Scrolling through your grade book, who is not passing your class right now? At the beginning of the semester, only four weeks into the school year, this is a time where a missing signed syllabus could be causing a student to "fail" a class. Or maybe it's something more, like a Chemistry lab write up. No matter the significance of the assignment that is missing or incomplete, the bigger idea is that the student (and his parent/s) sees a big, giant, larger-than-life F. Is this the worse thing in the world? Probably not. Some would argue the student needs to be held accountable for their actions, good and bad alike: "If Timmy listened and followed directions, he would've known the assignment was due last Thursday. Susie and the rest of the class managed to get it in and on time." Where the slope gets slippery is with many of our students, either due to modifications and/or accommodations via a 504 or an IEP, or, their skill set as an English learner. Did Timmy understand what the directions were? Does Timmy have a computer at home to complete the work? How did you specifically ensure Timmy not only knew the expectations of the assignment, but also how the work was to be submitted?
There have been many times I've spoken with a teacher - an AMAZING teacher who loves students and wants nothing more than for them to be successful - who have commented back they had no idea Timmy had limited proficiency in English listening skills. They had no idea this would lead Timmy down a spiral that would look something like this:
You see where this is going. Is this the case every time? No, absolutely not. Is this something that's happened more than once? Yes, absolutely. Early communication with your students, especially English Learners, can prevent this type of downward spiral from happening. The feedback I consistently hear is "s/he is a great kid, but they're just not getting work in." And this is at the end of the semester, often after the point of no return. Let's make a promise to be better for our students' sake. Let's be proactive in working and collaborating with all of our students to make sure they have equal access to our classes and our resources.
Please watch THIS video, it is so, so powerful.
There have been many times I've spoken with a teacher - an AMAZING teacher who loves students and wants nothing more than for them to be successful - who have commented back they had no idea Timmy had limited proficiency in English listening skills. They had no idea this would lead Timmy down a spiral that would look something like this:
- Timmy doesn't know where to find the research material online, because it was done quickly as a class and he is still getting logged into his HTH account.
- Timmy doesn't want to be the only one to raise his hand when his teacher asks "are there any questions" and everyone else is already working.
- Timmy doesn't know when you're working on your computer this would be a great time to approach you with clarifying questions.
- Timmy doesn't understand how to submit something on Edmodo.
- Timmy doesn't have Internet at home and his parents, who don't speak English, work at night, so he won't be able to get help to complete this assignment.
- Timmy gets a zero.
- Timmy gets frustrated because he doesn't know how to ask for help without being embarrassed, ashamed, proud, etc.
- Timmy communicates less and less with teachers, but is an overall "nice kid to have in class, not a trouble maker, he just doesn't turn work in."
- Timmy fails one semester of Chemistry and will go to summer school.
You see where this is going. Is this the case every time? No, absolutely not. Is this something that's happened more than once? Yes, absolutely. Early communication with your students, especially English Learners, can prevent this type of downward spiral from happening. The feedback I consistently hear is "s/he is a great kid, but they're just not getting work in." And this is at the end of the semester, often after the point of no return. Let's make a promise to be better for our students' sake. Let's be proactive in working and collaborating with all of our students to make sure they have equal access to our classes and our resources.
Please watch THIS video, it is so, so powerful.