tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post392450199469250275..comments2023-10-03T04:20:03.184-06:00Comments on Math = Love: Improving Parent ContactSarah Carter (@mathequalslove)http://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-32184368276779815912016-07-30T22:52:01.711-05:002016-07-30T22:52:01.711-05:00Sounds brilliant!Sounds brilliant!Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-34947137096041090302016-07-30T22:51:44.804-05:002016-07-30T22:51:44.804-05:00Sounds like a good idea!Sounds like a good idea!Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-69493580098024449732016-07-07T17:44:05.059-05:002016-07-07T17:44:05.059-05:00I was thinking of making a Google form as well! I ...I was thinking of making a Google form as well! I think a qr code at back to school night with a link to the form would be great too! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14378552539813512484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-89773064131699216972016-07-05T16:23:00.679-05:002016-07-05T16:23:00.679-05:00So I'm getting ready for the new school year a...So I'm getting ready for the new school year and looking through your past blogs. I really like your parent contact form, but I don't want to have to sort through the papers to remember who wants what. I'm thinking of putting this into a google form and including the link in the syllabus for parents. The form should input it into an excel spreadsheet where you can easily look up what each student's parents prefer. It would also be a good place to have all contact info stored together. I'm hoping most of my parents will complete the online form, but I guess I'll send one home with students who don't have one completed. (If it is just a few, maybe I can just input their answers myself) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-20545329458174223292015-09-08T13:14:44.199-05:002015-09-08T13:14:44.199-05:00Like it! Like it! Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-15831628991343137772015-09-08T13:13:43.400-05:002015-09-08T13:13:43.400-05:00Wow! My school doesn't have any program like ...Wow! My school doesn't have any program like this! Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-84255160591611265222015-09-08T13:12:50.496-05:002015-09-08T13:12:50.496-05:00I haven't really figured this out yet... I...I haven't really figured this out yet... I'm thinking a spreadsheet of names. And, I'll check once a week to see who I need to call. Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-31757284860241106812015-09-08T13:12:14.329-05:002015-09-08T13:12:14.329-05:00I'm hoping to make these calls spontaneously, ...I'm hoping to make these calls spontaneously, not because parents asked for them. But, I can see some teachers adding this as an option! Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-68062554646943143292015-09-08T13:11:40.618-05:002015-09-08T13:11:40.618-05:00This is a struggle for me, too! This is a struggle for me, too! Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-78696447425904748532015-09-08T13:11:18.771-05:002015-09-08T13:11:18.771-05:00I would prefer e-mail, too! I would prefer e-mail, too! Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-37451108920997208632015-09-08T13:10:39.285-05:002015-09-08T13:10:39.285-05:00I teach high school. Last year, I received multip...I teach high school. Last year, I received multiple phone calls from parents not understanding the grading system. This is why they are signing off on the syllabus. <br /><br />Both remediation methods are ways I've taught this topic in the past. I want to believe that the method using manipulatives is going to prove to be more effective, but I have no clue. This, however, is a topic they should have learned in 6th or 7th grade. My research project requires me to place students randomly in two groups. Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-82182270519138682042015-09-08T13:07:52.557-05:002015-09-08T13:07:52.557-05:00Glad I'm not the only one who hates phone call...Glad I'm not the only one who hates phone calls!Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-82049942035107074642015-09-08T12:20:41.002-05:002015-09-08T12:20:41.002-05:00I prefer e-mails, but the majority of our parents ...I prefer e-mails, but the majority of our parents don't have e-mail accounts. :( Sarah Carter (@mathequalslove)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11839095945000612533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-82818625769156782592015-08-25T21:01:20.522-05:002015-08-25T21:01:20.522-05:00I prefer other forms of communication than phone c...I prefer other forms of communication than phone calls, and with 4 preps and almost 150 students I can't afford the time to make that many phone calls let alone keep track of when parents want me to call. They should call me and I will call them back if they have questions. I'm getting better at returning phone calls, but still. More power to you if you can keep this up. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12437271668332748041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-53271059925807875182015-08-19T14:37:17.595-05:002015-08-19T14:37:17.595-05:00Thanks for sharing! I agree with the above posters...Thanks for sharing! I agree with the above posters that it would be a good idea to add positive events to the list as well. How about, "Student has been particularly proactive about seeking help outside of class?"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17081142343829734704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-8689531440042020052015-08-17T16:05:42.081-05:002015-08-17T16:05:42.081-05:00I love your form! I will definitely share this wit...I love your form! I will definitely share this with a woman I mentor. <br /><br />I've got a good balance (I think) of calls and emails. I prefer email for all the reasons listed but also because it documents the conversation word for word (that being said I re-read emails a few times before I sent them). I contact parents via phone for urgent stuff (cut class, significant change in behavior or performance, etc). <br /><br />We have to document all contact for our yearly evaluations so I have created an excel spreadsheet to do this. A bit of a pain to complete but it definitely opened my eyes to how much contact I made. (we are required to make a minimum of 10 individual contact with 10 different parents each month - so If I talk to "mrs smith" twice in September it only counts once - but if I talk to her in October that counts as a separate one). Ultimately I do on average about 20 or so per month but that is phone or email. And via our grading program (powerschool) I can send email blast out to all the parents in one class about upcoming stuff.mahikerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10168411241547834194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-25943584688268830102015-08-17T15:42:02.838-05:002015-08-17T15:42:02.838-05:00I love that parents can choose when to be contacte...I love that parents can choose when to be contacted! That takes all the guesswork out of deciding when to make that call! Why have I never thought of this?!?<br /><br />One question, though. How do you plan to keep track of each parent's responses? I'm trying to figure out how to easily know which parent wants to be contacted at 85%, which one at 80%, which at one quiz, which at two... I feel like I would have a hard time keeping up!<br /><br />Awesome idea. I plan to steal it in some form!Erinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-45746982489409916182015-08-17T12:45:45.826-05:002015-08-17T12:45:45.826-05:00Great idea!
One question: Why haven't you in...Great idea! <br /><br />One question: Why haven't you included any positive reasons to contact the parents? Like "Contact me if my student has done something that would make me proud?". I'd love to get a phone call like that.Benjamin Haleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01621356923423873261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-479585542968331642015-08-17T06:47:02.692-05:002015-08-17T06:47:02.692-05:00I'm with you on emailing over calling. Especia...I'm with you on emailing over calling. Especially since I'm never alone in my classroom to make any calls in the first place. I've sent home a similar form to parents to fill out for a few years. The one thing that bugs me about it though is when they say that the best time to reach them is later a night when I won't be at school. How do they expect me to call them so late? Calling & emailing parents is the one type of work that I don't take home. Briannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06245954484443731719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-71004461916776685472015-08-17T04:11:21.601-05:002015-08-17T04:11:21.601-05:00Great idea! I email parents much more than I call...Great idea! I email parents much more than I call because I almost always get voice mail if I call. Plus, I feel like email allows parents to choose to read it and respond at a time that's convenient for them. I do call when something is urgent, though. (As a parent, I prefer email from my kids' teachers unless it's an emergency - when the phone rings and I see it's school, I tend to go into Mom Panic Mode - who threw up, who is hurt, etc!)Nancy in Indianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13815880089265103557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-54396500352186505972015-08-17T01:25:29.816-05:002015-08-17T01:25:29.816-05:00I also understand what you are saying about phone ...I also understand what you are saying about phone calls. Supposedly, even Alexander Graham Bell wouldn't tolerate having a phone in his house!<br /><br />Some thoughts about your form:<br />(0) I always like to include a fun mathematical tidbit with these types of communications. It is one little way of saying "I'm a mathematician/math teacher" rather than just an administrator.<br />(1) only negative points are listed as reasons for you to contact them<br />(2) Do you have a prior reason to think one of the remediation methods is more effective than the other? If so, as a parent, I would object to having my child in the "wrong" group. of course, that will bias your sample . . .<br />(3) how old are your students? If they are high school students, I would prefer to put them at the center of taking responsibility, for example, *they* should be the ones to read the syllabus, *they* should be involved in finding solutions if there are problems, possibly including coordinating a conversation between the three sides (teacher, student, parents), etc<br />(4) what if the parents don't check any of your circles to contact them?<br />JGR314https://www.blogger.com/profile/11702319994021721608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091979517567705761.post-12636786182171687372015-08-16T22:41:05.052-05:002015-08-16T22:41:05.052-05:00This looks like a really awesome idea! I too hate ...This looks like a really awesome idea! I too hate phone calls... I definitely prefer email because I don't feel like I am bothering them and they can check it at their convenience. This is a great way to make you feel more at ease when contacting parents and I love that you asked what they would like to be contacted about! I have some parents who want constant updates and some parents who don't want to hear from me unless their child is failing! Kristen Bhttps://twitter.com/kristenb527noreply@blogger.com