Would you help me with a grad school project, please?
My group will be presenting a lesson on Parenting in the Digital Age. The concept is to increase two-way communication with parents via technology. We are working on a website that parents can access which shares everything from grades to behavior to upcoming tests to teaching objectives.
Here is where I could use your input.
And, in general, what do 23 year old teachers who do not have teens need to know about their MS and HS students' parents?
TIA!!!!!
Re: What Do You Need From Teachers?
We do not have one of those in our district and wish we did. We still use a communication log in my sons folder 1st grade, and sometimes a few days go by without the teacher responding. There are always times he comes home with a graded test that I didn't even know he had:( So yes, I wish we had this feature.
As far as the parents of middle school students, mine are not that age yet, but I did teach 6-8th grade for 7 years, as I am sure you are aware, there seems to be a big lag in communication between this age group and their parents. It is the how was school....fine,....end of conversation age.
Also, for the middle school students who are struggling with peer pressure, sex, drugs, etc. stronger communication between the teacher and the parent may be a very good thing. After having parent teacher conferences with hundreds of parents of middle schoolers, I was always surprised at the difference between how the student/child was at home, innocent, listening, etc. and the persona/group they would hang with at school. The girl smoking in the bathroom was an angel at home and her parents would have no idea she was hanging with the pre-drug using crew, passing notes about getting to 3rd base, and planning on sneaking out on friday night. As parents we want to think our children are on the straight and narrow, and as a teacher, with ears in the hallways we can usually tell which students are at-risk for many different things.
I taught in an at-risk area, but have a feeling these things are going on in most middle schools in america.
I don't know if any of that helps, but thought I would give my input.
ETA: Just re-read your original post/question and don't think I answered correctly at the end. Sorry. I missed that you were all already teachers:) Thought you were in college, not grad school. Thats what I get for skimming. Sorry.
Thanks so much. This is very helpful!!!
Thanks for taking the time to respond. No worries on the skimming. There is no magic moment when a teacher suddenly knows everything. Good advice is good advice!!
Newlyweds since 2007