This week was rough. I started the week with a stomach bug and a substitute and returned yesterday to a few negative reports and a lot of chaos. In this moment I thought back to Abbie Will's blogpost about our students just doing "the best they can" (if you haven't read it, you should) and I thought about how inconsistent their week had been. I absolutely think my students should behave and I think they need to follow rules and expectations, but they also likely feel insecure and uncertain about school in those moments. But honestly, this post is not about my kids, it is about their families. Because of these reports and incidents I had to make a couple phone calls home, and truthfully, I hate them. I don't hate them because it is extra work or because they are occasionally awkward; I hate them because I am telling a parent negative news about their child and I can hear the disappointment in their voice. I want parents to know that while in that moment their child misbehaved, I do not think their child is a "bad kid." I think their child made a bad choice and that they are "doing the best they can." Which brings me to my next point- the importance of relationships and positivity. This school year our administrative team and staff have been working hard to foster great relationships with students and families. I think this is imperative!!! I am setting a goal to work harder to make positive phone calls and send positive letters home so when I have to make the occasional negative call home, those families know that their child is amazing and they just had a rough day!
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