Student Planner Plan and Having a Paper Trail

     For several years I was fortunate to work on a team with 4 other teachers, English, Science, US History and Science. The "Purple Team", Kathy, Erin, Kendra and Judi, were an amazing group of teachers. Everything just clicked which made it a joy to work with them. We created several great strategies to work with students who were struggling for a variety of reasons but one of my favorite is the Student Planner Plan. We developed this plan for students who are not completing their homework or projects. They are not being truthful with their parents, telling them there is no homework or that they completed it at school. (Ever have this happen?) This plan becomes a communication tool between school and home as many of our families do not have internet service to check posting online. 
      Our students have planners that they carry with them all day long and I am sure most of your students have them as well. There is a copy below of the form that we have the parents, students and the teacher sign during a conference where work completion is an issue. The contract states the responsibilities of each of the parties so there is no confusion. We also talk to the parents about immediate daily consequences. If the student does not have the planner signed or if work was not turned in, the student does not have privileges for that day. They are able to earn their privileges the following day if they have the planner signed by the teachers, have turned in the work for the day, and if they bring home any work that needs to be worked on for that evening. The parents/guardians have to look at the planner and sign it as well. For the parents that follow this plan we have had wonderful results.  

This is a page that we email home to parents/guardians.

This is the copy we use during parent/student/teacher conferences.

    Click here to download a copy of the Student Planner Plan pg 1 and Student planner plan pg 2.

      One of the most important things I learned early in my teaching career was to keep a paper trail of contacts and meetings with students and parents/ guardians. This may have changed over the years with the technology that we have now, but I still keep a paper trail.  I have never regretted taking the time to do this because when you need proof of contact, you need something in writing. At the conference I sign the contract along with the student and parents. I then make a copy for the parents so they can hang it on the refrigerator for reference. I put my copy into my discipline binder. For the parents that follow this plan the results have been amazing. For those that do not follow through, we have a signed reference that this is a strategy that was agreed to by all parties. 
     It is wonderful when this works for the student. Everyone is happy, the student learns to become organized and manage their time, the parents have the communication they need from the teacher and I am thrilled to have a tool to use in these situations to help the families. 

Til next time,

Jan