Attendance Matters
Ariel Vasquez (8)
Why Attendance Matter at Jack C Jordan Middle School
Attendance plays a huge role in being successful. Every morning the first bell rings at 8:35 a.m. sharp. But for most students that bell means they are already late to their first period. Poor attendance and tardiness can lead to big concerns on campus. From missing learning opportunities to disturbing the class, and this can lead to falling behind in classes.
A Students Perspective
To get a student’s perspective,I interviewed 8th grader Sofia Hernandez.”Being late makes the whole day stressful, because you’re trying to do late work and also trying to pay attention to your teacher,” Sofia explained. “ When you’re already late, you miss the beginning of your class, and while you’re trying to catch up the teacher is already moving on. It makes it so hard to multitask when you don’t know what you’re doing.” She later stated in the interview that she didn’t like missing school, because if you miss one day it can lead to you having so much extra work.
A Teachers Perspective
After hearing students’ perspectives, many teachers agreed that attendance affects learning. Teachers started to notice the difference between the students who show up to school on time, from the students that are constantly late to all their classes or have many absences. According to Mrs. Martinez, “ The first 10 minutes of class are when I explain the lesson goals,” she explained. “If students aren’t there in class they would be lost because they weren’t there when I was giving out instructions, and this can lead to them following behind.” She later told me in the interview that most students have a hard time getting back on track.
Studies Show
Research from “ National Center for Education Statistics,” shows that attendance is very important because it is linked to academic success. The more often you attend school without being absent can higher your academic performance. Students who miss school often lose learning foundation skills, and this can lead to significant setbacks. Students who attend school regularly tend to perform better than their peers on assessments and tests.
Building Strong Habits
Jordan Jags staff often reminds students that attendance is important by reminders over the announcement, parent notifications, and rewarding students that have no absences. Every class counts, and good attendance doesn’t just impact your grades, it builds self discipline, and habits. In the end, attendance isn’t just about showing up, it’s about staying on track, and preparing yourself for success beyond middle school.