Videotaping

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Home : 2001 : October : 9

Videotaping
By Sue

Dear Jack,

Sorry the ignoring thing hasn't worked. It is hard, and some kids are so unbelievably stubborn it might take a couple of months.

Regarding the video, I would be interested in what the parents say. I don't think
it would hurt -- if you have videotaping permission slips signed at the first of the year.
This is why I wouldn't do it based upon my experiences with parents-
A) the parents don't notice a thing. They think little Jr. is the star/darling of the classroom or
B) They will get defensive thinking that they are being set up with a video tape.
I honestly don't think the parents

will go "Look at little Jr. He just can't keep that mouth of his shut!"

However, I may just be a spineless chicken. I personally wouldn't do it at a first conference.
Now, I like your initial plan -- to make it very innocuous. But (I am a parent who has been to these conferences and have talked with other parents about their teacher meetings) parents come into these things with very high emotions. I am talking mother tiger instinct with some. Some are prepared to make all sorts of presumptions about a teachers intentions.

I think, however, your gut tells you to do it. My question is, if they parents do say Jr. is a little talker, what will you have them do about it?

If they agree to talk to him about it,
they may mention to Jr. -- "Don't forget to raise your hand when Mr. Jack asks a question," at 7:30 then by 8:30 those instructions are totally out of mind and you are back to where you were.

Rather than hoping they will notice with a video, I would document the behaviors and the number of times it occurs in a day and week and address how the behavior is affecting his actual learning. (I didn't mean to get anyone started on the ADD track a while back. But you now have the info on that subject.)

Basically, what I am saying is that you can inform the parents all you want, but the boy is really your classroom management problem.

I have been through the same with about 5 students and I learned the hard way. I learned that I can talk to the parents till I am blue in the face, the children can take any type of medicine, but I pretty much have to devise a system to deal with them -- day by day.

I am sorry to sound negative -- I just don't want you to pin your hopes on the parents being able to correct the problem over night.

Good luck with the video.
Sue