July 22, 2006 at 3:10 PM

I'm teaching two students from my home, and things are going well. Still trying to figure out exactly how to treat "transfer" students - sorting out exactly what needs to be fixed vs. what can wait until later. Obviously, I can't immediately find fault with everything. It's been fun and a good learning experience. At least they seem to like me enough to want to continue lessons in the fall. :-)

Anyhow, one of the student's parents drops her daughter off for the lesson, and picks her up after half an hour. But the last two lessons, she's been about five minutes late, and I don't know what to do with the girl for that five minutes. Do I put her on the porch waiting her pick-up? Do I leave her in the lesson room to look out the window and wait for her mom? Or do I do what I did today, sit and talk for five minutes with her waiting for her parent? hmm....I don't really know the mom very well, so I'd feel odd calling to talk to her about such a "minor" thing. If I had a student following this one, or a "waiting room" then the problem wouldn't exist. Oh, well. :-) Ideas?

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on July 23, 2006 at 12:10 AM

Greetings,
I think you could kill two birds with one stone. IE The end of the lesson is when you clarify the weeks work. This may well involve the parent in, for example, chekcing the notebook has been read and so on. So ask the parent to come five minutes before the end of the lesson to se ewhat has been set.
Otherwise be firm. Just politley explain that you have anothe rstudnet coming in afew minutes and need the time to prepare .
Do not leaver a child out on the porch.
Cheers,
Buri

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on July 23, 2006 at 12:11 AM

Call social services and say you have an abandoned child on your hands. If you're really mad, tell them you found her in a car with the with the windows rolled up. Begging passersby for water through the glass.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on July 23, 2006 at 6:35 AM

Buri gave you wise advice, and Jim gave you advice.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on July 23, 2006 at 7:09 AM

Just come out and say it, Pauline. I gave bad advice. I know that. That advice wouldn't do anybody any good in the long run. The best thing to do is have her clean your house till her mom picks her up. Dusting and stacking magazines. Nothing complicated.

From John Lanceley
Posted on July 23, 2006 at 7:57 AM

Stand in absolute silence till mom arrives

From Jenna Potts
Posted on July 23, 2006 at 4:49 PM

lol. You guys are insane. I like the clean my house idea.

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