010112JournalEntry

A "quick lookup" of the current progress of a student often reveals a disturbing pattern. While there may be only a few absences per class overall, students often have well above that number during first period, sometimes even over 6. 

Attendance, an issue that interferes with overall student achievement, has received wide spread attention and directed resources in the school system, including in the worst case scenario, the services of a truant officer.

However, tardiness to first period for whatever reason,is an issue that has,largely,stayed under the radar. Students who come to class late tend to make noise and distract other students. The teacher often must repeat part of the lesson. At times, a tardy student could cause a confrontation as the teacher must question the reason.

Students come late to class for a variety of reasons,some legitimate. There are students who need to go to court or those with with family issues like providing child care for their own children,or babysitting younger relatives. Some of the students are responsible for taking their siblings to school. A few come to class late because of logistics, they miss or are late for the bus and must walk or take public transportation.

Others miss because,they are simply uninterested in school or apathetic about their own education or crazy as it sounds, they don't want to look like they are too interested in school or because it's raining or snowing.

In my own classes, first period is attended sparsely with only half, sometimes even a third of the students showing up. The educational effect is obvious. Students miss out on opportunities to learn and create large gaps in their knowledge.

To improve attendance first period I have come up with the following plan:

Review tardy pattern with each student during Advisor/Advisee.

-Identify students with significant tardy issues.

-Discuss the importance of being in class on time prepared to learn and work, the impact on school and grades.

-Award a stipend for perfect ontime attendance for the week, the month, the quarter including extra credit on scheduled quizzes/tests for the week, additional points towards level system and early release for lunch. Points could also be used for invitation only pizza parties, early release with level 4 students, and even a school sponsored drawing for a gift certificate.

Before Christmas vacation, I began to review each of my advisee's tardy pattern.

I will be eager to implement the remaining plan as students return in January.