One thing I am proud of in my classroom is the level of cooperation between students. They work together better than I could have imagined. This is also one thing that I need to work on in my classroom management because the students want to work together on everything. Including asking each other questions when I have asked them to be silent. I am currently working with my mentor teacher on new ideas on how to resolve this issue.
Another thing that I am proud of in my classroom is the lack of no name papers. I instituted a highlight your name policy starting day one and I have only gotten 2 no name papers all year.
I also need to work on getting students to return their homework. I believe that this is a problem because they have spent their entire educational career in elementary school and are thrown into high school as freshmen. I was told that we were to teach content and not responsibility, but then I am confused as to who is responsible for teaching these students responsibility. When I give homework only about 25% of students actually complete it and return it on time. In order to work on this I think I will send a letter home for all parents to sign letting them know what the expectations are on homework.
I think you are correct that there should be a procedure for when they work together and when they work individually. Letting them know that the individual work helps to guide you in your teaching by knowing what me need to be clarified and what they have currently mastered may be helpful.
ReplyDeleteIf your students have spent elementary and middle school without homework it is difficult to begin that procedure in high school. Is homework given at Dysart? Ck with other teachers and see how they handle it.