Monday, August 25, 2014

Attendance

As you all know, attendance is always a concern in a school. The curriculum moves so fast, these days, that students can miss key information and get behind very quickly. I have tried various things throughout the years to promote attendance with some of our higher absentee kiddos. I have abandoned the traditional group approach with these students. They are already missing instruction when they are absent that it made no sense to me to pull them from instruction to talk to them about being absent (and missing instruction). Last year, I would attempt to do minute meetings with them once per week to graph their attendance. I got pulled frequently for other crises that I often missed seeing them.

This year I am going to try something new. I have borrowed a form from my 5th grade daughter's binder and adapted it for my use. The students I see for attendance drop in my room on their way from the bus to class. They color in their attendance from the day before (so we know they didn't leave early). We set a monthly goal as well as a quarterly goal so we can celebrate more frequently. My hope is that since they will see me daily, maybe they will be more "aware" of how often they are absent. Fingers crossed!


18 comments:

  1. Totally love this idea! I have students who need this type of daily check-in just like some of my behavior kids. I hope you will post how this works for you and your students! I will be interested to hear about it. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Like I said, I can't take full credit. My daughter does her sheet with her classroom teacher. I really like seeing the kiddos I'm working with daily! They seem to be liking it, also. I had a parent call me today to tell me how excited her daughter was to come see me every morning. YAY!!!
      ~Emily

      Delete
  2. What a fabulous idea! I would love to use this with my students, I think that it will be a real eye opener! I was wondering if you would be willing to share this as a Word document, so that I can edit it to fit our school calendar?
    I would really appreciate it!
    Thanks so much-
    Kim
    kimber-dany.carlson@colonial.k12.de.us

    ReplyDelete
  3. UPDATE!!!
    At the end of first quarter, ALL of my attendance kiddos MET or EXCEEDED their attendance goals!!!!
    ~Emily

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Emily,

    I agree with Kimber, I would love to use this with my 4th and 5th grades too. Do you mind emailing me a copy as well?

    Selena_ford@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

    Thanks
    Selena

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Emily,

    I've been thinking about making a document that would help motivate my students with attendance issues and then I came across your awesome sheet. Would you mind emailing me a copy at slang32@schools.nyc.gov?
    Thanks,
    Sue

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Emily,

    Would you mind emailing me the copy at drobles@delnorte.k12.ca.us?

    Thanks,
    Denise

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Emily, I LOVE your attendance document and would like to use it. Could you send me a copy at mayra.sigala.ramon@gmail.com. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I need this!! :) Do you mind? lslaton@bisdtx.org

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Emily,

    I would love to use this document with a chronically absent kiddo. Any chance you could send it to me at lhaft@logan.k12.nj.us? Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would be very interested in using this with my students next year, would you be willing to send it to me?
    corrie_engle@amherstk12.org

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would also love a copy of this! Would you please send me this document? Thanks so much!

    smithk@usd284.org

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Emily,

    I would love a copy of your attendance template document if you wouldn't mind sharing or directing me to where it is posted. Thanks!

    mgoldstein@ncweb.me

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello,

    Can I get an e-mail with the document?

    emendoza1388@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. could you send me a copy of this? lkiser@wdc2155.k12.mn.us

    ReplyDelete