Clearing Up Misconceptions Of The Letter-Home Consequence Smart Classroom Management

Smart Classroom Management: Clearing Up Misconceptions Of The Letter-Home Consequence


Smart Classroom Management: Clearing Up Misconceptions Of The Letter-Home Consequence

Here at SCM, we get many questions about the letter-home consequence.

For the uninitiated, a letter home to parents can be part of the third consequence of the elementary classroom management plan that we recommend.

The key word is ‘can.’ You see, it’s an optional part of the plan.

The reason we include is because it’s especially effective. Done right, a thrice-misbehaving student must present and then articulate to their parents their rule-breaking behavior.

It’s a deep level of accountability that has proven to be a game-changer. Yes, even with “parents who don’t care.” However, it’s not for every teacher.

There are conditions that must be met. Otherwise, it can be a disaster. You could get angry complaints from parents, letters torn up and thrown away, and a visit from your administrator.

In order to avoid such a fate, it’s important to clear up some misconceptions. What follows are a few critical points/conditions of the letter-home consequence that should be met before using the strategy.

You must be well-versed in SCM and reliably consistent.

You must be an established veteran of at least two years at your school.

You must have an excellent reputation among parents and school community.

Your students must trust you and enjoy being in your class.

Your students must know exactly what does and doesn’t break your rules.

You must explain the letter and provide a sample at back-to-school night.

You must teach and model what students must do if they receive a letter.

You must initially send a heads-up email (or phone call) along with the letter.

These points/conditions have been covered here at SCM in the past. However, they’re in several different areas of the website, which I believe has lead to some of the confusion.

There are also teachers who hear of the idea and run with it without learning the details.

Nonetheless, one way to know if you’re on the right track is if you’re only sending a few letters per month. When I used the strategy for 12 years as an elementary teacher, I’d send a half dozen or so a year.

Another bad sign is if you don’t get a letter back. In every case, this because of one of the conditions above hasn’t been adequately met.

In lieu of a letter home, and until you feel confident you’ve locked down each of the conditions, it’s perfectly okay to send an email or call parents directly instead.

The chief reason we recommend parent contact at all is because we believe strongly that if a child has chosen to misbehave three or more times in a single day after having a clear understanding of the rules, then parents have a right to know.

The most effective, honest, and responsible way to do this is to through a non-judgemental form letter the misbehaving but now contrite student must give their parents—who know exactly what the letter is and what it means.

In this way, the letter-home consequence is extremely effective and will raise maturity, behavior, and responsibility class-wide.

If you haven’t done so already, please join us. It’s free! Click here and begin receiving classroom management articles like this one in your email box every week.



Source link