I’ve discussed in many posts how I’ve been dealing with cellphones over the years.
I’m certainly not going to criticize anyone else’s strategy, but I continue to like our school rule – no cellphone use during class unless you have teacher permission. I think that policy, though more of a pain for a teacher to enforce than pouches, tends to enhance the possibilities of students developing greater overall self-control.
Even though the problems in my classes are infinitesimal compare to a couple of years ago, it was beginning to creep upward a bit earlier this month.
Thanks to an idea from our administrators, I added a new tool to my toolbox for dealing with it.
Previously, I would give students a warning. The second time, I would ask students to give it to me to hold until the end of the period.
Now, after that first warning, students have two choices: they can give it to me to hold until the end of the period, or I can give them a paper bag and tape (see above image) where they can put their cellphone. They then put it into their backpack until class ends.
I’ve only had to use it twice. In both instances, I don’t think it would have been a problem at all with students giving their phones to me because of the relationship I have with them, I think it’s safe to say that both they and I felt a lot better about using the bag. It just felt a lot less confrontational. I like the idea of giving students a choice, and giving them the opportunity to actually hold on to the phone themselves. Some students have anxiety about not physically having their phone, and the paper bag offers one way they can still have it on their person.
I’m adding this info to The Best Posts On Student Cellphone Use In Class — Please Contribute More.
I’ve discussed in many posts how I’ve been dealing with cellphones over the years. I’m certainly not going to criticize anyone else’s strategy, but I continue to like our school rule – no cellphone use during class unless you have teacher permission. I think that policy, though more of a pain for a teacher instruction Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…
