Alternative Learning Plan

Ben,
I have sent this to some teachers in personal correspondence and have received some positive feedback from it, so I thought this might help others too. Here is what I sent:
I had to use this alternative learning plan the other day. First time in years. Sometimes there are just kids that think that I am dumb, my teaching methods are dumb and the stories are dumb. And worse, they just will not stop interrupting the class to tell me so. I had a kid like that in class now and I feel awful about not being able to reach him.
This is a plan that Blaine Ray sketched out in an email on the moretprs list a few years ago. I have just systematized it and added explanations for the parts that I have heard were not clear and to deal with objections by administrators.

The way I do CYA with this and set it up to succeed is to have our principal and/or assistant principal OK it at the beginning of the school year. Later, I remind them when use of this option seems imminent and give them another copy of it. They always appreciate the heads up in case a parent wants to ask what is happening.
I like this plan because it gives me options when I cannot convince, cajole or conference a student into compliance. I rarely have to use it, but if a student really wants to push, I am ready.
The key is that it is easy for me, but hard for the student. I work hard at teaching my classes and I do not need even more work to come up with a plan for some little stinker that doesn’t want to join in the story with the rest of the class and, worse, is determined to interrupt the learning process.
Administrators like it because they do not have to use their valuable time dealing with behavior problems and the student is still learning.
Works for me,
Bryce

ALTERNATIVE LEARNING PLAN

Bryce Hedstrom, Spanish Teacher

Roosevelt High School

I believe that we are in this class to learn and that no student is above the welfare of the class. Your recent behavior has interrupted the learning process in your class. Other students are learning less because of it. Despite the disruptions, I want you to learn and you still have a chance to get a grade for the course with this alternative learning plan. This plan is a way for you to learn and earn a grade rather than receiving a poor grade or no credit at all. With this plan you can still earn the grade you choose.

Your behavior is always under your control. You can always choose to act like a motivated, positive, well-behaved, regularly attending student. When you choose to disrupt the class, you are choosing this alternative plan.

The best option is for you to be part of the class. Rejoining the class is best because you will learn more that way. When you return, I expect regular attendance, active participation and controlled behavior. For now you will sit silently in the back of the classroom (or in another designated area) and work on salvaging a grade for yourself. You will not interact with the class or disturb the class.

If you continue to distract your classmates’ learning even this option will be withdrawn and you may be dropped from the class. This is an option that is granted to teachers by the state of Colorado.*

To earn a grade with this plan, you must complete all of the requirements of the lower grade levels, plus the requirements for the higher grade that you decide you want to earn:

1. To earn a D you must do all of the assigned pages of a Spanish workbook that the teacher chooses. One page from the workbook must be turned in for each school day whether you are in school that day or not. If you do not turn in all of the pages assigned for each day you will receive no credit for the class. No exceptions.

2. To earn a C you must complete the requirements for a D and you must also read at least 3 pages daily from a chapter book in Spanish for each school day remaining in the term whether you are in school that day or not. The book should be in Spanish, and be interesting and comprehensible to you. The teacher must approve the book once you have chosen it. You may check the book out from the school library or the public library. You may also borrow it, or buy it at a book store or online. You will prove that you are reading by reporting to the teacher with a Dual Entry Journal Form weekly with a two entries for each page you have read.

3. To earn a B you must complete the requirements for a C and a D and you must also write a weekly 250 word essay or story in Spanish. It is to be in your own words and must use the vocabulary that the class is currently studying. You must write this essay or story whether you are in school that week or not.

NOTE: Students in Spanish I classes regularly write 100 word stories in Spanish in 5 minutes (known as “Timed Writing”) as a normal part of the course, so this not an unusually rigorous expectation for any level.

4. To earn an A you must complete the requirements for a B, a C and a D and you must also write a 500 word report about a Spanish speaking country and turn it in by the last regular school day of the semester. You will need to write this detailed report in Spanish. The report must be written in your own words in Spanish, using vocabulary and grammar that is appropriate to your course level.

Because some students resort to using on line translating programs I reserve the right to give you random vocabulary tests on every word you claim to have written in your journal entries, essays, stories or report. This will encourage you to use words that you actually know or have learned while doing research for your report—if you wrote it you should be able to understand it. If you do not pass the vocabulary test with at least a 90%, you will not get credit for your writing.

Duration of plan: From _________________________ to ______________________________.

I have read and understand the requirements for this alternative learning plan:

Student signature: _________________________________ Date: _____________________

Parent signature: _________________________________ Date: _____________________

* http://www.safeschools.state.co.us/docs/Safe.School.Act_2008.pdf, Colorado Revised Statutes CRS 22-32-109.1 (2)(a)(II)

Name ________________________________

DUAL-ENTRY JOURNAL FORM

Book Title: ____________________________________

(Must be a chapter book with few or no pictures, written in Spanish and approved by the teacher)

Date: ________________________________________

SHOW YOU UNDERSTAND IT *Briefly write what this page says:* Write a brief summary of the page in Spanish or English—write 2-3 sentences.	SHOW YOU’VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT *Make a comment on what it says OR* *Make a connection to your life* Write 2-3 sentences. You may write in Spanish or English.
1. Page # _____	1.
2. Page # _____	2.
3. Page # _____	3.