Case
D in citizenship

A fifth-grade girls talks incessantly during class. After several warnings, you call her parents and inform them you will have to give her a D in citizenship unless she stops interrupting the lessons and the learning of the other students. The parents ask for a conference. At the conference, the parents suggest that you: Move the student away from the other students who talk; move her to the front of the room so she has more teacher supervision; read her file (she has a reading comprehension problem); consider the student's history of grades in citizenship (she received all marks of "outstanding" and "satisfactory" the year before); allow the student to bring her books home to complete work not done during class (she told her parents she could not take books home); become more alert to what is going on in class (the student told her parents that other students talked to her first—she didn't begin the conversations). What are your thoughts about what you might do in this situation?

Posted on: 03/02/13 | Views: 1150
Solution #1
Top Solution
I would move the student towards the front of the row so that she has no distractions in front of her. Also, I would be able to keep a closer eye on her. If she has a reading comprehension problem, I would also make sure that I am varying the presentation of the curriculum. Is my teaching too centered on a textbook? There may be other activities that involve oral presentations or some other way of learning or presenting what the student has learned. I would also make sure that I am not missing the problem behaviors that might spark her outbursts. If other students are talking to her quietly and I let it go, by the time she responds I might be more upset and call her out. I should address all instances of talking out of turn.

This solution is best. Meeting the parents half way and addressing what they feel may be causing the issues is a great start to an open line of communication.

I think reevaluating the ways you are presenting information in class and her classroom position could be very effective in this situation.

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Solution #2
In this situation I would take the parents suggestions as constructive criticism and I would move the child to the front row where distractions would be minimized. Also I would do my research on the student and see how well she did in her classes before mine when it comes to this subject.
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Solution #3
I would move the student to a different location, but I would also inform the parents that some things simply cannot be changed such as bringing books home (if one student is allowed, then everyone must be allowed and apparently in this scenario, books must stay in the classroom). I would also inform the parents that I plan to make a student-teacher contract in regard to the chatter and would appreciate their support to help the student stay on task.

I do not agree with this solution. If the student needs to complete assignments at home then you need to figure out the best way to make that happen. See if there is a text book program. Some districts allow the students to bring their textbook home if the parent puts a deposit down. Make copies of the text pages for her. Never have an "Oh Well" mentality.

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