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=Welcome to Ms. Hauser's First Year of Teaching Webpage (2011)=

**THE ABCs FOR FIRST YEAR TEACHERS**

 * **A**dmit your mistakes -- and learn from them.
 * **B**e firm but flexible.
 * **C**ommunicate with parents.
 * **D**evelop a homework policy -- and stick to it.
 * **E**mpower your students; don't just lecture to them.
 * **F**ind time to attend after-school events.
 * **G**et to know all the teachers in your school and make friends with the cooks, custodians, aides, and secretaries.
 * **H**ave the courage to try something else if what you're doing isn't working.
 * **I**nstitute a clear discipline policy -- and enforce it consistently.
 * **J**ust listen -- both to what the kids are saying and to what they're not saying.
 * **K**eep a journal.
 * **L**earn your school's policies and procedures.
 * **M**odel desired attitudes and behavior.
 * **N**on carborundum ignorami. (Don't let the imbeciles wear you down.)
 * **O**verplan.
 * **P**repare interesting lessons.
 * **Q**uit worrying and just do your best.
 * **R**emember that you teach students first, //then// you teach whatever academic discipline you learned.
 * **S**tay alert.
 * **T**ake pictures.
 * **U**nderstand that the learning process involves everyone -- teachers, students, colleagues, and parents -- and get everyone involved.
 * **V**olunteer to share projects and ideas, and don't be afraid to ask others to share their ideas with you.
 * **W**ork within your limits.
 * **X**pect the unexpected -- and plan for it!
 * **Y**ell if you need support.
 * **Z**ero in on your strengths, not your weaknesses. (Remember -- nobody's perfect!)

 **Winning Strategies for Classroom Management** //by Carol Cummings// **[|Table of Contents] **  @http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/100052/chapters/Bonding-and-Connecting.aspx
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**Chapter 2. Bonding and Connecting** If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend. —Abraham Lincoln Despite your plan to teach good work habits and prosocial behaviors, your students may not buy into it. Indeed, educators have competition for student attention and habits that didn't exist just a few decades ago. Behaviors modeled by sports and television heroes have desensitized students to violence and antisocial behaviors. I recently attended a professional ice hockey game where a team of 6–8-year-olds played and entertained the spectators at intermission. When several of the youngsters began to fight (similar to what they'd observed the professional players do earlier), the spectators stood and cheered. Try to picture these same students walking into their elementary classroom the next morning and their teachers teaching a lesson on anger management. Why should students value self-control when their heroes on the field—as well as on prime time television—initiate violent acts? How can we compete with the media, video games, and sports figures? Faced with this competition, one almost gets a sense of hopelessness. Can we make a difference? Yes. The best support for this assertion comes from the American Medical Association and what is perhaps the largest study ever done with adolescents (12,118 adolescents in grades 7–12). Doctors, who are in a reactive stance when they treat the negative health outcomes of adolescence (teenage suicide, homicide, violence, substance abuse, and pregnancy), conducted this study to find out what the protective factors are in homes and schools (Resnick et al., 1997). In essence, this study looked for what can be done to protect adolescents from unhealthy behaviors. The two strongest protective factors were strong emotional attachments to parents and to teachers. Positive relationships with teachers were more important than class size, amount of teacher training, classroom rules, and school policy. When students feel connected to their teachers, fairly treated, and a part of the school, they are less likely to use drugs, drink alcohol, smoke, or have early sex. ==Ways to Connect with Students == If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; if I can ease one life the aching, or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. —Emily Dickinson <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">Time is the coin of your life. Only you can determine how it will be spent. <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">—Carl Sandburg <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from his neck saying, Make Me Feel Important Never forget this message when working with people. <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">—Mary Kay Ash <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being. <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">—Johann W. Von Goethe <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Students need heroes they can look up to—someone to connect with—and that someone can be a teacher. Middle schools tried to encourage connection between staff and students by adding a period for advisory programs. Advisory programs were to help ensure that every child had the opportunity to form a relationship with an educator in the school. While the concept of fostering bonding with an educator during the tumultuous middle school years is sound, the advisory period seems to have “fallen far short of expectations” (Galassi, Gulledge, & Cox, 1997). Another approach aimed at gaining connections in secondary schools is block scheduling, allowing teachers and students to spend more time together (e.g., a 90-minute period), which was to provide more time for bonding and connecting. Yet, simply providing time is not the answer—it's what you do with the time that fosters bonding and creates a caring community. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Taking time to connect with our students, to win them over, is the first step in classroom management. The big question is how to win them over. Deiro (1996, p. 193) studied how teachers form healthy connections with junior high students and identified these strategies: <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**One-to-One Connections.** Connecting begins even before school starts in the fall. Many teachers send a postcard to incoming students that welcomes them back to school and into their classroom. A school in Seattle has a picnic in August for parents and students to celebrate the beginning of a new year. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">On that first day, greet students as they come through the door with a handshake and words of encouragement. Perhaps put a letter from you on their desks (see Figure 2.1) and attach another sheet of paper, already addressed to you for a response. Not only have you made a connection with each student, but the response is also the year's first writing sample.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Creating one-to-one time with students
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Using appropriate self-disclosure
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Having high expectations with a belief in students' abilities
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Networking with family and friends
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Building a sense of community in the classroom
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Using rituals and traditions

====<span style="color: #003366; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12pt; page-break-after: avoid;">Figure 2.1. Sample Letter from Teacher to Students ====

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I am looking forward to beginning a great year with you. Let me tell you a little about myself. Then I would like to have you write to me so I can get to know you better. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Besides a wonderful husband, who is a veterinarian, I have two children and lots of pets. It's nice to have a veterinarian in my home to help care for my tow dogs, two cats, and parrot. Do you have any pets at home? Tell me a little about your family, too. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">On the weekends I love to walk the beach. Sometimes, on a cold, wintry day, I just curl up with a book to read as I listen to the sound of the waves, My favorite books are mysteries. Do you have any favorites? How do you like to spend your weekends? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">To help me plan an even more exciting year for you, tell me what you'd like to learn more about. Are there any particular field trips you'd like to take? What kinds of books would you like to read for novel study? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">That's all for now. I am looking forward to reading your letter. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Sincerely, <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Mrs. Longs ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Place an introductory letter on your students desks to help break the ice and set up a task for the first writing sample of the year. ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Dear Students,

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">The first thing to know about a student is his name. At the secondary level, faced with so many students, you can take a picture of each class that first week of school. Enlarge it and use an overhead marker to write each student's name on the photo. Review the faces and names before each class arrives and test yourself by standing at the door to greet as many students as possible by name. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Cultivate your classroom into a community of learners by making sure students know one another by name, too. One primary teacher asks each student to draw a self-portrait with a name tag, then she tacks them to a bulletin board train called “The 1st Grade Express.” She practices reading the names with the class each day and challenges her students to try reading the names by themselves. Use alliteration with older students by having them select an adjective describing themselves, such as Curly Carol or Suave Simon. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">To help students get to know each other, collect information about each student and have a mystery person each day. Students guess who the mystery person is as you read three or four clues about the student (e.g., size of family, favorite television program, birthplace, hobby). <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Another way to get to know your students is to use a multiple intelligences survey. Begin by using the multiple intelligences identified by Howard Gardner (interpersonal, intrapersonal, musical, linguistic, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, naturalist, logical-mathematical) and then identify several characteristics of each intelligence. Students can use your characteristics to identify their strengths. An example, adapted from Gardner's work, is shown in Figure 2.2. Think about how much more engaging and motivating you can make the classroom for your students if you have information about them that helps you to nurture their strengths and recognize their weaknesses. Students know you truly care about them as a learner when you use knowledge about them to assist their learning, for example by telling them they can work alone or with a partner, or by allowing them to use headphones to block out extraneous noises while concentrating.

====<span style="color: #003366; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12pt; page-break-after: avoid;">Figure 2.2. Who am I? ====

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Direct students to read the statement in the Traits column and to place a (checkmark) in the column that best describes their assessment and response to the statement. ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Use a multiple intelligences survey to gather information about your students. The information can help you plan lessons to excite and motivate the students.
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Traits** || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Agree** || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Somewhat Agree** || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Disagree** ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I like being alone. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I prefer to study by myself. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I am intuitive. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I like team sports and activities. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I enjoy working in a small group. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I have many friends. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I learn by doing, using my hands. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I get fidgety if I have to sit and listen. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I would rather build a circuit than read about it. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I listen to music while studying. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I'm aware of sounds in the environment. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I would enjoy playing a musical instrument. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Math is easy for me. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I enjoy strategy games on the computer. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I enjoy logic puzzles and brain teasers. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I think with pictures and visual images. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I like art and viewing movies. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I doodle and daydream. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I like to read. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I enjoy listening to the spoken word (stories, tapes, radio commentary) ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I have a good memory for names, places, dates. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I enjoy nature and being outdoors. ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I notice everyday changes in the environment. ||  ||   ||   ||

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Using Self-Disclosure.** Your questions and responses make the class feel that you value their feedback and that you are willing to admit your mistakes and make changes. If you use meaningful dialogue, you may want to write back to some students or comment on the feedback to the whole class. What is important about this process is that the students feel connected to you, the teacher. Deiro (1996, p. 197) defines self-disclosure appropriate for a teacher-student relationship as “the act of sharing and exposing the teachers' own feelings, attitudes, and experiences with students in ways that are helpful to the students.” Getting feedback from students and using it to improve your own teaching creates a climate of trust. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Networking to Build a Community.** As mentioned earlier, an adolescent's sense of connectedness to parents and school are the two most important protective factors against a variety of risk behaviors. When a teacher extends the bonding experiences to include parents and family, this partnership undoubtedly strengthens the connections. This is not, however, an easy task. Steinberg (1996, p. 187) found that “one in three parents in America is seriously disengaged from his or her adolescent's life, and, especially, from the adolescent's education.” Worse yet, he found only one in five parents consistently attending school programs. It may be valid, then, for teachers to complain that parents aren't involved enough in their child's education. Clever teachers, however, find ways to invite parent participation: invitations to participate, letters home to both parents and students, student-led conferences, monthly assignment calendars, and weekly newsletters are a few examples. Brenda Stingily is a 6th grade teacher in Edmonds, Washington. During the first week of school she begins the connections process by sending home the letter found in Figure 2.3.

====<span style="color: #003366; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12pt; page-break-after: avoid;">Figure 2.3. Parent Participation ====

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Name _____________________________ Child's name _________________ <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Daytime phone ____________________ Evening phone ________________ > (School day is 9:10 to 3:30—however, before or after school works fine, too.) > (tutoring, correcting papers, editing stories, doing research, working on math facts, reading with students, running copies) > Please circle the day or days you can spend in our classroom: > M T W Th F > Hours most convenient for you _________________________ > morning afternoon all day <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Volunteer opportunities outside school hours
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Your child's classroom experience will be as successful and productive as the energy and commitment that goes into it. You may volunteer time in the classroom, help out occasionally on field trips, plan class parties, or come in and introduce special skills or talents to us. We need each of you!
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ **Classroom helper**
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ **Classroom assistant**
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ **Money collector** (field trips, fundraisers)
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ **Field-trip chaperone or driver** (WA State Patrol verification required)
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ correcting papers
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ typing
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ book order chair
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ photocopying, laminating
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ bulletin boards
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ assembling books and portfolios
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ organizing parent volunteers (//phone calls, messages//)
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ planning for outdoor school (//class camping experience//)
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ planning for 6th grade graduation celebration
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">___ class parties (//decorations, games, refreshments//) ||

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Establishing Traditions.** Students find comfort and security in traditions and routines. Use routines to establish traditions in your classroom—traditions that can help you connect with students and their families.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Journals. If students write in their journal daily, try assigning the Friday journal entry as a letter home to a family member. Students can summarize their week at school, what they've learned and accomplished, and goals they set. Students take their journals home for the weekend; the family member receiving the letter writes a response on the back of the page, and the journal is brought back to school on Monday. For busy parents, who spend 10 to 12 hours less each week at home than parents did in 1960, this provides a structured, quality connection with their child.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Newsletters. Many teachers send home weekly newsletters. It's a bonus if the students write the newsletters, with a small column for the teacher. If you don't have a classroom computer, an efficient way to accomplish this weekly task is to have a template for the newsletter. Each week the columnists write their news on a piece of paper that fits their space in the template, glue it on the master, and it's ready to duplicate.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Student-led conferences. A higher percentage of parents attend student-led conferences than teacher-led conferences. When students lead the conferences, it also serves to boost student motivation. Students spend a considerable amount of time preparing and selecting portfolio highlights, identifying what they do well, and developing their improvement goals. They may choose to role play the conference with a peer or with the teacher. Figure 2.4 is a simple self-reflection page, which could also serve as a table of contents for the portfolio.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Homework. Homework does not have to be a solitary activity. Many schools have a homework tradition: Read every night! Students ay choose to read to a family member, or the family member may read to them. Figure 2.5 (p. 24–25) is an example of a letter parents might receive to better prepare them for this awesome task of reading with their child.

====<span style="color: #003366; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12pt; page-break-after: avoid;">Figure 2.4. Self-Reflection Table ====


 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">As your students prepare for student-led conferences, a simple self-reflection table can help them organize their thoughts and serve as the table of contents for a portfolio. ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**What is the entry?** || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**Why did I include this entry?** || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**What do I like about the entry?** || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">**How could the entry or product be improved?** ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">1 ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">2 ||  ||   ||   ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">3 ||  ||   ||   ||

====<span style="color: #003366; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12pt; page-break-after: avoid;">Figure 2.5. Reading Letter to Parents ====

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Thank you for taking the time to read with your child. Here are some hints for helping your child improve reading skills: <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Good luck! The ability to read fluently is the most important gift you can give your child. ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Use a letter to parents to get them involved in homework and schoolwork. The letter, below, guides parents in how they can help to build their child's reading skills. It shows parents that they are important participants in the education of their child while giving them explicit strategies to use in helping the child. ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Dear Parents,
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Set aside 20 to 30 minutes a day for reading. Your child can read to you when you get home or read to you while you cook dinner. The more time your child spends reading or being read to is directly related to improvement. You may set a kitchen timer to keep track of the time. Try to make your appointment to read the same time every day to establish a tradition.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Celebrate the number of minutes spent reading at the end of the week. For example, set up a chart to record the number of minutes read each day. Each time you reach 100 minutes, do something special together to celebrate.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Read WITH your child:
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Take turns reading. You read one paragraph, your child reads the next.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">If the book is difficult, use echo reading. You read 2 lines, your child reads them back to you (your echo). This way you provide a model of how the words are read.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Give your child a chopstick or a marker (any kind of pointer) to follow along in the book as you read.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Have your young reader find a favorite page in the book and rehearse it until it can be read perfectly. Then let your child perform that page for you. Brag about how well your child read that page to other relatives and friends. Ask your child read that page to them.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Ask your child to read to a younger sibling. Self-concept for reading improves when a child helps others learn to read.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Children love break-in reading. You start reading and they can break in and begin to read any time you come to the end of a sentence. You can break in next. Another form of this game is called hot potato: You begin reading and stop at any sentence and say, “Hot Potato!” Your child begins reading and stops at any sentence and says, “Hot Potato, Mom!”
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Read more difficult books to your child. Your child's brain is a “work in progress.” Reading aloud helps your child build vocabulary, reading comprehension, listening skills, speaking skills, and writing skills.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Early primary students who are establishing study habits, including the habit of doing homework, might take home a monthly reading calendar to be placed on the refrigerator door with a magnet (see Figure 2.6, p. 27). The student crosses off each short activity as he completes it and takes the calendar back to school at the end of each month. The teacher reinforces the three-way connection when she reviews the homework assignment and the student goes home to remind a family member of what they're doing together.

====<span style="color: #003366; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12pt; page-break-after: avoid;">Figure 2.6. Reading Calendar ====


 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Use a reading calendar for young students to help them establish homework habits. Make a monthly calendar that displays daily assignments. Ask students to mark off each assignment and return the calendar at the end of each month. ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Read labels from kitchen cupboard. How many did you read? || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Find a newspaper. How many headings can you read? || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Go to a store and read boxes, bottles, cartons, and cans. How many can you read? || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">List everything at home that starts with the letter S. Put the list in a binder. || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Next time you're in the car, read billboards and signs. How many can you read? ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Make a list of all the foods you've eaten today. Put in your binder. || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Open the telephone book. How many things can you read in it? || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Write a make-believe story and read it to someone. || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Find a magazine you can cut up. Cut out all of the words and phrases you can read and paste them in your binder. || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Pick your favorite cartoon from the newspaper. Read it and paste it in your binder. ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Take a walk outdoors. Count the number of signs you can read. || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Count the number of labels you can read on shoes and clothing in your closet. || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Write a letter to someone and mail it. Who did you write to? || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Read and copy a recipe of something you like to eat. Put it in your binder. || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Make a list of all of the colors you find in your home. Put it in your binder. ||
 * <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Read anything you want to for 10 minutes. What did you read? || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Make a list of things that happen in the morning and at night. Put it in your binder. || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Find an address book at home. How many names can you read? || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Find some junk mail you can read. Paste it in your binder. || <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Find a cookbook. How many recipes can you read? ||

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">For the teachers who create opportunities for parent involvement yet find limited response, one study may offer comfort. Factors outside the teachers' control may be influencing the parents' decision to participate (Hoover-Dempsey & Sandler, 1997). Some parents may not believe it is their role to become involved in school matters. In addition, parents' sense of efficacy (seeing themselves as capable of making a positive difference) influences their involvement decisions. So don't be too hard on yourself if you don't get 100 percent involvement. ==<span style="color: #666644; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12pt; page-break-after: avoid;">Beginning Meaningful Dialogue == <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">Children are like flowers. If you do not tend them carefully, they will grow wild. <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">—Source unknown <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">The way to a man's heart is through his opinion. <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">—Ben Franklin <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Use the information you've gathered about your students to begin a conversation, a meaningful exchange of ideas. It's much easier to have a meaningful dialogue with students when you know something about them. Glenn and Nelsen (1989, p. 159) warn us about the risk of reducing teacher-student interactions to a multiple-choice exam: Did you? Can you? Do you? Will you? Won't you? Are you? Aren't you? Why can't you ever? How come you never? How many times do I have to tell you? When initiating a conversation with a student, ask yourself <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Connecting to students through meaningful dialogue requires time. When will you find the time? You can greet them at the beginning of class and ask, What's been the best part of your day so far? What was the best part of your weekend? Or, at the beginning of class, let students work indepedently on a written warm-up activity (e.g., a short, practice activity on the board). You determine how many students you'll have to engage each day so that you've systematically talked to everyone by Friday (e.g., 6 students per day in a class of 30). You may decide to adopt the practice of carrying a grade book to note each contact. Questions you ask might be unrelated to school, perhaps about a student's puppy. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Another option is to try using a ticket at the door. A ticket is the student's response to a question that asks for their point of view. How do you do this? Post a question on the chalkboard and ask the students to answer it. Their “ticket” is their written response to you as they leave the classroom. This is a good way to get feedback relative to how connected students feel. Questions might be <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">You can offer students generic sentence starters for writing their tickets: <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Another option is to ask students to submit tickets in a closed box by the door, thereby assuring anonymity and encouraging honesty. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Sometimes connecting with students requires a little background work, which might include a survey. Blythe and Bradbury (1993) designed an attitude survey for middle school students to measure their perceptions of connectedness to their classroom. The survey included statements related to self-esteem and respect for self and others, as well as short answer questions to prompt students to reveal aspects of the classroom environment that work or don't work for them. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Individual student conferences, including conferences that spring from writers' workshops, provide a perfect opportunity for a meaningful dialogue. You can begin these conferences by asking students the following questions: <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">When students request assistance during class, you can start a meaningful dialogue by giving these prompts: ==<span style="color: #666644; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12pt; page-break-after: avoid;">How to Communicate During Strife == <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow. <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">—Chinese Proverb <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">When a student starts a power struggle, consider the adverse effect of using a lecture or sarcasm in response. The student has “hooked” you and can escalate the situation. The hostility experienced can create resentment and rebellion, destroying that connection you've worked so hard to establish. A better response is to isolate the student from the rest of the class (the “audience”) and begin meaningful dialogue. Curwin and Mendler (1999) recommend starters such as <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Compare the options given by Curwin and Mendler above, and the student's likely responses to these teacher demands: ==<span style="color: #666644; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12pt; page-break-after: avoid;">Noticing Each Student == <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">How can a person feel liked, unless somebody likes him? How can a person feel wanted, unless somebody wants him? How can a person feel accepted, unless somebody accepts him? <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">—Arthur W. Combs, former ASCD president <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">How can a person feel he's a person with dignity and integrity unless someone treats him so? And how can a person feel that he's capable, unless he has some success? <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">—Arthur W. Combs, former ASCD president <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">With most students, bonding and connecting comes naturally. It's a mutual relationship. With some, however, it seems they do everything in their power not to connect—or simply don't have the skills to connect. These are the ones who need it the most. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">The common thread woven throughout all of the school shootings in the last few years is the profile of the student offender: an outsider, an outcast. We can make a difference if we pledge that no student will go unnoticed or unconnected with his teachers. A high school teacher in Idaho (Mizer, 1964) wrote about this commitment when she was asked to speak at the funeral for a student she could only remember as sitting in the last seat of her literature class: <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 28px; margin-right: 35px; margin-top: 6pt;">I've never forgotten Cliff Evans nor that resolve. He has been my challenge year after year, class after class. I look up and down the rows carefully each September at the unfamiliar faces. I look for veiled eyes or bodies scrounged into a seat in an alien world. “Look, kids,” I say silently, “I may not do anything else for you this year, but not one of you is going to come out of here a nobody. I'll work or fight to the bitter end doing battle with society and the school board, but I won't have one of you coming out of here thinking himself a zero.” ==<span style="color: #666644; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica; font-size: 20px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12pt; page-break-after: avoid;">* * * == <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I don't believe any teacher consciously wants to disconnect from students. Yet, there are everyday events in classrooms that leave students thinking they are zeros. Getting to know each student and taking the time to have a meaningful dialogue with each builds a strong teacher-student connection. Using a warm-up and a ticket out the door routinely establishes a tradition students look forward to. Helping students get to know one another builds classroom community. Networking with parents and families cements the connection. Taking the time to “win them over” establishes bonds that stretch beyond the school year. To paraphrase Henry Adams (1838–1928, U.S. historian): A teacher affects eternity. You can never tell where your influence stops. ||
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Am I asking or telling?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Would I want someone to say this to me?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Am I trying to see the student's point of view?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">How can I help you be more successful in class?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">What do you like best and least about our class?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">What could I do to make the class more interesting for you?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I would have like ...
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I would like to know more about ...
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I wish ...
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I feel ...
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">One thing I'd like to change in this class is ...
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">What did you learn from this experience?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">How might you change it if you were to do it again?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">What do you like best about your writing? Tell me why.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">How did the story affect you?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">What do you want to get better at?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Tell me how you think you should solve it.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Talk me through the part you understand.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I'm interested in your answer. Help me to understand how you got it.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">What do you think is the easiest part about this assignment? the hardest?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Is this tough? How can I help you?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I can tell you're feeling upset about this. Tell me what's going through your mind right now.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Help me to understand what happened. I need to understand your side of the story.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me how you feel. When did you start feeling this way?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I can see that you are very angry about this. Help me to understand what caused the problem.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Let's problem solve together. What do you think we should do about this?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">Is there anything I could do to help you?
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I'd like to hear what you think happened. I wasn't there to see it.
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">As long as you're in this class, you'll . ..
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">You should be taking more responsibility for . ..
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I said to do it now!
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I make the rules here and . ..
 * <span style="font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-family: verdana,arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">I don't want to hear about it.