Greetings,
Welcome back to school. There is always a certain degree of excitement and anticipation as the new school year begins. Class lists are a top priority for teachers and counselors can play a critical role.
Welcome back to school. There is always a certain degree of excitement and anticipation as the new school year begins. Class lists are a top priority for teachers and counselors can play a critical role.
For the first ten years at my school the principal and I put together the class lists. I spent many a summer day thinking of the classroom dynamics based on a teacher's style, balanced academic levels, friendship opportunities, overall classroom esprit-de-corps, and other variables. As we all know, each grade level has a few students that present unique challenges that require extra attention for placement. I loved this task since I know how important that right fit is for students and teachers. However, often teachers did not "appreciate or respect" my judgment on some placements. Many a day I would walk into the teachers' lounge and get blasted by a very frustrated teacher.... "Why did you give me .....he is destroying my class?" Although I must admit I was not sorry when we implemented a new system for classroom placements, it did not stop the teachers from complaining. But, at least I was no longer the one to blame.
I made it a priority to get to know all the students and to be able to identify a strength and an area in need of growth for each of them. This is not an easy task but one which I feel strongly. As an elementary school counselor we are advocates for the student and in order to advocate properly we must know the student well. I feel strongly that students were entitled to their privacy, especially those with "reputations!" Look for a future blog on ways to get know the students beyond lunch bunches.
As soon as teachers got their class list the conversations began.
"Oh my gosh who got troublemaker # One? Oh dear, it's going to be a long year for you."
"Did you hear what troublemaker # Two did to her teacher last year?"
"Oh, let me see if you have troublemaker # Four from 4th grade. Last year this kid's mom drove the teacher crazy."
"Keep those two kids apart. They are best friends and talk nonstop."
Unfortunately, when this occurs, before the year has begun, too many teachers may have already formed opinions about students, and much of it is negative or hearsay. It is true that some teachers use this information (even if it is negative) for the good of the students regardless. A caring and thoughtful teacher begins to think of ways to connect with the student and lays a foundation for a good year.
In order to minimize these conversations the principal and I set up a new system for the class list that prevented some of the above concerns. At the end of the school year teachers filled out information cards for each of their students. Information such as reading and math levels, academic strengths and areas of concern. It also included information about social skills and their ability to work with others. They added names of students who worked well with the child and those to keep separated. Teachers could put other comments such; as divorced, military deployment, special needs, etc on the cards also. These cards were given to the new teachers at the beginning of the year with their new class list. Each grade level team also prepared class list using these cards to create balanced classrooms for the upcoming teachers. Although over the summer some changes were made, these tentative lists were very helpful.
Secondly, as the school counselor, once the new class lists were passed out I would go to each teacher/or grade level (if the teachers worked in teams), and share additional information that would be helpful for the new school year for each student. For example, I would tell the teacher that I worked with Johnny last year on his organizational skills and advise that it would be wise to set up a conference with his parents early in the school year since they are very supportive but also like to be kept informed. Another example might be letting the teacher know that this student loves to be called on even if he/she is not raising his/her hand. I might give some suggestions on how to work with very verbal students.
Teachers really appreciated meeting with me and getting a "big picture" view of the make up of their classroom, which often help ease their anxiety and worry about the new year.
"To Tell or Not to Tell," that is the question. Some teachers will say they like to start with a clean slate as they meet their new students. Other teachers prefer to have some background knowledge to build a good foundation. As the new year begins our role as counselors is to help teachers set a positive tone for their new year by providing them with insights about their students.
Affectionately,
Jeanette
I made it a priority to get to know all the students and to be able to identify a strength and an area in need of growth for each of them. This is not an easy task but one which I feel strongly. As an elementary school counselor we are advocates for the student and in order to advocate properly we must know the student well. I feel strongly that students were entitled to their privacy, especially those with "reputations!" Look for a future blog on ways to get know the students beyond lunch bunches.
As soon as teachers got their class list the conversations began.
"Oh my gosh who got troublemaker # One? Oh dear, it's going to be a long year for you."
"Did you hear what troublemaker # Two did to her teacher last year?"
"Oh, let me see if you have troublemaker # Four from 4th grade. Last year this kid's mom drove the teacher crazy."
"Keep those two kids apart. They are best friends and talk nonstop."
Unfortunately, when this occurs, before the year has begun, too many teachers may have already formed opinions about students, and much of it is negative or hearsay. It is true that some teachers use this information (even if it is negative) for the good of the students regardless. A caring and thoughtful teacher begins to think of ways to connect with the student and lays a foundation for a good year.
In order to minimize these conversations the principal and I set up a new system for the class list that prevented some of the above concerns. At the end of the school year teachers filled out information cards for each of their students. Information such as reading and math levels, academic strengths and areas of concern. It also included information about social skills and their ability to work with others. They added names of students who worked well with the child and those to keep separated. Teachers could put other comments such; as divorced, military deployment, special needs, etc on the cards also. These cards were given to the new teachers at the beginning of the year with their new class list. Each grade level team also prepared class list using these cards to create balanced classrooms for the upcoming teachers. Although over the summer some changes were made, these tentative lists were very helpful.
Secondly, as the school counselor, once the new class lists were passed out I would go to each teacher/or grade level (if the teachers worked in teams), and share additional information that would be helpful for the new school year for each student. For example, I would tell the teacher that I worked with Johnny last year on his organizational skills and advise that it would be wise to set up a conference with his parents early in the school year since they are very supportive but also like to be kept informed. Another example might be letting the teacher know that this student loves to be called on even if he/she is not raising his/her hand. I might give some suggestions on how to work with very verbal students.
Teachers really appreciated meeting with me and getting a "big picture" view of the make up of their classroom, which often help ease their anxiety and worry about the new year.
"To Tell or Not to Tell," that is the question. Some teachers will say they like to start with a clean slate as they meet their new students. Other teachers prefer to have some background knowledge to build a good foundation. As the new year begins our role as counselors is to help teachers set a positive tone for their new year by providing them with insights about their students.
Affectionately,
Jeanette