I had them sit together and write improvement goals in the kids' student planners. Which is fine with me. I don't care how they motivate themselves, so long as the kid does the work. Everything within our power with the resources we have. The Rogers staff has adopted several strategies to provide extra help and support for struggling students.
Homework is a major focus for kids who stay after school.
Writing down your homework, doing your homework, turning in your homework. Those three things are what we emphasize. Many district leaders consider Rogers' parent outreach efforts a model for other middle schools. In addition to PTA and other typical parent gatherings, Moore sponsors parent coffees to discuss the school's academic focus and its standards-based approach to teaching. The school publishes regular issues of a parent-focused newsletter in English and Spanish.