MCPS teachers - what would you tell parents in your class(es) if you could?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

DP here. We used to collect phones, but no longer. Quite honestly, I don’t want to. If that phone gets taken out of my desk, I will be held liable and I’ll have to pay the family back. I’ve found students rummaging through my desk on occasion, so this idea isn’t too hard for me to imagine. (I even have clear policies about not going behind my desk and I’m known as a firm teacher. That doesn’t matter anymore since there are students who don’t respect rules or boundaries.)

I would give my kid a fake phone. No way I’d allow them to hand it over. My kids have phones for my needs, not theirs.

As a parent, I don't care what you want -- if your kid is using a phone when it's not allowed, they should lose it for the rest of the day. Don't send your kid in with a phone, or teach your kid to respect the rules, if you don't like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

Another DP. This article says that FCPS has a policy of cell phone confiscation that seems to be working. Agree it needs to be school or district-wide consistent policy, not up to each individual teacher.
https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2023/04/are-students-following-fairfax-countys-new-cellphone-policy/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

We are not allowed to take phones away, and frankly, I don't want to be responsible for keeping them safe. I have 36 students in my room for most classes, and I am one person, without eyes in the back of my head. Teachers sometimes get their own phones stolen.

I don't think PP appreciates what we mean when we say kids are addicted to their phones. I watch their fingers twitch while they try not to pick them up. I see their sheepish looks when I tell them for 10th time to put them away. I listen to them during conferences sincerely promise their parents they will keep them put away. Many of them admit to me they have a really hard time not constantly checking them. There is research that shows just having the phone with them lowers their ability to focus on tasks, even if they don't check the phone itself, because they are thinking about what texts or whatever they are missing. It is insidious, and we are not giving the kids the tools or policies they need to deal with it.

I will say, I have not had the disruptive behaviors so many teachers talk about, and I think that, too, is because of the phones. The kids who would normally be acting out because they find academics boring or frustrating are mostly just on their phones instead. I secretly appreciate the kid who talks too much or skips class to hang out outside because at least he's not a zombie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

We are not allowed to take phones away, and frankly, I don't want to be responsible for keeping them safe. I have 36 students in my room for most classes, and I am one person, without eyes in the back of my head. Teachers sometimes get their own phones stolen.

I don't think PP appreciates what we mean when we say kids are addicted to their phones. I watch their fingers twitch while they try not to pick them up. I see their sheepish looks when I tell them for 10th time to put them away. I listen to them during conferences sincerely promise their parents they will keep them put away. Many of them admit to me they have a really hard time not constantly checking them. There is research that shows just having the phone with them lowers their ability to focus on tasks, even if they don't check the phone itself, because they are thinking about what texts or whatever they are missing. It is insidious, and we are not giving the kids the tools or policies they need to deal with it.

I will say, I have not had the disruptive behaviors so many teachers talk about, and I think that, too, is because of the phones. The kids who would normally be acting out because they find academics boring or frustrating are mostly just on their phones instead. I secretly appreciate the kid who talks too much or skips class to hang out outside because at least he's not a zombie.

Mcps does not really have parent conferences after es and they don’t include kids. Do you work for mcps. You set the tone in your classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

We are not allowed to take phones away, and frankly, I don't want to be responsible for keeping them safe. I have 36 students in my room for most classes, and I am one person, without eyes in the back of my head. Teachers sometimes get their own phones stolen.

I don't think PP appreciates what we mean when we say kids are addicted to their phones. I watch their fingers twitch while they try not to pick them up. I see their sheepish looks when I tell them for 10th time to put them away. I listen to them during conferences sincerely promise their parents they will keep them put away. Many of them admit to me they have a really hard time not constantly checking them. There is research that shows just having the phone with them lowers their ability to focus on tasks, even if they don't check the phone itself, because they are thinking about what texts or whatever they are missing. It is insidious, and we are not giving the kids the tools or policies they need to deal with it.

I will say, I have not had the disruptive behaviors so many teachers talk about, and I think that, too, is because of the phones. The kids who would normally be acting out because they find academics boring or frustrating are mostly just on their phones instead. I secretly appreciate the kid who talks too much or skips class to hang out outside because at least he's not a zombie.

PP here. I should clarify-- I teach in PGCPS, not MoCo. Not sure what the confiscation policy is for you all. The effect of phones on kids at school, though, is probably pretty universal and also bigger than you realize.

[Anonymous]

PGCPS teacher here again. In our high school, parents can request (our teachers/couselors suggest) a conference with the parents all of a student's teachers. They are usually held after school. Once the school year gets getting, I probably have one or two a week, more right after progress reports or report cards go out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

We are not allowed to take phones away, and frankly, I don't want to be responsible for keeping them safe. I have 36 students in my room for most classes, and I am one person, without eyes in the back of my head. Teachers sometimes get their own phones stolen.

I don't think PP appreciates what we mean when we say kids are addicted to their phones. I watch their fingers twitch while they try not to pick them up. I see their sheepish looks when I tell them for 10th time to put them away. I listen to them during conferences sincerely promise their parents they will keep them put away. Many of them admit to me they have a really hard time not constantly checking them. There is research that shows just having the phone with them lowers their ability to focus on tasks, even if they don't check the phone itself, because they are thinking about what texts or whatever they are missing. It is insidious, and we are not giving the kids the tools or policies they need to deal with it.

I will say, I have not had the disruptive behaviors so many teachers talk about, and I think that, too, is because of the phones. The kids who would normally be acting out because they find academics boring or frustrating are mostly just on their phones instead. I secretly appreciate the kid who talks too much or skips class to hang out outside because at least he's not a zombie.

PP here. I should clarify-- I teach in PGCPS, not MoCo. Not sure what the confiscation policy is for you all. The effect of phones on kids at school, though, is probably pretty universal and also bigger than you realize.

I realize it is an issue but as a parent there are far bigger issues in mcps than phones. Phones are an excuse. Our teachers come ms and they are not very accessible. We rarely hear from them if ever and it’s rare they even respond to email except a few really good committed ones.

We are talking mcps so some of your comments are not relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PGCPS teacher here again. In our high school, parents can request (our teachers/couselors suggest) a conference with the parents all of a student's teachers. They are usually held after school. Once the school year gets getting, I probably have one or two a week, more right after progress reports or report cards go out.

That’s not mcps. We have a day early in the school year and at best if you can get a spot you have five minutes. Teachers need to engage parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That they should be supplementing at home. We aren't allowed to give ELA homework in the early grades (maybe that will change if we ever get a new curriculum) so instead we tell families to “read” when what I really want them to do is a few minutes of fluency drills to reinforce what I’m teaching in class.

Can you suggest that? I wouldn’t get that that’s what you want from just being told to read with my child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

Yep we are in a private K-8 that bans phones completely and if you are caught with a phone, you are automatically suspended.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PGCPS teacher here again. In our high school, parents can request (our teachers/couselors suggest) a conference with the parents all of a student's teachers. They are usually held after school. Once the school year gets getting, I probably have one or two a week, more right after progress reports or report cards go out.

That’s not mcps. We have a day early in the school year and at best if you can get a spot you have five minutes. Teachers need to engage parents.

We have that, too. These team conferences are in addition to the scheduled P-T conference days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I care about your kid. I wouldn't be here if I didn't. But we need to work as a team.

They need to show up. They need to put in the effort. I understand it's hard. I understand they aren't interested in the work. I understand that they may need to have a job, care for a sick relative, distracted by peer pressure etc etc etc etc etc. I am here to help them.

Teach them to accept help, teach them to ask for help. Teach them that in order to be successful they need to start with basic needs like food and sleep. Teach them that it's important to show up and be present. Teach them to put their phone away.

I know how to teach. I know how to form relationships. But if they don't put in the effort we're not going to make it.

You sound like a good teacher but please understand that sometimes there are reasons why kids don't ask for help. Mine will not ask for help. They had a few nasty teachers who would not help when asked or if they asked they got yelled at so even though we try to teach them every teacher is different and some are very good and want to help, they are too scared to ask for help. Maybe if you see a child struggling you can offer and just help vs. giving them the option. Once mine sees you are serious, they might be more willing to ask.

I get this. But I teach advanced HS math and when 10 out of 30 kids constantly have their hand up for extra help I run out of time to help the quiet kids who don’t proactively ask for help. I try to get to them but too many students with one teacher is an impossible environment at times

Do you give homework? My biggest (only) complaint about my child’s advanced middle school math class was the complete lack of homework. It seemed that it was viewed by the teacher and some parents as a virtue, but I think many kids, and definitely my kid, needs the practice and repetition in math that you get with homework. It was also hard to support my kid with math concepts at home because it was hard to tell what was being covered in class.

[Anonymous]

As a parent, having to register for and keep track of multiple modes of communications is really frustrating and annoying. I don’t really t to have to use Dodjo; Remind; Synergy and a host of other apps to communicate and stay up to speed. It’s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a parent, having to register for and keep track of multiple modes of communications is really frustrating and annoying. I don’t really t to have to use Dodjo; Remind; Synergy and a host of other apps to communicate and stay up to speed. It’s

I don't get why MCPS can't just use synergy. At our ES they send stuff through classtag (yet another communication tool to sign up for and then don't send it through synergy. It's really irritating.

[Anonymous]

MCPS revised the personal mobile device policy last year, but it's not very effective.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/PRESS/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=13192&type=current&startYear=&pageNumber=8&mode=