The Success of Detention

Earlier this year, I instituted detentions as a form of classroom management. Detention means that students must stay after school as a punishment. The most common reason for detention is homework. Under my system, when a student has three or more missing homework assignment, I give them a detention slip that outlines the reason for the detention (in this case, homework), the day they should come (I give at least 48 hours notice, though usually I give more time), the time they should come (16:30, my English Open Room time), and in the case of homework, I outline the homework assignments they are missing. The student must take the detention form home for their parents to sign, in order to inform the parents of their child's progress in my NELP class.

My rule is that if a student finishes all of their late assignments before the time of their detention, then they do not need to come to detention, and they do not need to return their parent's signature on the detention form. I told my students: "You can either do your homework at home, or you can stay after school and do your homework with ME." I also told them: "If you finish your homework before detention time, I'll take back the detention form. Your parents don't even have to know." However, though their parents might not know that their child has been given detention, parents will be told at the next parents' meeting that their child has had a lot of late assignments.

I have found that students might not be afraid of me: but they ARE afraid of Mom and Dad! I told my students that detention is mandatory, and the signature is mandatory, and that if they do not come to detention, and/or they do not bring me their parent's signature, I will CALL their parents.

I am happy to say that this has been very successful in motivating my students to do their homework. Last week, I scolded my students harshly because there were so many missing assignments. I handed out detention forms to 6 first grade students: half of the class! I was no pleased. On Thursday, I had a total of 41 missing assignments.

It is now Sunday, and now there are only NINETEEN missing assignments. Within two class days, I collected TWENTY-TWO missing assignments from my twelve first grade students. I am extremely pleased. Those students who turned in late assignments worked very hard. Naturally, there is a penalty to their grade from turning in the assignment late, but a low grade is always better than NO grade, and I'd much rather they do the homework late than not do it at all.

I sincerely hope the success of this program continues. Three students have successfully avoided Tuesday's detention, and I have every confidence the other three will come up with some missing work before the 16:30 Tuesday deadline.

Date: 2007⁄11⁄18 09:42｜Permalink｜Author：nelp

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