Daily Parent Communication

Many of us send home communication on a daily basis to parents on how their child behaves in school each day.  Some of us use planners that the school provides and others a calendar.  We mark it with a color or a happy, straight, or sad face and typically send home a note if the child had a bad day and/or call or e-mail home.

Graphic and Border from Ashley Hughes

I have had years where it was mandated to do this and other years where it was my choice.  Having done it both ways, it is my opinion that it works best without daily communication.  Why?

• Parents don't need to know each time a child is in timeout and why.  It becomes a "you are picking on my child battle" with some parents.  I would rather notify parents after a child has had several tough days or done something sever that warrants a phone call.  Then they are more likely to help. 
• It takes more time for the teacher to call, e-mail, or write a note about each child who has a difficult day.
• Children are having to do something independent at the end of the school day so you have the time to mark the planners or calendars.  This takes away valuable instruction time.
• It sends mixed signals home.  When I would mark a child had a yellow day, the parent would give the child a consequence at home.  Yellow for many of us simply means the child received a warning.  Last year, I had children who would cry when they were on yellow because they would get in trouble at home, even though, I made parents aware that yellow was only a warning.
• Children tend to be much happier in school without a daily behavior report.
• Many parents don't even look at the calendar or planner.

I would love to hear why you are for daily parent communication or why you are against it.  Leave a comment, which I will approve within 24 hours or hop on over to my Facebook page where we have many great discussions and I share ideas and free products on a daily basis.

Thank you for hoppin' by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings!  Keep on smiling!

Puppy Behavior Freebie!

TGIF my wonderful friends!  This might be the last Friday that I have off for awhile.  I am still on a mission to find a new teaching job.  The children go back to school in Brevard County, except for Kindergarten on Wednesday, and the Kindergarten kiddos start a week from Monday.  I may end up subbing next week!

Last year I was able to make amazing relationships with so many wonderful children.  While I won't get to see them again this year, which is sad, I will likely get to see some of those wonderful children again and meet many more.  The more children I can put a smile on their face so they go home happy the better!  A smile is contagious!  Many 3rd graders asked me last year why I give them treats, pencils, positive notes, bracelets, etc. and I told them just to make you smile.  You smile, I'll smile, and then someone else will smile!  A smile goes a long way!

One of the ways that made the 3rd/4th graders smile was when I handed out a positive behavior note to each child for making such excellent choices.  I did this periodically while subbing all year.  I wish I had the money to buy the ink to do it daily!  The children really loved it and had huge smiles on their faces!  So to start the school year for those of you going back to school in August I have these really cute puppy positive behavior notes.  I can't wait to use them myself!!!  Click the picture to download them and I would appreciate a positive rating and comments! :-)  I'd also love to hear what your kids reaction was when you hand them out! :-)

As always thanks for hoppin' by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings!  Keep on smiling!

June Behavior Freebie!

You the fans voted in my poll that you want freebies!!!  So why not give you your 2nd freebie in just 2 days!!!  I know it is halfway through June and I am far behind on creating a behavior freebie for June.  I finally got it done.  The dang computer problems and me making a couple of awesome place value units took away time.  I will try to do better and get July's up much sooner even though most of you aren't in school in July.  I do know that some have summer school, home school, or work in year round schools so I will make them for July too!

Anyway click on the pictures to go to my store to download the behavior freebie for free.  If you missed previous posts on how I use them, I put the child's name on them ahead of time and usually date them.  Any child who had a good day gets one of these great behavior notes at the end of the day.  The ones who misbehave it goes in the garbage and they have the shot at one next month.  It keeps the kids on their toes as they never know when you will pass them out and with my experience they really want to receive them!  The parents love them as they love getting good notes home.  Great for substitute teachers too, I had so many children thank me and saw their big smiles on their faces when I passed them out from time to time or just wrote handwritten notes.

Keep smilin' and thanks for hoppin' by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings!