Spelling Game and Angry Parent Procedure

Works4Me presents weekly practical classroom tips from real experts -- your colleagues!

1. Spell It Right

From Jennifer Lee Queen-Hurt, an ECSE teacher at Southside Elementary School in Dinwiddie, AE:

"I play the game Spell It Right with my second and third graders. I place my students' names on tongue depressors. I pull two names to be the next contestants to, 'Come on down!' I give them a spelling word of the week for the imaginary grand prize. The first contestant to spell the word correctly wins the prize. A few weeks later, I pull names to form teams of students. The teams compete for real prizes from a treasure chest. The team with the most points has first choice of a treasure chest item. Since playing this game, spelling grades are rarely below 105% with bonus words. This activity also helps us with science vocabulary words."
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2. I Love Angry Parents

From Janice Troyer, a counselor at Howard Wilson Elementary School in Leavenworth, Kansas:

I love working with angry parents! This is my philosophy and procedure.

1. The parent always has a valid complaint, according to how he/she understands something.
2. Remain calm. Don't be defensive. Just listen.
3. Ask the parent to tell you what he/she is angry about. Then say something like 'I can understand why you would be angry about that. I am happy that you are your child's advocate.'
4. Then say, 'Let's see what has already been done about this issue and what we can do to solve it.'
5. Hopefully, what has already been done has been documented. I may have to tell the parent that I will need some time to work this problem out, but I will let her/him know as soon as I know something. I sometimes ask clarifying questions.
6. I document every time I talk with a parent or child and keep enough details to answer upcoming questions.
7. I follow through, investigate, and call the parent back."

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3. Question of the Week: No Swearing

From the NEA Today writers:

"Students sometimes forget the difference between street and school language. What is your school policy on swearing? What do you do about profanity use in your classroom? How do you keep school language clean?"
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4. Accountability for Missed Work

Heard Last Week in the Works4Me Lounge:

"There are school days in which the elementary classroom is like a revolving door. A few students at a time go in and out for special lessons, such as instrumental music, gifted and talented, ESL or speech. How do teachers keep track of the work that students miss when they leave the class for these specials? When and how is the missing instruction provided for the students? What is the system for the students being accountable for the missed work?"
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