Parent Page

 

Parents, this page is for you, so that you can figure out what is going on in class and understand the basic expectations.   My goal is the same as yours---success for your son or daughter in my class.

Background:  I am the father of three kids myself, all grown, two of whom went through Idaho Falls High School less than a decade ago.  I myself was an average student who was able to fly under the radar in an overcrowded high school outside Washington, D.C.  Few of my  teachers saw me as much more than someone filling a desk and didn't push me to do more than I was doing.  As a typical kid, I was good with that.  Looking back, I wish they had pushed me, inspired me, and even just acknowledged I was in their class and had something to offer.

My own kids were similar--they were  smart and got good grades but it often seemed that they disappeared in the classroom because they were well-behaved.  My specialty as a teacher has  been working with either low-end or mid-range kids who are not used to being noticed or pushed to excel.  Though the accolades may go to the Honors, AP, and upper-division students and those who teach them, I'm happy to be in the trenches working with the kids who need extra encouragement to succeed and realize their dreams. The past few years, I have also enjoyed teaching Honors students and have been able to draw on my experiences as a writer and historian to encourage scholarship at the highest levels.

In thirty years of teaching, I have learned that parental involvement is the number one indicator of student success. 

The Top 5 Ways to Help Your Son/Daughter Succeed in Class

1. Check Powerschool weekly and discuss missing work and grades in all classes.  Come up with a timeline to make up missing work.
2. Make sure your student's notebook and journal is up to date.  Your student has a daily journal and notebook in which notes are kept.  Many students get behind on these and then don't catch up.  For this reason, I have all my notes and journals posted on this website.  Students and parents can access all of them at morristigers13.blogspot.com
3. Look at blog for when a review sheet is given.  Review sheets are given out two days before the test.  Students go over all the answers in groups and each student has a completed review sheet to study from.  Make sure your student studies the two nights before the test, for at least twenty minutes per night.
4. Communicate with me if you have any questions or concerns about anything at all.  I am always willing to meet with parents, talk to them on the phone, or correspond via email at morrrobe@d91.k12.id.us
5. Emphasize to your student the importance of giving one's best every day.  It is a life skill and if a student can get into the habit of working at a high level, he/she will see almost instant results.