Case
Late... Late... Late... Everyday!

This school year, I have two individual students who are late habitually. They both stroll in during our school-wide sustained silent reading time and interrupt the class by drawing attention to themselves and announcing they have to go back to their lockers or turn in a paper to another teacher. I have spoken to both students on an individual basis and asked for respect when entering the classroom; please go to your locker before you come to class as well as handing in any other papers to other teachers-come to class on time and ready. I have also contacted their parents. Both parents apologized and promised to get their child to school on time. Yet, they both still come in late (one with McDonald's in hand everyday).

My administration was trying to be hardcore with tardies this school year and made threats to give punishments for the students. I submitted the students names to my administration and they also contacted the parents and no change occurred. At this point in the school year, administration couldn't be bothered with a simple tardy. Now with a total of 63 tardies for the one and 42 for the other... I'm wondering if I should just forget about it because it is a losing battle. Any suggestions to encourage these students and parents to get their children to school on time?

Posted on: 03/10/15 | Views: 1027
Solution #1
Very difficulty problem to solve. Although this is a problem at school, in reality, it is a parenting problem. I have also had this problem and tried talking to parents, the student and administration with no avail. Finally, after many conversations and rewards systems, we told the parent that the tardies were going to effect the student's grade. After that the parent made an effort to be on time.
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Solution #2
I have had this same problem with a student for two years now. First in third grade and now in fifth. We tried everything from involving the parent and the administration. After no luck I finally had to go to the student. This particular student was the reason for their being late everyday. The would simply not get out of the bed and the parent felt that had no solution. I finally had to start offering some positive reinforcement to this student. I told them that if they arrived on time starting 3 out of 5 days for the week I would give them a special privilege. This student want to eat in the classroom on Fridays all the time. Once they started arriving on time I allowed our class to eat in the classroom on Fridays. It's not perfect yet but improving. I just had to find a way to get through to the student.Good luck!

Right. H might be trying his hardest. Give him a motivator besides punishment.

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Solution #3
I had a similar situation happening last year. I felt like I was being held up in the morning waiting to take attendance and lunch count or having to do these things twice because of the constant tardiness of one student. I did two things, I got the school counselor involved, who then got a social worker involved. I also took some grades on morning work that the student got an incomplete on because of her tardiness. The family finally got it together and the student was not tardy second semester. Maybe the grades need to suffer because of the lateness.
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Solution #4
At my school, we are required to document these episodes and call the parent after 5 then the Social Worker after 10. I have found that the Social Worker takes care of a lot of these issues very quickly. I don't know what your school policy is, but you definitely shouldn't give up-especially if their grades are low. You could also try an incentive for every day they are on time. Like after the fifth day of being on time consistently, you could reward them with a homework pass or a candy, maybe?

This is true, school policies differ. It seems as though taking points away from the students morning work may be necessary. If there is no change then I would move to the rewarding system - like you said, reward the students with something that interests them when they are not late for three days in a row. Then increase it to five days, then two-weeks, and so on. Hopefully this would give the students personal responsibility.

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Solution #5
As you know this is an issue on the parents end. I would talk to the parents, and ask what can you do to make their morning easier? Also you can make suggestions like having their backpack and clothes laid out the night before to help you be on time. Also remind parents why it is important to have their child to school on time. They are missing out on learning time.
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Solution #6
I think it is important to have attendance be part of their grade. I think this is the only way that students and parents may actually change their tardy behavior.

I feel like this won't hit the student until the end of the school year when they receive their report cards.

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Solution #7
Unfortunately this is a parent issue usually. If parents do not care about being late the child will not. Tardies are necessary and a reward for on time. Also giving these student morning jobs could help them find a reason to be their. A greeter, an attendance holder, something that they will look forward to doing upon arrival.
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Solution #8
Unfortunately there is not much you can do when it is a school policy issue. If the school is not backing you up and parents are not helping it becomes a problem that you must solve or not. It is frustrating when there seems to be no answer or help. Maybe intuition of positive reinforcement sytem would help.
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