Communication is Key

Today was a day of reckoning of sorts in my room.

We had sent home reports a few days ago reporting out on students' progress on the previous seminars, and they had to be brought back and signed or students faced an after-school detention. A majority of students brought them back, but there were a handful of upset kids over the consequences for their actions (or lack there of).

A funny thing happened next. I spoke with a number of parents over the course of the day, and none of them had a problem with their students having to spend a little time after school. After all, the idea of requiring signatures on all of our communication was their idea, having been brainstormed at our curriculum night earlier in the year. I'm sure by the time I get in tomorrow there will be at least one or two who will not be thrilled with these consequences, but I know the reasons will be due to external factors, not necessarily our goal of increased communication.

In a customized learning classroom, communication is even more key than ever before. No longer can teachers or parents lean on computer programs to make sure students are doing everything they need. We have to be sending notes, emailing, and most importantly talking about the progress of every student of they are going to succeed.

After all, if we are truly going to have a system where students learn "at their own pace," we need all hands on deck in helping create intrinsic motivation for learning.