the eighth graders won; and I can honestly say that it was one of those “break through moments,” when you know that you want to spend the rest of your life working with students inside and outside of the classroom. Coming together with my students, other staff members, and parents was very rewarding.
Class Night Shirt
Email From Parent
Email From Curriculum Director
Every year the junior high has what is called “Class Night,” where the 7th and 8th grade come to the school on a Friday night to play games and compete for the trophy. Not all students participated, and not all teachers volunteered. I decided to be one of the teachers to volunteer without knowing what to expect. It is a great way to get the students off the streets, and come together as a class. The eighth graders wore blue shirts, and the seventh graders wore grey shirts. All night the two grades would play games like cross fire, wii fit, just dance, and karaoke. Then the parents and teachers played games at the end. When your students are chanting, “Backus, Backus, Backus,” in the background, how could I not participate? I ended up winning a game that is called “Shipwreck.” By the end of the long night, the eighth graders won; and I can honestly say that it was one of those “break through moments,” when you know that you want to spend the rest of your life working with students inside and outside of the classroom. Coming together with my students, other staff members, and parents was very rewarding.
Class Night Shirt
Email From Parent
Email From Curriculum Director