Often, schools find that just a professional development day workshop
on, e.g., classroom management does not do enough to help individual teachers
with, e.g., real discipline problems. And, a one day workshop does not meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act: "...to meet the NCLB, the training must be: Sustained and intensive professional development, not a one-day workshop or conference [Section 9101.34]." Also, teachers are reluctant to share their individual problems in this kind of one day workshop-public arena in front of their colleagues,
especially when their administrators have access to who said what. As
a result, this "hiding" sometimes covers up what really needs
to be worked on. Instead, it is often better to provide all the teachers
in the school with a newer service: confidential access to an
online classroom management consultant. This kind of support
often solves more real, specific classroom problems; principals, guidance
counselors, and deans report fewer referrals to the office and less complaints
from parents. In short, this service is more effective in helping a school
than the traditional, professional-day workshop, in that it is ongoing,
and more cost effective.
How Does It Work?
- The school's teachers have confidential online access, 24 hours, 7
days/wk., to an online, nationally recognized, classroom management
consultant: Prof. Howard Seeman, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Education
(About the Consultant)
via private email for the entire faculty and staff at their own private
computers, at their own convenience, at home or at school.
- Teachers can ask any number of questions regarding preventing and
handling: disruptive behavior, cheating, calling out, latecomers, fighting,
talking in class, inattention, cursing, rewards, and punishments for
grades K-12; the best classroom procedures, etc. and they can get help
with these in line with their school's policies.*
- Strictly confidential: no other teacher or school staff member has
access to these communications. If teachers wish, even the consultant
will communicate with the teacher only via a private nickname and password.
Communications do NOT go through the chair of a department or the administration
of the school.* Each teacher communicates directly, online, confidentially
with the consultant, e.g. from his/her home computer, at times best
for that teacher.
- The school simply distributes a short letter in teachers' mailboxes that the school will soon have available: a confidential, online classroom management consultant for our school at: Hokaja@aol.com. And, that Professor Howard Seeman will be meeting with us soon to give us a short workshop on how this service will work.
- The school arranges the most convenient time for Prof. Seeman to meet with the staff, teachers, administrators,... usually for a 2 or 3 hour workshop (a morning or afternoon, or a Saturday) where he will explain the process of locating the causes of discipline problems, and their solutions, and the consulting process on classrooom management issues in general.
- After that workshop, teachers will then be able to simply email him their problems and concerns with total confidentiality.
- Also, the school can arrange, later on, for Prof. Seeman to come to the school again, e.g., once/month for 2-3 hours, to hold private office hours at the school for teachers and staff who wish to talk with him in person.
- The school's administration is provided with end-of-month reports
regarding:
- the kinds of problems that have been discussed
- a frequency analysis of these problems
- how many teachers have used the service
- a general description of what was suggested to the teachers*
- any suggestions that may be of help to the school in general
- The administration of the school always has ongoing access to the consultant.
*Of course, any suggestions given to teachers that may, in any way, involve the whole school or its policies, not just that one teacher - are checked with the administration first.
Fees:
- The school should have on hand: Preventing Classroom Discipline Problems; A Classroom Management Handbook by Howard Seeman, Ph.D., Scarecrow Press, 3rd Edition – so that teachers can have access to this resource when it is referred to by the consultant. See: http://www.panix.com/~pro-ed. School discounts available.
- The school may also find it helpful to have and show the Video/CD: Preventing Classroom Discipline Problems at a faculty meeting that demonstrates the concepts and suggestions in this Handbook. See: http://www.panix.com/~pro-ed. School discounts available.
- The school pays for this online consultant service as follows:
A. $400/month; 100 emails.
B. $1,800 for the semester: Sept. to Jan.; or the semester: Feb. to June; 100 emails/month.
C. $3,200 for the school year: Sept. to June; 100 emails/month.The school can terminate the ongoing semester or yearly service at any time; then, the payment that is due reverts to the per/month fee.
Questions?
Contact: Prof. Howard Seeman at Hokaja@aol.com
I agree to the above fees and services for the school:_________________________________
Address:____________________________________________________ Zip:__________
I wish to contract for the following consultant time [See above]:
Circle: A., or B., or C.____________________________________at a cost of: $________
My name: [PRINT]____________________________Title:_________________________
Email address: [PRINT]________________________ Phone: ( )__________________
Signature:___________________________________; Date: ________________________
You may mail this form to:
Howard Seeman, Ph.D., 20 River Court - Suite 1404, Jersey City, NJ 07310
Or, Fax it to: 201-420-6555 (Faxing? Send alert to: Hokaja@aol.com )
Or send it as an attached file to: Hokaja@aol.com
The fees can be paid by check or Purchase Order, and made out
to:
"Pro-Education Media".
Thank you.