EDUC 6458: Student Concerns #3 by Jon McFarland https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2 As your Entry Ticket to class today, provide at least ONE challenge that you experienced at your school site this week. What was the issue? How did you deal with it? Why did you choose to deal with the issue this way? Is this an ongoing issue? What help or support did you get in dealing with the issue? en-us 2019-09-10 17:34:05 UTC 2026-01-30 18:37:09 UTC hello@padlet.com Tricia Campos 3rd period https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2322963035 This class has the hardest combination of behavioral issues. None of them are "bad" students but they talk a lot and get carried away. It has been an ongoing issue to get them onboard with class procedures when my other classes are running smoothly. Last week two of the most disruptive students got in trouble 3 times for being off-task and escalating into physical altercations. I've spoken to them one-on-one, I've switched seats twice, and this week after a shoving match I sent them both to see the VP. My mentor teacher (also department chair) has similar issues with her 3rd period. She took our shared concerns to Admin and our Math Coach for suggestions. We came up with a student feedback form to get input from the students. I'm in the process of reviewing it and looking for new approaches.]]> 2022-10-02 23:28:42 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2322963035 Denise Romo https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2326869176 An ongoing issue I encounter is teaching my class right after lunch. During this class the upper grades 4-5-6 are outside for lunch recess therefore my students are easily distracted due to all the noise and all the students playing. Due to this issue I have students face the fence to minimize distractions and I bought a mic that helps students hear me over all the noise.]]> 2022-10-05 03:28:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2326869176 One issue that I am having in my classes are students misbehaving. I have one student who is on an IEP and everyday there is some type of behavioral issue. I have communicated this with his case manager, the principle and I have asked for push-in services. This student's behaviors interrupt my class instruction and I have to stop every 2 minutes to take action with his behaviors. This is an ongoing issue and I currently am getting help with how to minimize his actions. -Toni Adams https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2329839641 2022-10-06 17:51:33 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2329839641 Cell Phones https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2330296357 I wanted to be flexible with cell phones since I mostly teach juniors. I have let them all use them intermittently, as long as they used them responsibly. With quarter grades due soon, some students are failing my class. I provided a work day as a catch up, specifically since I had some students on a field trip, so I paused our group project to be fair to everyone involved. Instead of using the class period wisely, some students decided to use cell phones instead. I sent one student out who would not put it away. The next day, I made it clear that cell phones were not to be a factor as to why students are not finishing work. Most students comply with phone use and do so responsibly. I reached out to a few teachers during our PLC meeting, and cell phone rules vary. I am going to have to be more strict with phones and not allow them anymore, since the few can't use them responsibly. -Jay G.]]> 2022-10-07 01:44:13 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2330296357 Alyssa Stewart https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2330467649 One issue I had this week was students talking during a test. I explained that once the tests were out there would be no talking. So I pass them out, I go over the instructions, and in my 6th period, I have two students who decide to talk and turn to their neighbor in the middle of the test. Some students were raising their hands asking clarifying questions and I would come answer. There is no excuse for the other peeps talking because I was clearly going around and answering questions. Per my rules I gave them an orange slip, I filled out the class suspension bubble and I wrote "talking to peers during test, constitutes cheating" These students got a 0 on the test. I was talking with my plc partner and I was asking whether or not I should let them come make it up on their own time. He said no, but I think I might be open to letting them.. I don't know, I am a little conflicted. I did send them up and take their test because I needed to show that I meant business. At the start of the year this particular period talked throughout the entire 1st test and I could not get them to stop. So this is why I am super conflicted on whether or not these students deserve a second chance. ]]> 2022-10-07 04:48:19 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2330467649 Students Leaving A Mess After Class tcantu8 https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2330494647 One challenge that I have experienced this week is my students constantly leaving a mess in the classroom after they leave the room. At the end of class I am usually busy collecting borrowed Chromebook chargers,  answering questions, and reminding students of what we will be covering the next day. By the time the students all leave the classroom there are pencils, wrappers, tissues, and water bottles littering the floor. Also, desk are pushed out of order and to the sides. This is extremely unacceptable and really annoyed me at the time because I had to spend the three minutes before the next class cleaning up after these students. At the beginning of the year, I did discuss classroom rules and protocols and being clean and mindful of everyone else was definitely covered. However, because of this I will be going over these same rules and protocols with students again. I will also remind the class before they leave while they are all sitting waiting for the bell to ring that if there is any garbage near them they must pick it up and they may not leave the classroom until it is done. This is all about the importance of respect and cleanliness. Also, taking care of the classroom also effects the overall classroom environment and how we all perceive it and react within the space. Toni Cantu ]]> 2022-10-07 05:20:06 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2330494647 Eduardo Avila-Chavez eavilachavez https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331411771 One issue I experienced this week was having students complete an essay before their quarter ended. This was an assignment we spent a week and a half on, and I had about 80% of my students turn one in, and the others did not make it past the outline stage. I had assisted them with examples of completed essays, sharing an outline they could edit, and I worked one-on-one with students. I cannot reach every single student every single day, and through the various reminders about their essay being due, some still did not turn them in. Their grades suffered, but I did not see several students feel like putting any effort. Since it was the end of the quarter grades yesterday, I had some students show concern about their grades, and that is when I coached them on accountability for their assignments. I want to learn more about assigning specific time on projects and how to keep students productive. It was disappointing to see some students wasted class time.]]> 2022-10-07 18:43:19 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331411771 Gabrielle Bennett gbennett46 https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331412497 I had a disagreement with a paraprofessional about how I was doing my job. She was unhappy that I had the students carry their workbook in their backpack for a week to teach them that their actions have consequences. This is after I had been warning them for months that if they kept throwing their books, shoving them on the shelves wherever, leaving them on counters, leaving them on the floor, destroying others books, and things of that nature, I would make them carry them. They are able to leave their books in my class as a privilege. I took her advice and I am giving them another chance. They only had to carry their books for a day. I had them write their names instead of using a numbers system. I dealt with the issue this way because I respect her seniority and her feelings / ideas. I also communicated my boundaries and let her know that I didn't think what I did was wrong. I hope the issue is resolved now. I did not ask for any support. ]]> 2022-10-07 18:44:03 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331412497 https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331421979 We had this week off in my school district, but one challenge that I had experience the previous week was a student that keeps coming unprepared to class. The students sits in his desk and don't take his chromebook out to work on the class work. I asked him to take his chromebook out and start working on the assignment and he told me that he forgot his chromebook at home. I allow him to complete the work on paper and summit it to me and told him that he needed to make sure to bring his chromebook from now on. The next day he was using his phone and his chromebook was nowhere to be seen. I asked again and he told me it was dead. I told him that he could move seat to charge his chormebook and complete his work. He told me he had no charger. A student let him borrow his charger. I had a talk with him outside the classroom to find out was was happening. He told me that he would bring his chromebook charged everyday and do his work.  Two days later he did it again. That's when I decided to call home and let his uncle know of the situation. Let's she what happens on Monday. ]]> 2022-10-07 18:53:31 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331421979 Ally Landeros https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331565622 One issue I am having is that my students are destroying my supplies I have purchased with my own money. I have purchased whiteboards, markers, erasers, pencils, glue sticks, colored pencils and scissors because we use these often. My classroom is always a mess at the end of the day with trash on the floor, my drains clogged, pencils snapped in half, whiteboard markers uncapped or the tips pushed in etc. I attempted to do a lab with toy cars and ramps for a physics lab, and by the end of the day I did not have enough toy cars left because students were stealing them. I also watched students break the ramps in half on purpose. It is frustrating and I just feel like my students are not responsible enough to be able to utilize supplies that are not their own. I reached out to my mentor and science coach, and both were very frustrated with me. They told me that is not cool, and if I have to pull labs with those classes that cannot behave appropriately then I have to do that.]]> 2022-10-07 22:09:16 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331565622 Oscar Tadeo https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331580654 One challenge I have had this past week is my 4th period class on their cell phones. I have had to warn two students about cell phone policies. I have given them multiple warnings and finally I had to confiscate both of their cell phones. This constitutes a referral. Instead of writing a referral I kept them both after class and talked to them about the cell phone policy and told them I would be contacting their parents instead of giving them a referral. I contacted their parents and both set of parents were very supportive and had a talk with their students. After this incident both students have been making better choices and are more mindful of their cell phone usage. ]]> 2022-10-07 22:48:13 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331580654 Josh C. jcostello39 https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331591872 I have a number of students who are submitting late work and then emailing me to let me know that the work is completed. I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the amount of emails that I receive every day, so I reached out to some fellow teachers (with whom I regularly have lunch), and I received some tips. Firstly, I have decided to enforce a firm one-week deadline for late work. Secondly, I now have students complete a Late Work form for every assignment that they submit late. I have a special place in the room for these forms, and my instructional aide helps to ensure that I have enough copies. This isn't an ideal system, but it has started to diminish the amount of late work emails that I receive.]]> 2022-10-07 23:20:24 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331591872 aanguianoreyna1 https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331621061 One issue that I have been experiencing in one of my classes is students misbehaving. I have one student that is not behaving, he does not stay in his set for long periods of time. He cannot stay quiet and he just goes around the classroom. He has not an IEP or 504 plan. He can't not stay quiet. Then, two weeks ago one student transferred to my class. He also does not stay quiet and cannot concentrate in class. He has an IEP. So the students know each other and now they both do not stay quiet and just go around and do not do work at all. I tried to keep them concentrated and quiet in class but I have noticed that it is hard for them to stay in their set and quiet.  I think having these two students in the same class is not beneficial for them and for my other students because they interrupt my class instruction often.I contacted their parents but it seems that it does not work at all. I talked with my mentor teacher about this issue. Also I am going to communicate with the case manager to see if I can get help. 
-Araceli
 
]]> 2022-10-08 00:40:54 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331621061 Annie Dietrich https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331660671 One issue I had involved a student who was constantly off task and disrupting other students work, either walking around when I would have my back turned to talk to friends or having his head down and disengaging with any activity. I contacted his mother to inform her of his behavior and asked for her support in getting him back on track with his education. This interaction plus adjusting the seating chart to make it more difficult for him to reach peers he was distracted improved the situation. However, this student was overwhelmingly behind with his assignments, so I contacted his resource specialist and arranged to have him spend some time in their room for additional assistance in catching up with a modified cumulative assignment for him. ]]> 2022-10-08 02:31:35 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331660671 Gaby Juarez https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331672849 This week we had fall break, but something I've been dealing with is that my 4th period is way to over stimulated since it's after lunch. I've noticed this period struggles with being to over stimulated especially during labs and they end up not finishing their work. I have assigned groups, but even that doesn't help since the entire class knows each other. I'm hoping that by changing my assignment due dates, I'll have students on task more. ]]> 2022-10-08 03:05:02 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331672849 Brainer Eisaei https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331776565 One challenge that I experienced in my 4th period this week involved a student who was making random silly comments out loud throughout the instruction time which was disrupting the class environment because his friends were laughing to his silly comments. I walked to the student multiple times during the class time to give him warning, but it did not seem to fix the issue. After the class was over, I called the student over and had a one-on-one conversation with him explaining that what he is doing in class will not be tolerated any longer and this time I will contact the parents or give him lunch detention for his silly comments which disrupt the classroom environment. The student kept on blaming his other friends in class, but I told him that I can clearly hear him making loud silly comments and disrupting the class. It seemed to help because he no longer continued that behavior the following day. However, he is still off task during class time and his excuse is that he does not know how to do the work. I sat next to him today to help him one-on-one explaining how to solve the problem and he told me that he understands it. To demonstrate his understanding, I told him to solve the other problem and he seemed to start getting the concept. ]]> 2022-10-08 08:46:16 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2331776565 Ana Martinez https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2332038637 This week I had a student return to school after taking days off due to the death of one of her parents. I noticed that she is quite disconnected and had to ask her to stay for a little after class to discuss quarter grades. I did not want to pressure her into opening up about it, but she ended up disclosing further information about the situation. I had already told her that some assignments would be waived, but there was one that I really needed her to complete because it was the sum of all of the other assignments. I excused the assignment temporarily so that her quarter grade wouldn't be affected negatively. This is not an ongoing situation and I think that sometimes we just have to put aside all expectations and understand that extreme situations call for a different approach. 

Personally I went through a similar situation while I was a high school student and without making it about me, I told my student that when that happened to me my biggest mistake was to bottle everything up and not talk to my teachers about allowing me a little extra time. I told her to please take her time and we would work together to get her up to date on everything. 

I did not have to ask for support from any other staff member, but I am aware that we have a great Dean of Students and counselors (therapists) that are ready to act if I ask for them to intervene. ]]> 2022-10-08 17:11:06 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2332038637 Patrick Norris pnorris13 https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2332267302 One challenge I experienced this week was having a student trigger a fire drill by vaping in the bathroom within my classroom. Since I have a theatre space connected to my classroom, we have a single use bathroom designed for performance days when the students backstage need a facility to use. Since it is available, it is the restroom I have my students use rather than to leave my class to cross campus to an available restroom. During a passing period a student entered the bathroom and triggered the fire alarm with a vape pen. Admin did not see this as a reflection of my classroom management as passing period leaves much out of my control, but they did instruct me to lock my bathroom for all student usage for the remainder of the school year. I understood the logic but found this decision incredibly frustrating. It seemed as though my students who are responsible and follow expectations with the facility usages were being punished for the actions of one student. Thankfully, my Dean of Students and I were able to have a very productive conversation about reconsidering the decision and we came to an agreement that the bathroom would only be available to my Advanced level classes as those students are responsible and devoted to the department in a way the beginning level students are not yet. My Dean even thanked me for advocating for my students and thought the experience was challenging at times, I left our talk feeling supported. ]]> 2022-10-09 04:35:56 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2332267302 Javier Sanchez https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2332735795 One issued that I am havings is a few students are not paying attention and they are disturbing the class by talking to other students.  When approaching the students they ask them politely to be quiet.  They do not acknowledge what I am asking them to do.  What I do is to give them a warning, then I have them fill out a form.  This form is an opportunity for the students to express them selves and write why I told them to be quiet.  
What I have done is to use proximity when I am lecturing.  This helps the unwanted conversations stop or noise level to go down.  This is an un going matter.  It has been difficult because these students are always in trouble.  They seem to careless if I call their parents or give then many warnings.
I am running out of ideas to stop this. I need some advice.]]> 2022-10-09 20:12:18 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2332735795 Jake Bankson https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2341039120 I had a sub twice this week. After the first day, I had to send 3 students to Intervention for two days because they forgot how to behave when there was a sub]]> 2022-10-14 23:49:23 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2341039120 Jacqueline De La Torre https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2341040069 We had this week off in my school district, but one challenge that I had experience the previous week was a student that keeps coming unprepared to class. The students sits in his desk and don't take his chromebook out to work on the class work. I asked him to take his chromebook out and start working on the assignment and he told me that he forgot his chromebook at home. I allow him to complete the work on paper and summit it to me and told him that he needed to make sure to bring his chromebook from now on. The next day he was using his phone and his chromebook was nowhere to be seen. I asked again and he told me it was dead. I told him that he could move seat to charge his chormebook and complete his work. He told me he had no charger. A student let him borrow his charger. I had a talk with him outside the classroom to find out was was happening. He told me that he would bring his chromebook charged everyday and do his work.  Two days later he did it again. That's when I decided to call home and let his uncle know of the situation. Let's she what happens on Monday. 

]]> 2022-10-14 23:52:27 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2341040069 Inhae Kang https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2341041851 This is not a challenge but something that I am working on which is creating a meaningful assessments for students, making sense of the data collected, and applying to future lessons. 


]]> 2022-10-14 23:58:11 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2341041851 Ron Thompson https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2341042943 I had two students that were transferred to the continuation school across the street. I was pretty disappointed because both of these students had been working hard and getting better in both their attitudes and their math skills. One of the students even said she was finally getting math and for the first time was getting a grade in math other than a D or lower (she was sitting on a B+ up until this week). I don’t know what to do. I wanted to reach out to the councilors and see if there was a way to mention that the students are doing well and improving in my class, but I’ve been told by some of the other teachers 1) It’s not my problem to worry about, and 2) Once the students are sent to the continuation school the process is already set and there is no reversing it. Ultimately, I really just want to be part of the conversation regarding what happens to the students enrolled in my classes.]]> 2022-10-15 00:01:25 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2341042943 dailene perez lopez https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2341093230 something i struggle with it cell phone use. I do not want to spend so much energy on taking them away and when I do take them away it only solves the problem in the moment because the next day they are back on it. Many students do not seem to care for consequences. The school is working on a school-wide disciplinary system we can do because it is a school-wide issue. (I had to re-type my response because my original response from last week was not showing up.)]]> 2022-10-15 02:10:52 UTC https://padlet.com/jon_mcfarland/j9luqre3ajw2/wish/2341093230