Ice Breaker Introduction Game

 I firmly believe that nothing is as powerful or serves better to foster strong bonds within a classroom as building a sense of community. This takes precedence for me over delving right into the textbooks during the first days of school.

I really hit Community Building experiences hard during the first two weeks of school. I also incorporate community building strategies into the curriculum after winter holiday/spring breaks, or when a new student(s) joins the class later on.

Community Building exercises can help make the ‘new kid’ feel welcome and the ‘old kids’ feel the strength to be found in a close-knit community.

Resources for Community Building are available through parent-teacher stores and teacher magazines. I would like to share a few of these with you that have proven successful in my classes.

ACTIVITY: Ice Breaker Introduction Game

To ‘break the ice,’ one such activity that I use is a “Name Game.” It works like this: I will have the students form a circle. I hold a squish ball, and model first by saying my name, and one very exciting thing I did over the summer.

When I have finished, I gently toss the ball underhand to a student for him/her to follow suit. We do this until every student has had an opportunity to share! Kids love this!

How Do Teachers Establish Positive Relationships With Parents?

Being a teacher, one of the most challenging tasks besides teaching your students is to maintain a connection with their parents and share the progress of their child in and out of the classroom in a way that it benefits the students and parents in such a way that not only they become aware of how their kid is doing in school and also how they can play a role in their academic progression.

Having positive parent-teacher relationships is, without a doubt, a win-win situation for both parties. Teachers benefit from additional input from an academic, social and behavioral point of view and draw upon the knowledge of the whole child. Additionally, parents feel more involved in their child's education and feel more confident in helping their child academically.

But that's a task, not every teacher, at least the ones who are new in the profession, can master, it goes without saying that it’s not as easy as one would think to appease every student's parents; understand what they want exactly, and what you are trying to accomplish. Yet, that's not the end of the world.

As a teacher, you can practice different ways and take different approaches to achieve the primary goal of sharing your student's real stats with their parents.

To make it as simple as possible and easy to understand, especially for the new teachers here, here are some of the best tips you can follow to create and maintain healthy relationships with your students' parents. We are going to be discussing 15 specific things that a teacher can do to foster positive relationships with parents.

Number 1: Wear a smile

This is one of the necessary interpersonal skills; the best way to foster a positive relationship with parents is simple: smile! But do so genuinely. Don't wear a smile to appease your students or their parents or hide your true feelings. When you greet parents in the morning, exchange niceties and be mindful of your expression. When parents see you as someone cheerful and happy to see them and their child, they'll be more likely to want to develop a positive relationship with you.

Number 2: Learn their names.

Addressing parents by their first names is an easy yet effective way to establish a positive relationship. When you take the time to learn these small tidbits, it shows that you do care. Parents know that you have an extensive list of names to memorize, so when you go the extra mile to do so, they'll more than appreciate it. Before long, they may consider you a friend and not just a teacher.

Number 3: Learn to communicate effectively.

 When we form new relationships with people, the first thing we do is talk. Humans are social creatures at heart. When we want to create a relationship with another person, we express that intent verbally. Even though you might have the best intentions, remaining quiet can portray you as pretentious or indifferent.

Number 4: Ask questions.

If you hope to create a positive relationship with your parents, you need to show interest. And the most straightforward way you can do that is by asking questions! Get on the same level as the parents, and ask simple questions about their children. For example, you might ask who the child's favorite YouTuber is or inquire about their favorite snack. This might seem like a small gesture, but it will move mountains when winning new parents over. The only thing most parents want is a teacher who has their child's best interest at heart. If you can prove to them that this is your goal, you'll be a winner in their book.

Number 5: Don't wait to call until there's trouble

The worst thing you could do is wait to call a parent when their child has a school problem. No parent likes to have a conversation with a teacher about their child misbehaving. If you are only calling to report negative information, parents will dread phone conversations with you. Try surprising parents with a call about some exemplary behavior or something their child did that made them stand out against the crowd. Parents love to hear about their children doing great things. Pretty soon, they will start associating you with positive thoughts, which will only help your case when building those positive relationships that you seek.

Here’s a tip this is something that I did in my classroom, that has always paid off in big dividends.  I would pick 2 student per week, one boy and one girl and make a positive phone call home. My praise would be specific – not general, for example instead of saying Johnny is a good boy, I’d say I love how Johnny treats his classmates with kindness and respect. This is one sure fire way to win over parents.  

Number 6: Show genuine kindness and compassion for the child.

A parent's number-one priority is the happiness and well-being of their child. For this reason, it is not enough to be on good terms with them. You must also display a healthy and positive relationship with the child. Unfortunately, parents don't often get to see all the classroom action, which is where most of your efforts go. Respecting the child and having an overall welcoming tone is the best way to show parents that you are actively involved in their child's well-being, as well.

Number 7: Always start with the good news first

In the unfortunate case, you have to share bad news with a parent always open the conversation with something positive. This information doesn't have to be earth-shattering; it needs to soften the blow of the negativity. Try highlighting a satisfactory grade before jumping into the bad stuff. The parents might not realize what you are doing, but they will be in a better headspace to take on the bad news you have to share with them.

Number 8: Treat them like a customer.

 If it's easier for you, try treating each interaction with parents as you would with a well-paying customer. This isn't to say that you want to be transactional; instead, you treat them with respect each time you see one another. You wouldn't wave a customer off each time they entered your business or ignore their presence, right? So please don't do it to your students' parents.

Number 9: Encourage feedback

Parents want to feel included in all aspects of their children's lives. When it comes to sending them to school, they face the dilemma of allowing another adult to dictate their child's time. For some parents, this can be challenging. An excellent way to encourage a positive relationship with parents is to ask them for their feedback. Implement an open-door policy in your classroom where everyone has a say. This doesn't mean that you need to turn your class on its head, but if you're willing to make a few small changes for the sake of the parents, it could calm anxieties and change their perception of you.

Number 10: Try not to make assumptions.

No matter how much you've seen (and as a teacher, you've undoubtedly seen a lot), you never honestly know what a person is going through. It can be tempting to make assumptions regarding parents that seem uninvolved or apathetic. It would be best if you avoid this, though. Accept that you don't have all the information about these parents' lives and that you could never understand why they act the way they do. This would be the time to show kindness and compassion, no matter how hard it is to do. The last thing you want is to damage a potentially good relationship over false assumptions.

Number 11: Show gratitude.

Some of the most impactful words you can say to a parent are "thank you." For as much as you do for their child in the classroom, parents do tenfold at home and on the weekends. When a parent takes time out of their busy schedule to help you with a task or open up a conversation, thank them! Showing gratitude proves to parents that you are genuine and appreciative of all they do inside and outside the classroom.

Number 12: Create a parent survey

Even if you have already opened your door for parents' suggestions, some will be hesitant to share their opinions. If you want to show parents that you're interested in their feedback, consider soliciting anonymous surveys from each parent. This will provide them with a safe space to share their thoughts and will further prove that you see the value of their opinions and any feedback that they may be willing to share.

Number 13: Create volunteer opportunities for parents

Many parents want to be involved in their child's school life but may not have the opportunity. You can solve this problem by creating such opportunities for them. Consider asking for chaperones at a class party or volunteers to assist you with planning class events in the year to come. Even parents that don't have time to dedicate to your cause will notice and appreciate your initiative. You are presenting yourself as someone who cares about parents and students equally, which will encourage positive parent relationships all around.

Number 14: Listen to them.

Nothing is more frustrating to a parent than a teacher that presumes to know more about their child than they do. Your teaching career has likely given you ample experience in dealing with children from all walks of life, but parents know their kids best. If a parent approaches you with advice or suggestions, listen with an open mind and let them know that you hear them and care about their concerns. Parents will be grateful that they have a teacher on their team that wants to work together to ensure the student's success.

Number 15: Have an open-house event.

Invite your students' parents into your classroom to share ideas. An open-house event is the perfect setting in which to do this. This will give you a chance to explain what you do in the classroom and what a typical day looks like. It will also allow parents to ask questions and learn anything they want to know about their child's education. Don't be afraid to let it get personal — revealing a little about your own life helps parents see you as a person and not just an employee of the school. Authenticity is the best way to go.

Now that we know how to approach parents of your students and maintain a healthy relationship with them, let's talk about the benefits or impacts of this practice for a brief moment before we get towards the end of today's episode.

According to research, parental involvement can free teachers to focus more on the task of teaching children. Also, by having more contact with parents, teachers learn more about students' needs and home environment, which is information they can apply toward better meeting those needs. Parents who are involved tend to have a more positive view of teachers, which results in improved teacher morale.

These positive connections will impact a student's classroom experience by helping students trust their teacher. In a trusted classroom environment, students feel welcomed and work more intentionally to meet classroom goals. When parents have a voice in their child's learning experience, they are more supportive of classroom goals and lend their expertise in ways that are above and beyond standard parental expectations. And when teachers have the support of parents, they are more effective and confident in their teaching practices.

The Pro's and Con's of Assigning Homework

Homework is a word that students dread hearing, and it is only fair after hours of classroom work when a teacher assigns them with extra work it sends a shudder down the spine of students and perhaps their parents.

But let’s be fair for a moment and think about how many of us as teachers really didn’t enjoy homework when we were students.

If your answer is a big yes, it does not necessarily mean that one was a bad student or didn’t enjoy learning.

Our educational system revolves around the revision and extra learning process called homework, yet after all the prolonged discussion on whether children should be assigned extra tasks for home, the question remains, is there a benefit of homework? There’s different points of view on assigning homework.

More importantly, are there any pros or cons to assigning homework, or does it just burden growing young minds.

To answer this question, a single debate is not going to be enough; instead, I will list all the major pros and cons that have surfaced via different research and case studies that genuinely make a point.

Let’s start with the pros of assigning homework.

Number 1: It encourages practice.

Repeating the same problems over and over can be boring and difficult, but it also reinforces the practice of discipline. To get better at a skill, repetition is often necessary. You get better with each repetition. By having homework completed every night, especially with a difficult subject, the concepts become easier to understand.

Repeating the same tasks on a daily basis is far from the definition of fun for the average person. Without repetition, however, it is difficult to improve personal skills or discover new talents.

Homework is an opportunity to lay the framework of discipline that can last for a lifetime. Sometimes, homework isn’t about the actual work that needs to be finished. It is about learning how to manage oneself so that personal goals can be consistently achieved.

That gives the student an advantage later on in life when seeking a vocational career.

Number 2: Homework encourages parents' involvement.

Homework can be something that gets parents involved in their children’s lives if the environment is a healthy one. A parent helping their child with homework makes them take part in their academic success and allows for the parent to keep up with what the child is doing in school. It can also be a chance to connect together.

Even parents who are classroom chaperones don’t get to see everything their child is learning each day. Homework is an opportunity to know what is being taught by their child’s teacher. Not only does this help to engage the learning process for everyone, but it also provides a chance for parents to ask questions about the curriculum or express concerns they may have.

Number 3: It extends the learning process throughout the day.

Most school subjects are limited to 30-60 minutes of instruction per day. Specialty subjects, such as art and music, may be limited to 1-2 hours per week. Assigning homework allows students to have their learning process extended in these areas, allowing them to develop a piece of deeper knowledge, interest, or passion about certain matters. Time shortages can create knowledge gaps. Homework can help to lessen or eliminate those gaps.

Number 4: It requires students to learn time management.

Homework can involve many different tasks. It becomes necessary for students to manage their time wisely to ensure they can get their work finished on time. It encourages students to set priorities for their time to accomplish their goals and not feel like they missed out on something. This process encourages problem-solving, creative thinking, and personal responsibility. These benefits don’t just stop with the student either. Families must learn time management to accommodate the homework needs as well.

Number 5: It creates communication networks.

For homework to be effective, there must be two communication networks present. Parents and children must form a network. Parents and teachers must also form a network. By sending homework on a regular basis, these networks stay activated so that the student can receive an individualized learning opportunity. Parents understand the teachers better. Teachers understand the students better. Students, though they may hate the homework, can understand their lessons better. It becomes a winning situation for everyone involved.

Number 6: It can take kids away from computers, TVs, and mobile devices.

Today’s students spend almost as much time at school as they do watching TV or using an electronic device. Students spend up to 4 hours per school night on electronic devices and up to 8 hours per weekend day. By encouraging homework, the amount of time being spend in front of screens can be reduced. In return, there is a lower risk of eye strain, myopia, headaches, and other issues that are associated with high levels of screen use.

Number 7: It can foster deeper parent/child relationships.

Parents are very busy today. About 60% of all two-parent families have both parents employed. In single-parent families, the amount of contact time a parent might have with their child could be as little as 2-3 hours per day. Homework is an opportunity for parents to provide their wisdom and expertise to their children in a way that benefits everyone. Not only is the information passed along, but every homework opportunity is also a chance for parents and children to foster deeper relationships with one another.

Number 8: It encourages discipline.

Homework is an opportunity to lay the framework of discipline that can last for a lifetime. Again, like I said earlier, homework isn’t about the actual work that needs to be finished. It is about learning how to manage oneself so that personal goals can be consistently achieved.

Number 9: It sets the stage for a vocational career.

Many vocations require their workers to be available at different hours during the day. Some require employees to be ready, in an on-call status. An important work project might need to be completed at home. When teachers and schools assign homework to students, it is an opportunity to learn what the world is really like. There are some days when extended work is required. In return, once that work is completed, you get to do all the fun things you want to do.

Number 10: It is an opportunity to find pride in one’s work.

Doing a good job on something feels good. It gives you confidence and boosts your self-esteem. Homework can provide these benefits, especially when the work meets or exceeds expectations. Finding pride in one’s work can help students determine who they want to be when they grow up.

Now all of this sounds extremely convincing, and if you leave with this information, you will consider homework the best therapy for improving your student’s command of their curriculum. But there is more to the story; while homework can be a life-improving activity, it has its own potential threats that are becoming common as the curriculum becomes tougher and tougher with respect to the grade in which the child is assigned.

Not all minds think alike; similarly, the perception and acceptance of homework vary among students by a broad spectrum.

Some are okay with it, and they will finish the task despite their interest; some will consider it a chore and will try to get through it as soon as possible, while some will enjoy the extra burden of homework and enjoy the extra learning.

They all perceive different benefits, advantages, and disadvantages of having homework. And being a teacher the hardest part is to explain to a student why the assigned homework will benefit them when it’s time for end of year assessments.

In light of this argument, I would like to share the cons or disadvantages of assigning homework.

Again teachers might not approve of the facts, but the key to success is to find the equilibrium point the sweet spot to reap maximum benefits from assigning homework to students.

Number 1: It eliminates playtime from a child’s routine.

Many children already put in the same number of hours for their schooling and activities as their parents do with their full-time jobs. Sports, clubs, Girl or Boy Scouts, church activities, and more are all part of the modern routine. There needs to be time for playing in there as well, and homework can take that time away. When children aren’t given time to play, they have lower levels of personal safety awareness, have lower average grades, and have a higher risk of health concerns.

Number 2: It is often graded on benchmarks instead of personal achievement.

The goal of homework is to increase personal knowledge in a specific area. The reasons for this need are often mixed. It is often assigned to improve a specific test score instead of improving a specific personal skill or habit. Since homework is often completed at a time when children feel tired after school, the amount of information they retain is limited. If stress, anxiety, or even hunger are added into the mix, the results of homework can be negligible or even negative.

Number 3: It can be used to offset teaching shortfalls.

The general rule of homework is that 10 minutes per day should be assigned at maximum, based on the student's grade level.

A 1st grader should receive 10 minutes per day at maximum, a 2nd grader should receive 20 minutes, and so forth. Yet, in the U.S., the average 1st grader comes home with 20 minutes of homework – double the recommended amount. That means it is being used more for educational shortfalls than for student development in many cases.

Number 4: It reduces the amount of outdoor time.

As homework responsibilities have risen, the amount of time children spent outside playing has decreased. In the past generation, the amount of outdoor playtime has been almost cut in half. At the same time, homework assignments have risen by an almost equal level. The average amount of homework assign to a high school senior in the U.S. is 3 hours per day at high-performing schools. That means some students work longer hours in their education than their parents do for their full-time job.

Number 5: It encourages shortcuts.

Students assigned high levels of homework begin to look for ways to reduce their time commitments. That means trying to find shortcuts to the process. It could mean a student decides to put in a 50% effort to have more energy to do something else later in the day. Many families with multiple children do their homework together just to save time. That reduces the effectiveness of what the homework is supposed to accomplish.

Number 6: It may be beyond the parent’s scope of knowledge.

Changing lesson plans mean homework assignments follow different rules than parents may know compared to their time in school. Common Core mathematics is one of the best examples of this. If parents cannot help with the core concepts of a homework assignment and do not have access to helpful information, then the purpose of the homework is lost. The results can be detrimental to the learning process. It can even rob students and parents of their confidence.

Number 7: It isn’t something that can be enforced.

Refusing to do homework is not against the law. Some students may decide that the consequences they receive at school for not doing their homework are worth the time-savings they receive in not doing it. Motivation can be a tricky thing. Unless there is value in the homework being sent home on some level, there will always be a handful of students in every school who decide that the effort of doing the work isn’t valuable enough to them.

Number 8: It decreases the development of creative processes.

Homework is usually structured around the completion of a specific assignment. Even in art, music, or writing, the homework must be completed in a specific way to receive a good grade. That means homework is teaching concepts of compliance more than it is teaching concepts of skill development.

Number 9: It reduces the amount of down time a student receives.

It is true that the average student may spend up to 4 hours every school night in front of an electronic screen. That might mean a movie, a TV show, or video games. More homework is being administered through electronic devices as well. This leaves less time for students to pursue extra-curricular activities, develop a new hobby, or spend time with their families. Excessive homework can even lead to learning burnout when it occurs for long enough.

Number 10: It may not offer any skill improvement.

Except for outlier surveys, homework does the best job of creating a negative attitude toward learning something new. Kids don’t want to go to school because they don’t want to receive tons of homework that need to be done. Parents are even required to initial or sign an acknowledgement that the homework has been completed. If that signature doesn’t happen, who receives a consequence at school? The student. Homework can help students fall behind their peers in specific areas, especially if private tutoring is involved, but the other benefits of homework may be overstated.

Number 11: It adds more time to a child’s daily responsibilities.

The average school begins their day at 8am. The school day ends at 2:30 or 3:20pm. Many students can easily reach 8 hours of school responsibilities every day. Homework for the weekend may include up to another 6 hours of school responsibilities for a high-performing school. Children as young as 5 are going to formal school settings for 6-8 hours every day. Although this does accommodate the working hours of parents, it creates a huge strain on the kids. Some just feel like they don’t have time to be a kid any more.

Number 12: It could encourage a low-movement lifestyle.

Children often sit for long periods of time when in the school environment. They often sit for long periods while completing their homework. Recent research suggests that prolonged sitting could be just as dangerous to a person’s health as smoking. With obesity levels at record highs around the world, but especially in the United States, the best homework to send home might just be to go outside to play for some time.

Number 13: It puts some children at a disadvantage.

Not every parent is invested into their child’s education. Not every parent helps a child with the homework they have. Some parents may not even come home at night. Children that come from homes where their parents are not invested in them tend to be at a disadvantage when it comes to homework. Without any home support, a child can feel like their teacher and their parents are both “out to get them.” This feeling can inspire a number of negative choices, including criminal activity.

Teachers, I want to point this out…homework needs to be relevant

Homework should not be graded

Homework should not be given just to give it

Homework should not be new learning

Instead of a worksheet, let’s say you want to reinforce a geometry math lesson, have the student make a list of “geometric shapes” in their home; or if you’re studying rocks, have student collect rocks to bring to class – you get the point. I hope that this post has given you some valuable insights as to the pro's and con's of assigning homework. 

10 Things Every Teacher Should Know Before Their First Year of Teaching

Article by: Raymond Gonzalez

When I joined the teaching force almost a decade ago, many veteran teachers warned me that classroom management was the key to success. In the first week of school, I knew exactly what they were talking about and that first weekend I made managing my classroom my main focus. I had come to the realization that I needed to provide a structured, consistent and firm space if I wanted my students to learn math that year and do well on the end-of-year assessment.

I went into the rest of the year on the defense, ready for the slick comments, the attitude and the apathy to do work in my class. After collaborating with various teachers, I learned how to combat this.

I learned how to engage my students in their education and to encourage them to respect me and the space we were in. Using what I have learned these past few years, I have compiled a list of tips that educators can use as a resource if they are struggling with classroom management or want to be proactive before they begin their first year of teaching.

1.  Love Your Students

ONCE THEY FEEL THE LOVE, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO WORK HARD FOR YOU AND FOR THEMSELVES.For starters, if you have chosen to be in education and teach the youth of tomorrow, your students need to know that you care and have love for them. You are an adult figure in their life, and they need to know that every piece of information that you are going to give them is because you care about their future. One of my favorite quotes explains this sentiment, “students don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Students are often coming from troubling home lives and need a positive adult figure in their life, one that guides them and teaches them but most importantly one that cares about them. Once they feel the love, they are more likely to work hard for you and for themselves.

2.  Establish Clear Expectations

It’s essential to establish crystal clear expectations. Students need to know exactly what they must do to be successful in your course. If the students do not have clear expectations they will spend time confused and using energy to guess what they need to do to do well. Eventually that confusion will lead to disengagement and students will begin to lower their expectations in your class. Avoid that at all costs and instead make it clear to them what they need to do to excel.

3.  Provide Clear Consequences

When students make a mistake, they should have clear consequences for their choices. Although, we never expect our students to be perfect, we should have meaningful, thoughtful consequences that help students get to the root of their mistake. For example, do not assign an hour of detention for a student that did not come into class silently. Make it something productive that helps them learn not to make this mistake again. For example, having them practice coming back into the classroom quietly in that immediate instance would help them see that there is a consistent, meaningful consequence. Students need to understand that they will be accountable to their choices, good or bad.

4.  Consistency is Key!

If a student makes a mistake, it is very important to follow through with the consequence. There are many reasons teachers chose not to follow through including, not wanting to engage in a verbal altercation with the student, wanting to give the student another chance, but the key is to be consistent. Students need to understand that their choices and actions have consequences. If teachers are not consistent, students will not take the consequence seriously and will be more likely to lash out when redirected or held accountable.

5.  Practice. Practice. Practice!

In order to have students attain habits that will benefit their success, they need to practice. Similarly, in order for successful basketball stars to make the majority of their free throws, they must practice, over and over again. Many professional athletes practice basic skills many times throughout training. That should be no different for our students. They need to practice passing up their tests without talking and turning and talking with a partner and keeping it productive just as athletes practice basic skills. The more practice students have with procedures, the more likely students are to avoid making bad choices.

6.  Assume the Best

EVEN IF IN THE MOMENT ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS GIVE UP, DON’T.We must remember that students are on our team and our team’s mission is that they be successful. Even if students are not on the same page (for a minute, a day, or a few weeks) and are working against their own success, we must remind them that we believe in their best self. When students make a mistake, remind them that you believe in them, want them to be successful, and assume the best in them. They are probably fighting a battle you know nothing about and it’s good advice not to take it personal when they act out, talk back, or are refusing to work. We need to assume that no student wants to fail. Even if in the moment all you want to do is give up, don’t. You might be the only champion they have left.

7.  Incorporate Fun

I know there are a lot of standards to get through in one scholastic year, and often we find ourselves overwhelmed with how many things we have to teach, what to differentiate, and how to catch students up who are grade levels behind. But at some point, we have to incorporate fun into our curriculum to keep our students engaged and excited to learn. This doesn’t mean you need to be a one person circus but this includes many things, like having students play a game, conducting an ice breaker, or even having incentives for good work. For example, allowing students to listen to music as they work independently could be a huge way to motivate and encourage great behavior.

8.  Praise!

When students are doing great things, praise them! When students hear praise for great things, they are more likely to continue being amazing for you. On that note, it also encourages students around them to do well and follow suit. Another reason this helps is because it shows that you are paying attention to the class and have eyes on them as they work.

9.  Check Your Privilege!

When you walk into the classroom, you need to be conscious about your identities. You need to understand how being a male will be a huge privilege, how being White will be a barrier in a community of predominantly students of color, and how walking in with a college degree will automatically make you more privileged than your students. Even if you grew up the community, have the same ethnic background, and are from a working-class background, you were afforded resources to go to college, resources that our students cannot fathom, so we must understand all our privileges before successfully serving our students.

10.  Plan Ahead

There should be no minutes in your day unplanned. Those minutes will surely become a time for students to make mistakes. Whether you have a 55-minute class period or a 90-minute period, there should be no gaps. Plan for students to be productive the entire time that they are with you. Whether it’s notes, group work, or a quiz, students should be kept busy the entire time.