Kirsty Ridgers is an experienced teacher, pastoral leader and parent.
After nearly 20 years of teaching and conducting many equipment, uniform, punctuality, and homework checks, I think the question I get asked the most from students is “why do you care so much about the little things?” No doubt, parents may also wonder the same thing, when I am making time to call home over a single pen or a student who regularly turns up two minutes late to a lesson.
As a parent myself and, more importantly a student who was not the most prepared (!), I can fully understand why this may seem annoying!
Every year at the start of term we, as teachers, lay out our classroom expectations. We may even have them up on our classroom wall, but it is crucial that we take time to explain the purpose to our pupils.
Indeed, this is a win-win. With purpose comes understanding and support. Both students and parents will understand the reasoning behind each decision that has been made and will see that they have been constructed with the best intention to support the student in question.
From a student’s point of view, it may be “just a pen”, “just two minutes late”, “just a pair of trainers”, “just a tie”,” just a ruler” and it may not feel like a big deal to them as they do not understand how it impacts upon their learning. In fact, if I had a pound for every student who asked, “how does this effect my learning?” I would be retiring early. Hence, it is important to take the time to explain the impact.
Most parents’ views are usually more in-line with the teacher, as “we had to do it/have it/dress like it when we were at school” so it is not new to them. The vast majority of parents will also see that we are preparing their children for a future life out in the wider world, where being late, not being prepared or not completing a task can cost you a job or a qualification.
However, this is not the only reason we ‘sweat the small stuff’, why schools focus on the little things. Teaching a broad and expansive curriculum takes time and unfortunately, this time is not infinite. In this time, not only do we have to develop knowledge, understanding and application across a myriad of subjects, we have to squeeze these into short blocks. In addition to teaching the more formal, academic curriculum, we want to develop our student more holistically, by providing wonderful and valuable experiences, everything from plays and sports fixtures to counselling support and literacy support takes time and impacts upon the school timetable.
When there are 30 students in front of you, each student deserves to get the most out of the lesson you teach. This means that from the moment they come into your room the focus needs to be solely on their learning and nothing more. When you have students who do not, for instance, have the right equipment, not only does it stop them from starting and accessing the task, but it also means that the teacher is spending time dealing with a missing pen, when they could be spending time with your child helping them to understand the task.
Perhaps the biggest timewaster is when students arrive late. Even 2 to 3 mins results in lost learning time, taking the focus away from students who have arrived promptly and who are ready to learn. Addressing latecomers, updating class registers (to ensure all students are accounted for), and going back over tasks detracts from the flow of the lesson and can be quite frustrating for students who are doing everything right. Doing the simply Maths for a student who is 5 minutes late, 5 times a day, shows that they have lost about 80 hours of learning time a year – the equivalent of just over 3 weeks of learning. This is why we take punctuality so seriously!
If we collectively get the small stuff right, we do not waste time dealing with the big things they can escalate into. Nipping it in the bud, by carefully explaining the rationale means that everyone knows where they stand and sanctions (e.g detentions) are more likely to be avoided. Put simply, it takes parents, teacher and students themselves to work together to ensure that students are utilising their learning time properly.
So, what can parents do to support their child?
-Please check that your child has everything they may need for school the night before. Most schools will have an equipment list posted on their website or in a planner or handbook; all schools will have a uniform policy. From experience, your child will not tell you that they do not have equipment, uniform or are turning up late. They may say they have everything because it is easier to move on from a ‘boring’ conversation about something they perceive to be ‘not important’!
-Please check their equipment, uniform, homework, and punctuality regularly. Some schools send reminders every evening via e-mail to make sure students have learning kit. Yes, it is annoying but if everyone turns up with what they need the e-mails will stop!
Speak to the school if you are having trouble supplying the equipment, uniform or getting in on time. All schools will want to help you, especially in the current climate where people are finding it harder and harder to get by.
-Speaking to the school if you do not have the time or the resources to support with homework will also relieve some of this pressure as schools have many ways in which they can support with this. We will not know the problems you are encountering unless you tell us. We honestly want to help where we can!
-Finally, keep an open, positive, constructive dialogue with both your child and the school! It genuinely is one of the most supportive things you can do for your child, even if the adolescent reaction to your support may not always be that welcoming!
Kirsty Ridgers
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