When I first started teaching and was overwhelmed by the demands and complexity of the job, my survival strategy was simply to take all the advice that came my way and implement it. So when my wise mentor suggested that after the first day of school I call all of my second graders’ parents, I did.

In spite of my exhaustion, I called each family and introduced myself. I asked a few questions about their child. I said that their kid had had a good first day. I said I looked forward to working together.

Positive Phone Calls: Time-Consuming but Worthwhile

Throughout that year, and the years that followed, I continued this practice. I had a feeling that these positive phone calls home were important. After the first few days of a new school year, as soon as I’d identified the kids who might be challenging, I made it a goal to call their homes with positive news every week.

I would share this goal with my students, greeting them at the door with something like: “I’m so excited to see you this morning, Oscar! I’m going to be watching you really closely today to find some good news to share with your mom this evening. I can’t wait to call her and tell her what a good day you had!”

When I taught middle school, this strategy made the difference between an unmanageable group of kids and an easy group. You’d be surprised, perhaps, how desperately an eighth-grade boy wants his mom (or dad or grandma or pastor) to get a positive call home.

On the first day of school I’d give students a survey that included this item: “Who would you like me to call when I have good news to share about how you’re doing in my class? You’re welcome to list up to five people, and please let them know I might call—even tonight or tomorrow!”

First I’d call parents of the kids who I knew would be challenging, those I suspected rarely got positive calls. When an adult answered the phone, I’d say, all in one long breath, “Hi—is this Mrs. _____? I’m calling from _____ middle school with great news about your child, _____. Can I share this news?”

If I didn’t immediately blurt out the part about “great news,” sometimes they’d hang up on me. or I’d hear a long anxious silence.