Following are my answers. What do you all think? I would greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions. Thanks! Dear Dr. X, My classes are going well. We have just completed ...... and the students are learning a lot. They are also settling into the routine and have gotten used to going back to school after summer vacation. I have so many hardworking and inquisitive students and am extremely eager to begin the ...... My department mates are fantastic. They have been extremely welcoming and have made me feel like I am a part of the team. They have helped me become acquainted with the school and have given me lots of advice to help me have a successful first year. I cannot imagine being a part of a greater department. I am having issues with classroom management in my ..... periods. I have tried and am trying the following strategies that I have had success with in the past: Building positive relationships with students Exhibiting patience and empathy Explaining classroom expectations and the rationales for each Reviewing expectations regularly Reminding and redirecting students Side conversations and student conferences Modeling behavior Encouraging students and complimenting positive behavior and accomplishments and improvements in these areas New strategies that I am also trying: Parent phone calls Teacher detentions with me (to help me build a relationship with those students) Detentions Referrals I have also started incorporating an approach from a book that ..... lent me to read and also strategies Mr. .... and other members from my department have suggested. ...... has also been a huge help as my mentor. I was wondering what do you think about the aforementioned strategies. Also, if you have any other suggestions, I would be greatly appreciative. It is my goal to work through these issues now to maximize learning and success for my students.
I think I would speak face to face. But if you do decide to email, I would drop the edu-speak and be more concrete. "Exhibiting patience and empathy"-- exactly what do you mean there? If I received your email, I would still be fuzzy about where you need help. All those strategies have been known to work, but apparently they're not working for you. What are the behaviors in your classes that you want stopped? I mean specifics: "my 3rd period class takes 8 minutes to settle down after the bell" kind of stuff.
I agree. Instead of an e-mail, I would schedule a meeting. One, you don't want anything to be misinterpreted (e-mail so easily is). Two, you don't want all this in writing (especially written by you).
I would just email back with your first 3 sentences. The rest of the letter sounds like you are answering a reprimand for classroom management issues. If you are having issues with certain classes, i would recommend consulting with a fellow teacher, not the principal.
I don't think you need to go into as much detail. Also, I agree with Alice's suggestion that a face-to-face conversation might be better.