Managing Cellphones in the Classroom | Teacher Tip Tuesday 

I love the relationship you have with the boys!

As a student I was kind of a pain the ass, BUT when a teacher leveled with me, they earned my respect and loyalty for forever!! I hated and so so resented the "because I said so". That does NOT work.

I had a teacher in high school who allowed us to use our phones in his class. It was an honours biology class, and he wanted photos for our lab reports, so we were allowed to have them on lab days. There was complete trust in us that we would use them wisely. He also allowed us to charge our phones in his class, even let us borrow his own phone charger. You could let it charge there even when you weren't in his class. There was total trust between him and his students, and he really fostered it.

I enjoyed this video. Thanks for posting! I am a teacher of 34 years. I deal with cell phone meltdowns every single class. I have a strict rule, cellphones stay in pockets or book bags. They are never to be taken out. I see firsthand the effects of distracted learning. On Tuesday I asked a student nicely to put the phone away. I got a cell-phone induced tantrum in return. There was no placating her. The office sent a security guard and school nurse to try to calm her down. The exact same thing happened again today with the same student when I had to ask her to put her phone away. I am respectful, talk quietly to the student privately, everything we're taught in those classroom management workshops we take as teachers. The next thing I am dodging F bombs being thrown right and left and not so subtle threats. When this happens, it spreads like a cancer and green lights every other cell phone addicted student who has a b hoone to pick with me about anything to meltdown too. Dealing with cellphone addiction is an ugly, soul draining business. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to implement the charging area thing that you do or taping them up and hanging them. I have a class of 37 and I have to walk the floor to keep the kids on task. The moment I have to turn my back or walk away from that area I know a student would come up and take their or a classmate's phone. They charge on the downlow all over my room and it happens all the time. There is always one student or another student yelling about who took their phone. I had one great take away from your student Spence when you asked him do students understand why the teacher doesn't want them to use their phone in class and he said no. It gave me an idea. I am going to find a bunch of videos on cellphones and how they negatively impact learning. I'm also going to have them do Internet research on cell phone-media addiction. I already found a few students having meltdowns videos when their phones are taken away to make it humorous. I'm hoping it may take me off as the target of their cell-addicted rage if they understand where I am coming from when I tell them no phones in class. Thank Spence for me!

Your interactions with your students are what make these videos golden! Talking about not getting into power struggles with kids is the #1 thing I would tell any teacher!

I had a teacher in high school who would tell us to put our phones in this shoe rack at the beginning of each class. But I would forget that I put my phone there like almost every day. So eventually I stopped putting it in the dumb shoe rack and just kept it in my backpack like a normal person.

I loved every last one of these ideas. This year, I can honestly say that cell phones have not been that much of a problem. Also, your classroom is AMAZING!!!!

I love every last one of these ideas. This year, I can honestly say that cell phones were not that much of a problem. Also, your classroom is AMAZING!!!!

Awesome video and hilarious interactions with those students; love it. As a teacher that deals with cellphones in a similar manner I agree wholeheartedly on avoiding a power struggle, with refusals. Conversation over confrontation, always. A tip I would add, when confiscating a phone is necessary, say "thank you" when they hand it to you... and mean it. I want them to know I appreciate that they just did something that will help their learning, even though they didn't want to.

I think the key is the relationship you have with your students. You have a great bind and that makes it special.

I really liked you asking the students for their opinion

Love these ideas! First year teaching and greatest challenge is to keep students engaged because they are constantly on their cellphones. Thanks for this !

I agree with explaining it and breaking down the rationale of why. I feel like students buy in more to your policies and procedures when they understand it. I also tell my parents the policy, so please stop screaming at me in emails and calls because I took your child's phone. However, with one class, we were working on graphing, so we decided to leave our ringers on for the day (me included) and keep data on how many times a phone got a notification. 83 times in an hour with 21 phones. Then, we separated into categories who or what app the notification was from. Texts from parents were our biggest category. That was eye-opening.

That hair do is sooo new wave. I like it.

His classroom is beautiful. I kept getting sidetracked from the message because I was looking at all the decor and books.

This makes me smile.

Dude. This is stellar advice. I'm trying to get my teaching cert this year so I can teach next fall (I'm currently a College and Career Advisor at hte same school). I'm addicted to my cellphone. My kids are too. And it's hard to be as entertaining as a Tik Tok video 6 hours a day, 180 days a year, BUT... I want to try. When I sub or teach in classes, half of my students are on their phones. I don't want to get in the power struggle, but I have to admit I have. Love your videos, they have helped me a TON... Thanks, my brother!

You’re an amazing teacher. I have taught adult students most of my teaching career. I don’t think I’d be a good fit for this “ nonsense “. Congratulations

I teach middle school and I feel like if I did some crazy weird consequence like hiding it, some of my students might WANT to get caught with their phones (and make it a game) have you had anyone like that? Just wondering Love your content!!

This was really cool! Thank you. It’s refreshing to see I’m not the only one who has students just chilling in my room all the time!

Your room set up kicks A$$!! (dope cellphone policies too)

Thank you for your advice!

Needed this advice for my new classroom. Thank you!

So funny! Love this!

This is exactly how I handle cell phones in my class. Every class, after attendance, I start with this announcement "phones away" and I give them a few moments to do just that. I start class and away we go. If a phone is out, I ask them to put it away and it's over with. I don't make it an issue, I treat my kids with some respect, and I rarely have a phone problem. It's not that difficult.

Thank you so much for the tips! This is one topic that I keep debating on, but it's good to hear from others about how they approach it. Can't wait for you to make more videos!

Great video!!!!!

I wish I could take my students phones! I am so sick and tired of them being on their phones during my class! The administration has to deal with the students that are on their phones during class and so many teachers don’t care if they are on their phones. Phones should not be allowed in class period! No reason! Awesome advice!!!

Love your teacher tip Tuesdays!

Omg!!! I love this. I'm totally going to try it. Hilarious!!!!!

I tried these tips today in class and they worked really well! Thanks for the advice!

My school has a no phone policy, so students must leave their phones in the locker at the beginning of the day and if they are seen with it, the principal keeps it for three days and only gives it back if students bring a letter from their parents apologizing.

I am so freaking jealous of some of you as 1. Our school has no official policy 2. Our school/school district is resistant to an official policy 3. Admin will not collect phones and teachers have been strongly discouraged to collect phones in the name of liability. A lot of us are using a wall pocket system with a hub charger and 1 point ec each day (we purposely make tests and quizzes 80% of grade) . Stick is a parent contact and 2 min detention during passing period.🤷‍♂️not sure what else to do. Doing nothing last year was a disaster and "put your phone away" was a constant thing that was largely ignored. I have 10th graders, which after lockdown, were the equivalent of 7th and 8th graders socially and emotionally. As an aside, this is still useful and you are hilarious. I feel your pain trying to make vids with announcements.

Do you have any advice for future substitutes (who may want to teach at that school when certified)?

Love the proactive approach! I will be adding a charging bar in my room next year. My favorite reactive thing I do is to pull the index card i keep in my pocket that says “no phones” slide into the camera and snap a selfie with the card. If you get one of those foil lined bags for carrying frozen groceries home and use it for a cell phone jail it will drain the battery twice as fast. Having fun is the BEST!!!!!

Love your videos! Thank you for the tips!

how do you set your categories up like as a chemistry teacher i set mine up 60% goes to tests 20% goes to labs and 20% goes to Hw/Quiz

This man speaks truth. The some of the greatest moments in my classroom revolve around discipline. Just giving students a real consequence, or a goofy way out, can often diffuse a situation, and get the desired response anyway. At least that has been my experience. I will say listen to our man Reynolds though, do stuff that works for you, there is no catch all, or magic bullet.

How would I approach this from a Elementary special education approach? I was a student teacher during my high school years and I was teaching in an elementary school special education isolated unit classroom. One day, one of the girls decided to record me on her phone and that goes against our District's policy so I confiscated the phone from her for the day and I explained to her that the school rules state that she cannot have her phone out during class time. Do you think there was a better more professional approach I could have taken?

I truly appreciate your videos. Thank you so much for sharing!

Great video. I don't really know why kids have phones anyway. When I was a kid we were lucky to have a Huffy bike from Kmart. Now kids have expensive phones with ongoing plans. The only purpose is to tick tock and goof off.

this is amazing. And i was cracking up at some parts

I have been teaching for 42 years - you are fantastic - happy for you to teach my Grandchildren (That's the highest compliment).

I've always been tripped out by how much the adults in the building complain about student cellphone use when we are just as guilty in our meetings and professional development sessions. Lead by example!

Any tips about students wearing and not removing their earbuds?

Handsome teacher 😜

I really dug your video Reynolds and am inspired to do my own. I think you and I share the same philosophy about cell phones and respecting where the kids are coming from but we have very different approaches. I'll let you know if I get around to making a video. Thanks for this!

I love how happy Siphus looks in your classroom.

What about those clear hanging caddies? I was thinking of putting a big charging strip right next to it. But my question is is it easier to start the year out saying 'you put your phone here'

Hey Reynolds do you have any tops on how to get students to somehow signal you when they need your help because they don’t understand something. Like today at school my one Math teacher knows about my Anxiety and so does the person that comes in and helps him but anyways today they noticed that I am a shy kid who doesn’t raise my hand and when I don’t understand something I don’t tell him so he wants me to figure out something to somehow signal him that I do t understand something without raising my hand and telling him I don’t understand it. So do you have any tips on how I can move something or do something to get him to notice I don’t understand what he is teaching to us. ( Sorry it is so long!!!!)

Document, document, document. Don't fight with the student. Record that you made the expectation clear, and use that documentation if they have a lower grade then they should.

Sometimes if I see a kid on snapchat or texting I tell them if I see their phone I get to send one message to whoever I want. Usually they put it away after that. Works best with students you have a rapport with.

In my schools phones are not allowed. They almost prefer that security takes them, but that can be troublesome and take time. As teachers, we can take them; but there is a problem. If we take a phone and a student picks it up later and says "oh no! there's a crack on the screen that wasn't there before." We could be reliable for the phone, whether or not the crack was there when the phone was taken. Also, an out of the way charging station is not bad. But unless you are constantly watching it, phones can be stolen. My question is what can we do in these situations?

what do you do when a student asks if they can listen to music

All the cool teachers make vlogs on smartphones,tablets or Chromebooks.

I think I'm going to invest in a charging area next year. We have an out of sight policy, but it's not really followed. I'll remind my 8th graders over and over, but it just gets tedious. I do take phones though. Doesn't do anything. I wish parents would just call the school instead of calling or texting their kids. That's problem #2 for use.

I need your help. My students are literally playing video games and are watching tic tocs on their phones. My student demographics are very similar to yours.

The school I'm student teaching in just started their new cell phone policy this year (Monday) where they will have to turn them in and put them in their individual envelope before they go through the scanners. At the end of ninth period, they will receive it but it will also take up time from instruction ninth. The students and parents both are protesting it by petitions, and a walk out.

love these ideas. The duct tape paper towel thing is happening! LOL

This is funny - but I’m pretty sure I’ll be fired quick if I take this advice!! Lol 😆

One thing I like to say when students are doing the “sneaky” looking down at their phone under the desk (only with boys) is, “Dude! Why are you sitting there laughing at your own crotch?” Everyone laughs, the student immediately says, “I was looking at my phone!” and they put it away, problem solved. If a student refuses to hand over a phone, no power struggle! I give them a choice. “You can either set your phone right here on my desk, you’ll be able to see it the whole period, or you can explain to the vice principal why you need to have your phone out during class.” A few students actually chose to go to the VP, thinking they had some really good reason and they would win. They were sadly mistaken. Now I’m starting at a private school where cell phones are banned on campus. If they bring a phone to school, it must remain off and in their locker. This includes during lunch, passing time, etc. When the day is over, they can get their phones out-once they are off campus. Parents have to sign off on this as part of the parent contract. I went to observe for a day last week and I didn’t see one cell phone all day. It was weird! But highly effective. OTOH, at my public school, one day I walked into the office to see a dad SCREAMING at the secretary about how no one is to ever touch his son’s personal property again, blah blah blah. 🙄

You obviously have a great rapport with your students. One issue I have with confiscating phones is what happens if I take and accidentally drop and iPhone X and break it. I am going to be held liable for a $1000+ bill?

I teach high school, and I'm not allowed to take phones. So I go the explanation route for why I don't want to see phones out. I tell them that in the adult world, being on their phone while someone is talking to them, or having it on their desk (even face down) is impolite. It would be disrespectful to have your phone on the table during a meeting or during a date with someone. Same goes for headphones in the ears. They understand that reasoning, even though some of them don't think it's impolite, and I can tell they like learning about social cues and adulthood expectations.

Can I vent for a minute!? I work at an inner city school and phones are such a frustration. If I notice a kid on their phone I tell them to put it away in a firm voice. If they still have it out a minute after than initial warning I take it. I've had students tell me to my face, "No, I don't have to give you my phone, you're not my mom!" Pisses me off SO badly! After watching your video I realize I should probably just chill out.

Some of my coworkers can be real jerks about phones, but I try not to be. The official rule is that phones that are out are to be picked up and sent to the discipline secretary and a parent must then pick it up. I’d rather give a warning first. I rarely have to tell them again. Also, if a phone goes off and it’s in a kid’s bag or pocket, the kid is obviously not playing on the phone. I just make an announcement that the phone needs to be silenced. Sometimes I’ll try to be funny and say that I’m busy and could they please take a message. I’ve said it before on Instagram, but I love Cephas.

I have tried it all(except your inventive methods) and they will refuse to turn it over even to the office and they end up in detention. Long story short either way they are not getting there work done. Even calling the parents and so on. Mine will choose to be on their phone in class(they have time to do all their work in class) and yet complain that they have no time or the materials to get it done in the evening, too bad. They also know that I grade on effort and they do not earn points for being of their phone.

I like your ideas but I am wondering if your playfulness with the phones encourages the kids to go down that path.

Good ideas about the cellphones in the class, but what if the school put some drawers in the room of the guard, so the students are obligated to put their cellphones there instead of taking them to the class.

I really hate that the school I teach at doesn't allow us to confiscate students phones and just place them on my desk until the end of the lesson, we are not allowed to even touch them full stop. Might try implementing the power board for charging, but not sure how it will go as I'm a woodwork teacher and students are moving around the room.

I try to find ways to show them how to use their phones to make them smarter. So I encourage them to use them to do research, they can use them to look up their grades, I try to get them to or reminders in their calendar, we have used them to submit photos from their lab. But if I have a it's who says no to giving me their phone I give them a choice. I get it for the period and we move on our you can make a big deal about this and go to the office. 95% if the time I get the phone or of that decision, but it's those decision to make them it's not a power struggle

I loved these approaches! In my district, we are strictly forbidden from even touching a student's cell phone. So as much as I absolutely loved your weird "punishments", I cannot implement them. I agree though, I provide them a place to put it with a power strip so that they can charge it. If I catch them on it, I just ask them to put it away in a low key way. If I catch them on it again after that, then I insist that they need to either put it in their backpacks or in my cell phone charging station. If I catch them on it the third time (if this is within the same day or two days), then I will let them know that security is going to need to come to escort their phone to the office. I have yet to have a kid get to the third step. Usually after step two, they know that it's serious and they're about to lose their phone. I have two kids who I know have violent potential, so I am still firm but tread a little more carefully with them so as to not be too confrontational.

Unfortunately I cant take a student’s phone, it is illegal. I cant make them to put them in a special box/ space etc. I have to let them answer the phone because if they say it is an emergency, and I Dont let them answer, ....that would be a real problem. Tips!?

Great video and some great advice. Not a fan of the duct tape and paper idea, because it creates waste. One question: if this problem is so persistent and new devices, like smart watches and augmentation goggles are coming in, why not find a way to put them to good use, like in classroom activities?

I invested in a company called Yondr. They are individual pouches that lock up like a security tag using a magnet. This way they get to hang onto the phone but can’t access it. The upfront cost wasn’t cheap but totally worth it. I bought 30 for $200 but they have sent me free replacements if any have broken.

Kids nowadays will never understand life without phones. I didn’t get a phone until I was 18. And I bought it myself.

I'm a parent and it sounds good to me👌👌👌👌

My son said he wants you as his teacher 🤣

The guy at 2:10 was totally enjoying that.

Thank goodness kindergarten kids don’t have cell phones.

😂

My old school used to have a "no cell phone on school property" rule.But most teachers didnt really follow it. But the ones who did hard core had the most issues. We would have to pay $15 for every time it got taken up... even if it was an emergency. One girls mom was in the hospital, she had her phone out at lunch talking to her dad .. some jerk principa/( dress code/cell phone natzi as we called him) took it up, Her dad had to come to the school from a hospital 1 hours away , leaving his wife and then pay $15 to get it... boy was he pissed.,...ANYWAYS your ideas are much better than my old schools lol!

I LOVE the game show idea. I'm wrapping a phone in duct tape and paper towels tomorrow, though.

I made one of my students answer his phone the other day to remind whomever was calling him that he was in class.

Are you afraid of being held responsible if you tape a cell phone somewhere and someone else takes it?

Haha. I am watching this in class. And I am a student.

THESE ideas are funny but are they legal?? lol

Teenagers are smarter and more reasonable than we think. You'll only experience the best of them when you stop power tripping.

I’ve tried the “phone call” and “administrator” advice. I get “I don’t care go ahead” 😒😒

Allowing cell phones in class is an abomination to the education system. Why would the dept of education allow for the hugest distraction in the human race inside the classroom where students are supposed to be concentrating and respecting the teacher and the lesson. I wonder how the superintendent would react if all his executive staff were on their phones while he was giving a presentation/meeting. Heads would roll. But yet these same superintendents have placed their teachers in that same chaotic state in their classroom and expect them to teach!!??? It’s a waste of taxpayers money.

They don’t pay attention why not just let em fail. Life lesson. That’s the parents fault for not stressing their education. Sucks to suck

Phones shouldn’t be allowed in schools. Period

What a shame to spend so much time and energy on cell phone BS.

Uhhhhhh, all the kids but a handful use their cellphones at all times in class. I cannot lecture to them, they won’t do class work or homework. 90 percent score F grades on exams. They don’t care. Should I tell them why they would be better off getting a work permit and going to work full time and putting money in the bank - even at minimum wages they would put $90K in the bank in 3 years. And if they would pay attention in my business class they would know how to invest that $90K ...

Sorry, Cephas, I mispelled your name--great name. I can never spell names

I thought there was something one time about these kids not being to afford haircuts? But they have cell phones. It's ridiculous that teachers have to deal with this crap. Phones belong either at home or in their bags, OFF. Not on vibrate. First offense, phone goes to principal's office. 2nd offense, meeting with parents. Anything after that should be suspension. End of story.

Best way to discipline the phones: Don't mention it or even care (unless it is making sound and obviously distracting everyone).The biggest punishment is to let them get a bad grade or let them not know the stuff. If they don't care about grades in the first place than let them be. Not everyone has to care. Quit being an attention seeking bum that has to have all eyes on them to teach. Just do your lil lesson and go on with your day.

SUGGESTION: just change job. who would want this nonsense all day ??

Or you can acknowledge that cell phones are just as much of a distraction as books, and you’re just being difficult in a position of power. I look up stuff pertaining to the subject to assist my studies and I still get it taken lol

No mention of disability or how cell phones can be a tool. Too bad. Good vid otherwise