[nobe-l] cell phones in the classroom

[Craig Cooper]

Greetings,
After six weeks in the classroom, in my first year of teaching in a
public high school, my biggest classroom management challenge has been
the inappropriate use of cell phones.  Most students observe the
school's policy that all cell phones are to be out of sight during
class, unless the teacher approves their use, for an academic purpose.
If they are caught with their phone out, it is taken to the office,
where they may retrieve it, at the end of the school day.  However, a
few students have figured out that I will not know if they are using
them, so they have them out, texting and such.  At times, I have an
assistant in the classroom, which helps in identifying improper cell
phone use.  However, I do not have another sighted adult in the
classroom, during much of the day.
Occasionally, I catch them, as there is a distinctive sound that a
cell phone makes, when it is dropped onto the top of a student's desk.
However, it is still difficult to quickly identify the offending
student, in order to take his/her phone.
If you have developed productive strategies for dealing with this
obstacle to learning, would you please share them?
Thank you so much.
Craig Cooper