As we begin a new school year, there are many conversations about how to reach out to parents as our allies in education. After all, who knows our students better than the ones who have raised them? If we reach out to parents early on and begin the conversation before there are issues in class, it's easier to have difficult conversations later because you have laid a foundation in advance.
The hard part is getting parents to respond. So I bribe them! In the past I gave out homework passes for just about anything I wanted to get parents' help with - from cleaning and organizing my classroom at the beginning of the school year to attending open house and parent teacher conferences. Now that homework is not part of my grades (standards-based grading now), it doesn't make sense to give a homework pass. Here's what I offer now: Drop the Lowest Grade Pass
The hard part is getting parents to respond. So I bribe them! In the past I gave out homework passes for just about anything I wanted to get parents' help with - from cleaning and organizing my classroom at the beginning of the school year to attending open house and parent teacher conferences. Now that homework is not part of my grades (standards-based grading now), it doesn't make sense to give a homework pass. Here's what I offer now: Drop the Lowest Grade Pass
This is especially helpful for that one troublesome skill that a student is stuck on at the end of the grading period. But now I'm looking for new passes to be able to give out. As an introvert I'm especially intrigued by the "Skip a Social Interaction Today" kind of card, but also hoping to get my admin to approve a "Lunch Line Skipper" and a "Front Row Parking Spot" kind of pass so students get to have a choice. Any other ideas or suggestions? Please add them in the comment section below.
Thanks!
Thanks!