Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1158290
of reflection, of personal disappointment, and of hope in returning quickly to the class they like being part of. Create a simple form letter to send home to parents when students reach the third and final consequence. Keep it short and to the point. Refrain from giving your opinion or adding an angry note at the bottom. Just give the facts. e consequences are in play throughout one single day. When the students arrive for school the next day, lessons have been learned, no grudges are held, and everyone starts fresh — with another chance to suc- ceed, to grow, to be better than the day before. To make your classroom management plan effective, it must be followed faithfully and carried out in a certain way. This is key, because there is no magic in the plan itself. It 's just a set of guidelines scraw led on a piece of paper. How y o u u s e it i s w h at g iv e s th e p l a n its power. My blog details ever ything you need to know to follow through with your classroom management plan, from how to give a warn- ing to how to send a letter home to parents. I also recommend reading posts in the Rules & Consequences and Time-Out categories of the archive. Together, they explain how to carry out your plan in a way that motivates all stu- dents to follow your rules. Using this simple plan, you' ll never again have to rely on complicated, frustrating and demoralizing methods and strategies so many teachers find themselves roped into. Just follow the plan. Build relationships with your students. And love your job. San Diego Education Association mem- ber Michael Linsin is founder of the Smart Classroom Management blog (smartclassroommanagement.com) and author of five books, including e Smart Classroom Management Way (2019). With teaching credentials in multiple subjects, he has taught every K-12 grade level for the past 29 years. He also holds an advanced degree in educational counseling. This is an optimal time for you to meet with parents and share information that can make your job easier. Here are some examples: 1. Capture contact information. Provide each parent with paper and pencil and ask them to jot down their name, phone number and email address. Additionally, explain how you will be contacting parents and how you like to be contacted in return. 2. Share expectations and wishes. Let parents know what you expect from their children both academically and regarding behavior, such as completing homework on time and respecting others. You can also share your wishes for classroom needs such as Kleenex or composition books. 3. Share schedules for the rest of the year. Parents will appreciate knowing ahead of time important dates that will impact them. This also makes it less stressful for you when it comes time to collect field trip money or find chaperones. Similarly, let parents know now when conferences will be scheduled. 4. Let parents know how to volunteer in and for the classroom. Consider creating lists for parents, which outline tasks such as photocopying, stapling, reading out loud with students, etc., and say when the task needs to happen and how long it will take. 5. Talk about digital needs and requirements. If your district uses an online system of communication, scheduling and grading, tell parents how to access the information. If families lack digital access, figure out the best way to communicate with them — and the best way students can do homework and outside research and projects. For more tips and ideas, go to cta.org and search "back to school night." Adapted from NEA Member Benefits Back-to-School Night Tips Credit: Emily Webster/Unsplash 32 cta.org