A College State-of-Mind

As a kid, I used to live right across the street from my elementary school and I would go over there after school and jump out of trees and swing as a high as possible on the swing set. On one of those occasions, an older, retired teacher made friendly banter about my fifth-grade teacher and said to me: "you know, Mrs. W has a degree in physics." I was simply astonished. How could this possibly be that my teacher went to college, graduated and has a degree in an otherwise male-dominated field? At the time, I had no idea that sciences were mostly male-dominated. But, I knew deep-down they were (I could just feel it, but this is a subject for another post).

It didn't occur to me that my teachers could have gone to college. And at that time, I simply knew no one who had graduated from college.

My dad always asked me what university I wanted to attend and I would tell him "YALE!!" without knowing the implications of the admission process. For him, college wasn't a possibility, it was a requirement. It wasn't if I go, but where I go.

Over the course of my education, I heard this whole college thing over-and-over. But, it wasn't made real until my high school teachers talked about their time at a university.

And that's why it's important to have a college-minded atmosphere at school. We sport our college pennants at our desk, decorate with our mascot and talk openly about our university experience. We even have friendly rivalry between teachers and their schools.

Check out the lovely anteater mascot decorating my student of the month on the Student of the Month wall!

I may be the only person my student knows who went to college. Or I may be one of a hundred that my student knows. But, little things like setting a college state-of-mind may just pay off in the long run.

What do you think about setting a college state-of-mind for your students? What would you do at your school? Share your advice in the comments below!

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Collaboration in Independent Study???

Yes, it's entirely possible to have student work together in a group setting while still doing independent studies.

I've been hosting workshops for English Learners. They are weekly and students can sit in class and get one-on-one help with me while they get through their packet of work. This has been really great for a lot of reasons:

1.  They learn time management: students learn that if they utilize the entire workshop time, they get as much of my undivided attention as possible.
2. I teach them study skills: I had a student read a short story and I said I would check on her in five minutes. Imagine my surprise when she read the entire short story ALREADY!! This story wasn't short enough for it to be read in its entirety in just five minutes (believe me, I've tried). So, I asked her key questions about what happened at certain parts of the story. She had no clue. This was a teachable moment and we sat together and read the story. I showed her how to skim and scan and take annotative notes. 
3. They work at a pace that works for their skills: just like they're promised in independent studies, students set a reasonable goal for finishing their work and I help them set that goal, as well.
4. They can collaborate with their peers: students started off together on the same credit packets. Because of that, I was able to group them during workshops. This has been very helpful because students can make friends and they can bounce ideas off of each other.

 What do you think? Think you may want to try workshops for your students? What would you try? Let me know in the comments section!

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You Earn a Gold Star!

Ever since I started working in Independent Studies, I have wanted to implement a spirit of competition for my students. Every student needs to be a little competitive. Competition is what keeps kids on their toes, motivated and goal-oriented.

One way I've wanted to do this is to have students see how they relate to their fellow peers when it comes to credit completion. Unfortunately, I was often told it wasn't a good idea to--essentially--keep a scoreboard. I was told students might end up feeling bad about themselves, they might have major medical or psychological issues that keep them from coming in and therefore keeps them from turning in credits. Lastly, I was told that I can't really have a lot of stuff on or around my desk.

But, I think times are a' changin' at my school because I've implemented a Credit Tracker scoreboard!

I've displayed it for all my students to see. I even got some gold stars for them to use! Here's how it works and how it has worked for my students so far:

• When a student completes a credit, I let them know their grade and then keep all gold stars visible. They put the gold star by their names themselves. 
• It doesn't have to be gold stars, it could be My Little Pony stickers, too.
• Students ask: "where's my gold star?" and have even set goals to beat other students' credits, too.

The Credit Tracker scoreboard

 What do you think? Would you want to try this with your students? 

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Why Reaffirming Goals Works!

So, here's the deal about those goal letters: I was kind of --maybe just maybe --was a goal voyeur. Yup, I peeked at their goal letters before I sealed them and now I know my students' goals. Now, I have the task of reminding them constantly.

Of course, I have to remind them in ways that are sneaky. So, every first week of the learning period, I casually write on their academic plan (a paper defining their monthly progress) goals they can achieve for the month or reminders and words of encouragement. 

We will see how it goes, but so far, students have taken as much liking to it as any student would: with a very meh attitude. Of course, this is on the outside, so maybe on this inside they're happy someone reminds and encourages them of their progress.

In the meantime, I'm thinking about establishing other progress activities. For example, I can make a very large board with my students' names. Each time they earn a credit, they can a put a gold star by their name. It may just instill the spirit of competition. They may also see they're not alone in the progress they're making. 

What do you think? Do you think reaffirming goals works? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Why Emailing Your Student Works!

For those of you in Independent Studies, you're probably very familiar with the concept of a "Learning Period." For those of you who don't know, a "Learning Period" is a period of time with about 18 to 20 school days. In this time frame, students are responsible for turning in a certain amount of credits. If they fail to do so, they can be dropped or be considered truant, depending on the school's policies. 

Well, there's always that one tricky Learning Period. There's either a winter break involved or it's just so short because it's at the end of the school year. 

When there are tricky Learning Periods, that's when we see a drop off in students turning in credits. This is a problem for one very obvious reason: they're slowing themselves down on their path towards graduation.

To fix this problem and to enhance communication, I decided to create an email list of my students and their parents' emails. I sent out emails to those students who didn't have anything turned in for the Learning Period and were on the verge of being dropped. 

Lo and behold, all except one student came in to school and completed credits. That's why emailing works. It's just one more to get the word out and let your students know you're watching out for them and care for their best interest. 

You can check out more reasons why communication and emailing are important here and here!

Have you had success with emailing your students? Let me know in the comments section!

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Top 3 Reasons to Snack!

Snacks: sometimes they're so delicious, we can't stop. I know when I get my hands on some Trader Joe's Baconesque popcorn, I will eat the whole bag. Yes, some snacks have earned a bad rep for being unhealthy, full of calories or full of unnecessary fats. But, sometimes, you need them. Here's why:

1. Your students probably haven't had anything to eat today. Whether we want to believe it or not, sometimes our students haven't eaten by the time they see us. I know of a handful of students whose sole food source is our school. So, healthier snacks like: granola bars, lower-calorie crackers, etc., may be helpful for them.

2. If your student is crabby, it might be because they're hungry. I have lost count of the amount of students who are cranky and spout off an attitude purely because they're hungry. While some are polite enough to ask for a snack, some unfortunately are not. But, if there's ever a cranky kid in your midst, a snack might just deter their attitude.

3.  Snacks are like a gold star. If you spontaneously provide a snack, students feel like you care for their best interests. Of course, they'll never tell you. But, one of the things I strive for is to make school feel safe. This might just be the only safe place your students attend for the day. So, providing a snack is an extra special way to make them feel safe and cared about.

Can you think of any more reasons to snack? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Starting my Goal Letters Project

The idea of having students write goal letters was completely foreign to me. But, I happened to stumble upon the idea somewhere on the interwebs and thought it was a good idea for three reasons:

1. It forces students to think about goals. The population I work with unfortunately have never set goals for themselves. It's as if they think their goals can't even happen so why try.
2. At the end of the year, they can reassess their goals. Students can see if they've met any of their goals throughout the year and plan accordingly for the next year.
3. If I haven't seen a student in about three weeks, I can assume the worst, which is they have decided to drop out. But perhaps, by sending them the letter they wrote, they will remember they do have a lot of goals in life and will decide to come back in. 

So far, students have thought it was "odd" that they were addressing a letter to themselves. However, I showed them a sample of real-life goals I want to achieve by the end of this school year, too! And they realized we're all in this together. 

I'll keep you updated on the goals letter process!

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3 Ways to Close Out Your School Year Right!

If you're an Independent Studies teacher, chances are your school doesn't close during summer.

While Independent Studies may not be traditional, there is still an "end-of-the-year." Your students may graduate, transfer back to a traditional school or may just need the closure to the school year that summer time brings.

A great way to close out the school year for graduates is to discuss their short and long-term goals before they leave. You can also extend the offer to help them with questions/homework, etc. if they go off to college. Sometimes students need that transition.

You can also revisit goals they accomplished or didn't accomplish over the course of the school year. Remind them that this is a new school year and that they can also complete those goals and make new ones.

And my personal favorite: have your continuing students write a new school year letter to themselves. In this letter, have them address it to themselves. They can talk about what they would like to see/do in the new year and goals they want to accomplish. Seal it in an envelope and give it to your student at the end of the year or if they're having a hard time getting into school during the school year. This can be the confidence boost they need to work hard and stay motivated!

What would you like to add to this list?

The Power of Rewording "No"

The other day, I emailed a student about her schedule for state testing.

The truth is: no one likes state testing. But, everyone in school has to do it. Failure to do so can land us all in hot water. So, our school stresses attendance. It is very verY VERY important that our students attend the state testing.

Now, one thing you want to remember as an Independent Studies teacher is that there is more than one way to communicate with your student and that you need to communicate events more than once. There's email, phone, google voice, google voice text, batman signal...You get the gist. You do this to CYA and because students forget stuff all the time. Brains suck sometimes and we've all been there when we forget something very important.

So, I had a student with whom I communicated via email who stated that she was going to be late to one of her state tests. I told her: "no" and "you will need to reschedule with your previous engagement and let them know you have to take this test."


Boy, did I feel like a jerk after that email. She's a good student and she tries very hard to balance her schoolwork with her personal life.

What I should have done was reworded my "No" to her. I could have asked: "Is there any way you can reschedule with your other engagement?" and "Can you tell them that this test is really important for graduating?" By asking her, I put the responsibility back into her hands. Now, not only does she understand I care about her future by saying this test is necessary to graduate, I also show her that she should care about her future. 

Always frame your interactions in a positive light. Some of your students have heard no all their lives. You can change their responses to you and to others by being positive. It's time they take accountability and responsibility for their future while you guide them along their way.

What are some positive phrases and interactions you have used with your students?

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Going out of Town? Try a Contest!

In celebration of the upcoming Memorial Day's long travel weekend, enjoy this post about keeping your students on track to graduate with contests!

My husband and I love to travel (30 countries and counting!). Since I teach in an Independent Studies environment, I don't get summer breaks like in a traditional school. So we do have to modify our time by taking advantage of my school's limited week-long winter, spring and summer breaks. Sometimes this means I'll be away, but my students will still be attending school.

You ever heard of the saying:

"When the cat is away, the mice will play"?

Sometimes that situation happens. I'm simply not around so students mistakenly think they don't have to come in or they take advantage of the situation.

This isn't a detriment for me, though. It's a detriment for students. They end up slowing down their pace towards graduation and time lost can really add up. 

If I know I'm going to be away, I conduct contests. You can do contests any time of the year. You can conduct contests if you:

• are going to be away for a long period of time.
• at the start of the new school year to set the tone of the class.
• when you know school attendance will be slow (April, January or October tend to be my slowest school periods).

I give students at least two weeks heads up by sending out flyers, email blasts and telling them in person. I give a definitive start and end date and requirements they need to meet, like completing 8 credits a learning period or attending all school appointments on time. 

One of my favorites is a contest competition against themselves: If my students can complete a minimum of 8 credits, they win automatically. 

While I'm out of town, I pick up some school-related souvenirs, like notebooks, erasers, pencil sharpeners, cool notepads. All of these souvenirs represent the country I visited.

Contests don't always have to be for when you're out of town. You can use it to instill some joy in your class any time!

What contests or other positive reinforcements can you do to get your students involved? Let me know in the comments section below!

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Structure your Students with Goal-Setting!

Remember how students desire structure? Perhaps they don't receive enough of it at home.

The fact is: students need structure to succeed. It's a very important life skill that--unfortunately--a majority of your Independent Studies students are missing. That's why they're attending your school in the first place: your students missed the very important life skill of structure.

However, you have a very rare opportunity to teach your students with goal-setting:

1. From your very first appointment with your student, explain to them that you regularly have them set goals.

• You can do this by setting weekly goals. Here are some examples:
• "I will turn in two credits by next week's appointment." 
• "I will complete one credit of algebra by next Monday."

2. You can set long-term goals at the beginning of every semester. The best way for this to hit home is to have semester parent-teacher conference meetings where you all plan a long-term goal together.

3. At least once per learning period (or calendar month depending on how your school runs), provide your students with an Academic Progress plan (see attached for samples!).

• Take this time to talk to them about their long-term goals of graduation/getting a job/going to college. And remember: always attempt to frame these talks positively. If there are setbacks, remember, they can always come back from this setback because half the battle is just showing up.

What other goals would you like your students to learn?

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Playing Nice

Earlier this year, I was challenged to inject a little joy in my classroom. As an Independent Studies teacher, I technically don't have a classroom. But, I do have a roster of students I supervise as they work towards graduation.

Most Independent Studies teachers don't have an actual classroom and that makes it difficult to build social-emotional learning and classroom bonding. After all, students are there to get their stuff done and go home.

However, there are a couple of things you can do if you want to build joy in your classroom. My favorite is called Say Something Nice. Here's how to play:

1. Create a list of at least ten questions increasing in intensity and thoughtfulness. For example, your first question can be: "what's your favorite food and why?" Your last question can be: "what is your end goal here at school?" or: "What is one thing you would want your teacher to know to help you succeed in school?"

2. Hand out flyers to your students and pick a time that is reasonable for them to all show up to school. Pump up your game and let them know it should be a lot of fun (see the link for a sample flyer and Say Something Nice instructions!).

3. On the day of your Say Something Nice game, have your students stand in two circles: one inner wheel and one outer wheel. Both wheels face each other and the outer wheel moves clockwise after every question. Remember that list of ten questions? Now, students have one minute to answer per question.

4. After the group has rotated around once, end the game and tell them to collect one sheet of paper with a safety pin already in it or some tape already attached. Instruct the students that they must try to find something nice to write on every person's paper. Yes, it may be hard, and yes, students may not know each other, but that's the point: being nice is about putting other peoples' feelings first, which is an amazing life skill for students to learn, while getting to know each other better (see the link for a sample of students saying something nice on my paper).

So, there you go, as an Independent Studies teacher, you can still instill joy in your classroom!

If you have any ideas on how to spread joy in your classroom and build the bonds between your students and yourself, share them in the comment section below! 

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5 Ways Mother's Day is a Reminder to Reach Out

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there, including--but not limited to--doggy moms!

Let's take this Mother's Day to remind ourselves--as teachers--why it's important to reach out to our students' parents/guardians:

1. Parents love hearing the positives: From personal experience, parents hate hearing about the bad things their students do in the classroom. Unfortunately, as part of classroom management, the second best resource in your arsenal is a call home. And as a teacher, I would rather have a parent who hates hearing the bad things because at least they care enough to not be indifferent. But, did you know that parents also love hearing about the good things their students do? 

• You can call when a student's behavior has significantly improved.
• You can call when a student is very polite and helpful.
• You can call when a student creates exceptional work.

2. Parents need to know you care: Taking the time to call home shows you care about your student. You recognize them as an individual and it shows that teaching is your passion, not just a job.

3. Parents need to be updated: We're all busy. Parents are no exception. Keep them updated on events happening at your school. You don't always have to call, you can also email. Be sure to obtain emails from both your parents and students so that you can create an email contact list. Communication can include:

• weekly news blasts via email
• updates on standardized tests dates
• reminders of school appointments
• special events happening at school

4. Communicating is CYA: Saying something to a student in person is a surefire way for it to promptly be ignored. So, reach out to students' parents/guardians and your important message will get across.

5. Communications are mini Parent-Teacher conferences: Every time you reach out to your parents/guardians, you also conduct mini Parent-Teacher conferences. You can keep your student on task to graduate with constant, structured communication with parents and students. 

If your students are over 18 or not living at home, then do tread lightly when reaching out to a parent or guardian. However, if parents/guardians have shown moderate interest in their students, then reaching out is always an option. Remember to use your best judgement. 

Other ways to reach out are:

1. Google Voice
2. Remind App
3. Newsletters sent via mail
4. Posts/short letters home to promote the positive behavior your students have displayed in class.

How else can you communicate with your students? Share in the comments below!

Communication = Structure

Remember when you were younger and your parents enforced bed time? Or when you wanted to eat chocolate before dinner, they touted the ol' line: "You'll ruin your appetite." As a kid, it was pretty annoying, but today there's a lot of value in these boundaries:

They created structure.

Everyone needs structure. It could be small things, like setting your own bed time or big things, like enforcing willpower. But, you need it, and most likely you structure your life without even knowing it.

Your students also need structure.

In the Independent Studies environment, sometimes students are allowed to attend on their own time, sometimes just once a week. It's not like the traditional classroom environment where your students must show up daily promptly at 8:00 am.

Therefore, it's up to you to set up that structure for them. The key to this is communication.

• If you have the resources, provide your students with a planner. It could also be as simple as a monthly paper calendar that they must carry with them in their binder.
• Set up an email distribution list where they can receive weekly news blasts.
• If they claim not to have an email, make them set one up. Most students have a smartphone and have access to their email. It's a life-skill to know how to check your email.

• Call your students if you will be on vacation or if there are planned changes to your schedule. 

If you set up structure, your students will be more likely to come in an even feel like they belong.

What can you do to increase communication to your class?

More Ideas for New Student Intake

If you're looking for extra ways to get to know your brand new students, consider getting interactive!

• Show them an "About Me" Powerpoint presentation slide and have them make one of their own! 
• Have them discuss their "About Me" slide to you and during their speech, you can listen for their reading comprehension skills, background knowledge or any speech issues.
• They could even do a Piktochart
• Or a short movie
• Or an essay.

In all these interactive methods, you can further get to know their educational background and understanding, which will help you further personalize their education.

Check out this sample Interactive "About Me" slide and have students create one too!

What interactive method would you use?

Welcome Your New Students with a Welcome Letter!

In my teacher prep classes, there was one phrase that always stuck out to me:

Students perform for who they love.

If they love themselves, they will perform their best. If students love their parents, they will try to impress them. If they love their friends, teachers, tutors, pastors, etc., they will try to perform their best for those people.

Students crave performing their best for someone. It gives them purpose. So, what happens when a student doesn't love anyone? Not even themselves? That's the attitude you want to nip in the bud from the very beginning. Give your your students the structured environment that allows them to express themselves and get to know you while you get to know them. 

Provide them with a welcome letter on their very first day. This letter will set the tone for the rest of their time in independent studies. You can also provide pertinent information like:

• contact information
• a little bit about yourself and your life
• school rules
• their appointment time and hours.

See the attached link for a sample welcome letter!

What else can you add to your welcome letter?

Get to Know Your New Student

As an Independent Studies teacher, it's important to develop a individualized education environment with your student as soon as they start school with you. If you can personalize their experience, your student will be more likely to learn and develop the necessary skills to graduate. 

Get samples to start your Student / Parent questionnaire here! (link to Google drive)

What would you add to your questionnaire? Leave a comment below!

Ms. Ling.

Calling all Independent Studies Teachers!

Welcome!

I've been an Independent Studies teacher for over two years now. In all this time, I have found a wealth of information for traditional high school teachers, but not a lot for Independent Studies teachers.

The thing is that Independent Studies teachers and their students already have the odds stacked up against them. Most likely, your students couldn't make it in a traditional high school setting. They were on the verge of dropping out for reasons that feel out of their control. When they sign up with you as a new student, their self-confidence is most likely already broken. They may feel like failures before they even meet you.

Consider this blog your resource bank, a place where you can get ideas to run your classroom successfully; a place where you can get the tools to lead your students to success. They need you and you need them.

Thank you for tuning in and enjoy!

Ms. Ling.