Do you answer the phone while in class? - Page 7 - Ajarn Forum

aging one · 4th March 2007, 13:36

If the damn thing is on vibrate you can step outside for one second as if to sneeze, look at the number. If its the kids school take the call. If not just dont answer it. Hell how many of you have not stepped out for a pee, or a good sneeze, a coughing fit, or hell to rip off a big one!!

grasshopper · 4th March 2007, 19:12

do you know, it's a strange thing I know, but as far as I'm aware it's still not illegal to not answer the phone

weird isn't it

Mac Donn · 4th March 2007, 19:30

Freaky I agree. Maybe you should be allowed to watch TV in class but ONLY if it's a particularly good show.

aging one · 4th March 2007, 19:39

Finally some humor that varies case by case. If I , If you, We can make a zillion first and second conditional sentences here. But the bottom line is it varies case by case.

Mac Donn · 4th March 2007, 19:43

Mmmmmm -non-binary thinking. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that yet AO. I will try though. Emo Phillips has me in training.

i1der · 5th March 2007, 02:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by aging one

to rip off a big one!!

anything to relieve teacher stress

cocosan · 5th March 2007, 13:07

I don't have a particularly bad problem with this, when a phone rings in my classes, the withering look i give in the direction of the ring is enough to let them know that it had better be important. If they continue to talk in class, all activity stops until the call is finished. The students know if the call must be taken then they will excuse themselves, explain and take the call outside.

i1der · 6th March 2007, 08:56

^I buy that.

grasshopper · 7th March 2007, 08:08

only problem I do have is outside classes when my phone's switched on - the ringing tone is Chopin and I rather like it - hence there are occasions when instead of answering the phone I just sit and listen to Chopin!

AjarnRick · 12th March 2007, 16:28

My simple and effective classroom rule:

I hear your phone, I see your phone, I take your phone.

The first time, I take it and the student gets it back after class.

The second time, I take it and the student gets it back from the Director, if and when she is in the office. Student must write a contract with the Director promising not to use the phone in class again. Consequences of a third infraction is loss of the phone till the end of the term and being expelled from the course.

I've had fairly effective success using this rule. Recently, I had a student think he was exempt from this because he was calling China (an exchange student) and texting his friend there. I took the phone and after his anger subsided and his throwing a fit, I simply walking away from him, with the phone. He knew the consequences, but chose to ignore them or perhaps believed I was just blowing smoke.

Anyway, the phone went into the Director's office and she was away for the next 10 days. The student was without his phone for the duration. He got politely reamed upon her return, made his apology to me, to the Director and wrote out his contract in his own handwriting and signature.

A hard lesson learned, but I can tell you--phones are no longer an issue in my classroom.

peelieorion · 12th March 2007, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by AjarnRick

My simple and effective classroom rule:

I hear your phone, I see your phone, I take your phone.

The first time, I take it and the student gets it back after class.

The second time, I take it and the student gets it back from the Director, if and when she is in the office. Student must write a contract with the Director promising not to use the phone in class again. Consequences of a third infraction is loss of the phone till the end of the term and being expelled from the course.

I've had fairly effective success using this rule. Recently, I had a student think he was exempt from this because he was calling China (an exchange student) and texting his friend there. I took the phone and after his anger subsided and his throwing a fit, I simply walking away from him, with the phone. He knew the consequences, but chose to ignore them or perhaps believed I was just blowing smoke.

Anyway, the phone went into the Director's office and she was away for the next 10 days. The student was without his phone for the duration. He got politely reamed upon her return, made his apology to me, to the Director and wrote out his contract in his own handwriting and signature.

A hard lesson learned, but I can tell you--phones are no longer an issue in my classroom.

Simple consistent tules are always effective. Like you do, don't make a song and dance about it just apply the rule. all rules work well when every teacher is consistent.

uncleclot · 12th March 2007, 20:26

If I cannot prevent my spoiled, rich and well-connected students from answering their phones, then I surely do not stop myself from answering. Our only policy is that the phone must be on vibrate.

i1der · 13th March 2007, 06:11

AjarnRick rocks.

grasshopper · 13th March 2007, 09:24

lucky for me I work in a country school with problem kids, yaba smokers, kids who've been transferred from Yala cuz their parents have been killed - my lot couldn't afford a mobile phone petween them!

LDMA · 4th March 2008, 22:38

This thread is the "this week last year" thread of the week.