🏃Are students always running late into class after the bell?
📱Are they constantly distracted by their cell phones?
📝Are they not turning their work in?
✏️Are they always asking to redo or retake an assignment, quiz or test?
As a teacher, keeping track of tardies, cell phone usage, missing work and students wanting to retake assignments in your classroom can be daunting.
Being a high school teacher, we think our students are capable of having more responsibility in class, which is true. We need to get them ready for college or their career path.
However, I feel that these two policies that I have implemented in my classroom are very important to keep tabs on two issues my students sometimes struggle with.
Students will quickly take advantage of these classroom policies in your class if you don’t have specific procedures and expectations… So the best way to prepare for these issues is to have a consistent and concise plan.
Below are my policies that I use in my classroom.
*This was at the High School Level, you may need to adapt according to your level and or school policies.
Cell Phone Policy & Log:
This is a resource to use in your classroom that helps track cell phones. Not only is it important to teach our students the importance of being present in the moment and to use their time wisely during class, but I feel that students work best in a distraction free environment. Most of our students already use a device such as a Surface, MacBook, etc., they don’t need their phones too. I tell them all the time that I LOVE my cell phone too, but there’s a time and place for when we use it.
*Please make sure this aligns with your school’s policy on cell phone use before implementing.
Tardy Policy & Log:
This is a resource to use in your classroom that helps track tardies. It is important to teach our students the importance of being on time, or dare I say early! 😜 This is especially important for students when they have jobs in the workforce. One way to make sure my students were always on time, I always stood at my door to greet them! That way I knew who was late and who was not. It was always so much fun to see that one student RUNNING down the hallway with just seconds to the bell yelling “MADAME! PLEASE DON’T MARK ME TARDY!” 😂
*Please make sure this aligns with your school’s policy on tardies before implementing.
Missing Work Slip:
This is a classroom management resource that is used to track missing student work. This is a great way to put accountability on the student for owning their work and their choices.
*Please make sure this aligns with your school’s policies before implementing.
Request To Retest:
This is a classroom management resource that is used to track student retakes. This is a great way to put accountability on the student for owning their grades and their choices.
*Please make sure this aligns with your school’s policies before implementing.
There is no right or wrong time to implement a new policy or procedure in your classroom. Not all classes need the same accountability. You can either stay ahead of the issues or address them on an as needed basis. You, as their teacher, know what will and will not work best for your students.
As always, I hope that you have found this information useful and helpful to you!
Merci,
Amanda