Maintaining & Boosting Student Attendance to Class

    Improving student attendance is critically necessary for the good of the students and for the good of the country. By developing positive, meaningful relationships with students and creating conditions for them to be successful, teachers and administrators are much more likely to influence students to improve their attendance. All it takes is continual, focused efforts. It is important to consider implementing courses of action to improve attendance in the classroom. The main thing to keep in mind is that as educators, we should be creating a learning environment that is a safe place that students feel they are free from judgment. It is crucial to encourage students to ask questions and participate in class and for teachers to show them that their presence in class matters. Students should look forward to attending class and enjoy learning so much that they actually miss class the days when they are not there. This should be the goal of every educator. Be sure to also provide incentives every once in a while as well, such as prizes or a class party with snacks or fun field trips that relate to class lessons. These will be sure to both boost and maintain class attendance. Create a culture in which all teachers and staff purposefully develop relationships with students.  After all, no student wants to attend class when there is a negative environment. We have all had moments in some parts of our lives where there was that one special teacher that gave us hope and believed or invested time in us when no one else did. Teachers like this inspire, push or motivate students to keep studying harder in class. Staff should reinforce that critical link between relationships and attendance, set expectations for developing relationships and attendance, set expectations for developing relationships with students, and model those expectations. A mentor program can also be set up to create an ongoing positive effect. Students want to feel like they are cared for and understood, or that their attendance makes an impact on the class as well. It is important to reassure them that they do indeed matter and both teachers and mentors can do this. Other methods can be monitoring attendance and following up on students with weak attendance; minimize obstacles to attendance; create opportunities for meaningful involvement; treat students with dignity and respect-as if they were your own; teachers should model excellent attendance; and use tap community resources to help. Other methods can be monitoring attendance and following up on students with weak attendance; minimize obstacles to attendance; create opportunities for meaningful involvement; treat students with dignity and respect-as if they were your own; teachers should model excellent attendance; and use tap community resources to help.