Reflection 1 (PLN)

 Since returning to in-person learning post-pandemic, there has been an increase in unexcused student absences, tardiness, and truancy all across the nation. We have noticed this trend at my school in full effect. As a result, student grades have been suffering, and behavior issues have been on the rise. This issue has led to a school-wide brainstorming session to try and solve the problem that is student truancy. One of the strategies I have decided to use to try and solve this issue is developing daily digital bell ringer activities that can only be completed for full credit in person. The steps that I have taken thus far have been to digitize my bell ringer activities via Google Forms or Pear Deck. I have turned all Google Slides lectures into Pear Deck lectures in order to ensure that students are only able to access the bell work with the code provided in class. Doing this has allowed me to better keep track of who is present to class for bell work and who is not. In addition, this allows me to grade bell work in the very moment that the students are submitting it. So far, this process has been going smoothly, and I have already begun to see an improvement in student attendance. I am grateful that I have a supportive administrative team who are trusting me with this process. I have yet to run into any negative aspects of this journey, but I do imagine that there could be some parent push back in regards to not allowing students to make up bell work due to unexcused absences.

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