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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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?

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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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?