Cancelled Lessons

[dinulip]

Hi everyone!

I am new on this board, and hope that someone can help me... 

I have recently started to teach piano in my home and have about 20 students, mostly children.  As we are getting closer to Christmas, a few parents have cancelled their child's lessons for some rather frivolous reasons (ex.: a family trip to Mexico..., too many school activities before Christmas.... etc.).  Whenever possible, I try to reschedule the lessons, but some parents want neither reschedule, nor pay.  I am amazed to see how people can simply disregard the fact that I don't get my revenue!  At the same time, I feel bad about charging them the missed lessons, as I don't have a clear policy on the subject. 

Now, I want to write up a "cancellation policy", to protect myself against this kind of abuse - but don't know how to go about it.  Any advice or suggestion on the matter would be most welcome!

Many thanks!~

[the89thkey]

I would create a policy stating that once a lesson is scheduled, the lesson is final. Of course, if they want to cancel, that's fine. They will just pay you anyway!

[outin]

Most piano teachers here make it very clear that if you cancel, you pay. There's sometimes the opportunity to make changes in schedule, but the teacher is not responsible for that. I think it's best to not have much flexibility. I get my bill monthly, and if I cannot attend it's my problem.

[p2u_]

Cancelled Lessons

My policy is pretty straightforward: I NEVER take advance payments. No services provided - no payment. Period.

If they cancel more than 3 lessons in a row without good reason, they're history and they know it.

Paul

[outin]

My policy is pretty straightforward: I NEVER take advance payments. No services provided - no payment. Period.

If they cancel more than 3 lessons in a row without good reason, they're history and they know it.

I assume that teaching is not your primary source of income? That would make things quite different. The student may have valid reasons to cancel (illness for example), but is it ok for you to starve because of those?

[p2u_]

I assume that teaching is not your primary source of income? That would make things quite different. The student may have valid reasons to cancel (illness for example), but is it ok for you to starve because of those?

It's my primary source of income, yes. I'm an entrepreneur in some sense, so it's ME who has to take and spread the risks, not my clients. If you starve because your students don't attend lessons enough, then you are doing something wrong and need to change your business model. Taking money for something I haven't worked for would make me feel very unfomfortable.
P.S.: I have no trouble working with some people for free either. When they get good results, they will certainly do some word-of-mouth advertising.

Paul

[outin]

Taking money for something I haven't worked for would make me feel very unfomfortable.

But if you look at it from another viewpoint, you have already sold and reserved your time to the student and it's their choice whether to take advantage of what they bought or not.

[sucom]

I reserve lessons for my students one half term in advance.  This basically means I commit to being available at a specific time for their lesson at a specific time each week. This makes it impossible for me to earn any other money if they cancel.  The student commits to taking and paying for those lessons at the time we have both agreed.

I often get students wishing to cancel for various reasons - holidays, birthday parties, tennis matches, after school clubs, etc.  Frequently I receive very short notice, so that I can't even offer that lesson time to another student who wishes to change their lesson time.  Also, I frequently find the student saying they can't reschedule because of this or that.  Usually the form of cancellation is to email or text me on my mobile phone.  My response is to contact them back and say what a pity it would be to miss a lesson that they have already paid for.  This invariably causes them to suddenly find the ability to find a time when they can reschedule.

Would a parent appreciate losing some of their wages because their boss fancied a day off?  All too often, students or parents consider the piano lessons to be a hobby and therefore also consider their lessons to be a hobby for me when in fact, it's my sole method of earning a living.

One student paid me and said, there you are, you have some extra shopping money!  I wonder if he would have said that if I was a man?  I think it is very important to write a policy and hand it out to all your students clearly stating your terms.   

[dinulip]

Thank you, Sucom!  Your situation resembles mine very much.  Your comments were helpful to me.  I will write a new, much firmer policy over Christmas time.  It will become valid right in January.

Again, thank you!

[the89thkey]

I reserve lessons for my students one half term in advance.  This basically means I commit to being available at a specific time for their lesson at a specific time each week. This makes it impossible for me to earn any other money if they cancel.  The student commits to taking and paying for those lessons at the time we have both agreed.

I often get students wishing to cancel for various reasons - holidays, birthday parties, tennis matches, after school clubs, etc.  Frequently I receive very short notice, so that I can't even offer that lesson time to another student who wishes to change their lesson time.  Also, I frequently find the student saying they can't reschedule because of this or that.  Usually the form of cancellation is to email or text me on my mobile phone.  My response is to contact them back and say what a pity it would be to miss a lesson that they have already paid for.  This invariably causes them to suddenly find the ability to find a time when they can reschedule.

Would a parent appreciate losing some of their wages because their boss fancied a day off?  All too often, students or parents consider the piano lessons to be a hobby and therefore also consider their lessons to be a hobby for me when in fact, it's my sole method of earning a living.

One student paid me and said, there you are, you have some extra shopping money!  I wonder if he would have said that if I was a man?  I think it is very important to write a policy and hand it out to all your students clearly stating your terms.   

This post is hilarious and informative. Perfectly stated.

[gsmile]

I reserve lessons for my students one half term in advance.  This basically means I commit to being available at a specific time for their lesson at a specific time each week. This makes it impossible for me to earn any other money if they cancel.  The student commits to taking and paying for those lessons at the time we have both agreed.

I often get students wishing to cancel for various reasons - holidays, birthday parties, tennis matches, after school clubs, etc.  Frequently I receive very short notice, so that I can't even offer that lesson time to another student who wishes to change their lesson time.  Also, I frequently find the student saying they can't reschedule because of this or that.  Usually the form of cancellation is to email or text me on my mobile phone.  My response is to contact them back and say what a pity it would be to miss a lesson that they have already paid for.  This invariably causes them to suddenly find the ability to find a time when they can reschedule.

Would a parent appreciate losing some of their wages because their boss fancied a day off?  All too often, students or parents consider the piano lessons to be a hobby and therefore also consider their lessons to be a hobby for me when in fact, it's my sole method of earning a living.

One student paid me and said, there you are, you have some extra shopping money!  I wonder if he would have said that if I was a man?  I think it is very important to write a policy and hand it out to all your students clearly stating your terms.   

Awesome, and true. Although, I think I'm slightly more lenient; I usually allow a 1 day cancellation notice.

[teran]

One student paid me and said, there you are, you have some extra shopping money!  I wonder if he would have said that if I was a man?

Just wow... Terrible
But yeah cancellation policies are a good idea, at least for short notice ones. If someone is poorly and the parents project in advance and have the courtesy to notify you, I feel it's only fair to work something out. If it's the night before or on the day with some rushed "SORRY LOLLLLL!" text then they can pay.

You may think it drives people away but the more seriously you take yourself and the more you value your time, the more people actually take you seriously and respect your work.

I mean this is from science tuition experience when I speak as a teacher, and I mean I'm teaching the children of helicopter parents who want their little darlings to go to med school etc. So imagine if they're willing to jerk me around given the slightest inch, what such parents who think "oh it's just a hobby darling it won't put food on the table" would be like, so yeah I imagine it's even more important in this case.

People are masters at abusing things, shouldn't let them.

[the89thkey]

Awesome, and true. Although, I think I'm slightly more lenient; I usually allow a 1 day cancellation notice.

Sounds a little extravagant. I never allow cancellations, but if I did I would want notice before the preceding lesson (most of my students, 10 or so out of around 15, have lessons once and twice a week).

[cey444]

I had this problem when I first started teaching aswell. Now I have a written terms and conditions which I give to each student when they start lessons with me, I also make a point of stating that if you cancel without good reason within 48 hours ... then you pay. I have actually had a few students leave because of this! Some people will do anything to get out of paying -.-

If you are upfront with everyone and let them know the situation then it will be fine. Just make sure you stick to it, don't be too soft (which is a problem I have). I think people take advantage of me because I'm young and a female, but you need to come across as strict and treat it like a business. It's a job and the bills need to be paid, it's not fair to suffer just because kids 'have a birthday party to go to.' As mentioned previously, most see it like a hobby as opposed to a dedicated lifelong learning process. The way to get round this completely is by offering monthly/termly payments as opposed to weekly. This is what I do at the school I teach at and when the kids don't come ... I still get paid!

[cjp_piano]

Here is a direct quote from my policy. (Keep in mind, this is from the school year calendar, not including summer):

"Attendance:
Regular attendance is expected. There are a total of 35 weekly lessons available, but tuition is based on only 32. This is to allow for inevitable missed lessons. Students who don’t miss any lessons will, in effect, earn 3 free lessons!

If you let me know in advance that you need to miss a lesson, I may be able to reschedule it that same week. However, no credits or refunds are given for missed lessons. Tuition is due even if lessons are missed."

After 10 years of tweaking my policy, I've finally got it nailed! I don't mean the wording, I mean the actual policy. It's great. I don't have to worry about making up lessons, or last minute cancellations. They know that if they miss it, they miss it. But if they come as much as possible, they're actually getting a discount, because I've included 3 free days. Now, in reality, those aren't really free days. I've adjusted my tuition rate in order that I'm making what I want to make each month.

Less stress for everyone, and attendance is actually better!

[pairra]

Dinulip, out of curiousity how close to Christmas are your lessons? My breaks coincide with the schools, so if a student goes out of town for break, then it doesn't matter because there were no lessons anyway.

My studio's policy on cancellations is verbal, short, and easy to remember since I refuse to be the piano police. As long as the student informs me before their lesson time, then they don't have to forfeit their tuition for that day. So if their lesson is at 3, if they cancel by 2:59 they are fine. If they cancel at 3:01, then too bad.

I rarely do make-ups, and that's mainly because I don't have the time with a full teaching schedule. (Even if I did have time, I probably, unfortunately would have absolutely nothing available. At all.  ) And I don't mind last minute cancellations. I think of them as unexpected vacations.

As for writing your own cancellation policy, my suggestion would be to wait until the new school year. It's always easier to implement new things then. Most teachers state 24 hours notice is needed. Some never do make-ups, whatsoever. Others have a limit on make-ups or have one or two special make-up days.  When I used to do inhome lessons, my policy was that make-ups were during the summer. No exceptions.

[slane]

When I cancel my cleaning lady (due to travel) I always pay her. People think I'm mad. But I don't think they would think its mad to pay the piano teacher in the same situation. Even when I've been away for months I pay the cleaning lady. Although with the piano teacher I would pay to the end of term and then cancel I would think, because that's how one engages piano teachers; term by term.

Anyway, cleaning lady, piano teacher, any other person who provides services; you cancel, you pay! Its just manners. Good manners leads to good relations and one wants to be on good terms with one's piano teacher and cleaning lady.

[foxtot]

I have a little more lax policy on cancellations, but I do have a policy, and my 10 "requests" to students ...(such as practice tips and expected behaviour - my husband works at home so I need them to know they cannot bother him if the TV isn't working... I have several families who have multiple children and they wait in the living room, so sometimes they are there for an hour, and they can't go knocking on his door)... go out in a welcome letter at the beginning of the year or when a new student signs up for lessons. After being burned so many times with no payment, weeks and weeks of cancelled lessons... I have come to the conclusion that it is much better to have a policy they can look at and expect and one to which I can refer. My policy is that they pay for the lesson if they are a no-show or if they cancel less than 24 hours in advance (with the exception of illness). I also state that I will make every effort to provide additional lesson opportunities (over semester break, Christmas break, spring break, etc.) but it is up to them to take me up on it. I also take post-dated cheques and have them sign an agreement saying if their cheque bounces they will be responsible for the fee plus my banking fees attached to the bounced cheque, and I, in return, sign one saying I agree not to cash any in advance of the date on the cheque.

I understand your frustration... but sometimes there's not a lot you can do about it... some will fight the idea of paying for a lesson they didn't attend; most of the time I let it go. Others will clarify: "don't worry, we'll still pay you for this one! Thanks for understanding!", but I do know that when I take on students I risk the hit of cancelled lessons that aren't paid for. I also follow the school schedule to mitigate cancelled lessons. I don't teach over their school break, spring break, semester break, or summer break. Most of them forget, cancel, or aren't around, so I have tailored my finances to accommodate that.

[dinulip]

When I cancel my cleaning lady (due to travel) I always pay her. People think I'm mad. But I don't think they would think its mad to pay the piano teacher in the same situation. Even when I've been away for months I pay the cleaning lady. Although with the piano teacher I would pay to the end of term and then cancel I would think, because that's how one engages piano teachers; term by term.

Anyway, cleaning lady, piano teacher, any other person who provides services; you cancel, you pay! Its just manners. Good manners leads to good relations and one wants to be on good terms with one's piano teacher and cleaning lady.

Thank you for this comment!  So well said!  Maybe I should become a cleaning lady... 

[okanaganmusician]

Have each student (or parents) fill out a contract sheet at the beginning of the year.  Stipulate that there are no make-up lessons except in case of a teacher cancellation (which shouldn't happen more than once a year anyway).  Include the number of lessons you plan on teaching over the course of the year (I do 40 lessons a year from September to June).

Then have them pre-pay for the entire year with post-dated cheques for each month. 

Parents are MUCH less likely to cancel when they know their money has already been invested. 

The beauty is this - you are free to choose to reschedule a make-up lesson whenever you want.  Personally, if a parent gives me enough notice (example - one parent told me in January that they would be missing a lesson in March for holidays) I'll usually offer to reschedule.  But it was ME that offered, and they realize that's a favour to them, not an expectation. 

I'll also often give out extra free lessons in the month before exam season, so I feel more than comfortable with the seemingly harsh/rigid system I described above.

It eliminates a lot of problems, and parents need to realize that this is YOUR business still and YOUR policies...just because you do this for a living instead of a "normal" 9-5 job doesn't change that.

[dinulip]

I LOVE THIS MODEL!   
Thank you for your excellent advice, Okanagan Musician!

[dinulip]

It eliminates a lot of problems, and parents need to realize that this is YOUR business still and YOUR policies...just because you do this for a living instead of a "normal" 9-5 job doesn't change that.

I just LOVE this 'no-nonsense' model!    
Thank you for your excellent advice, Okanagan Musician!

[allthumbs]

Here is an article concerning this topic...

MAKE-UP LESSONS FROM AN ECONOMIST'S POINT OF VIEW
Reconsider the matter of missed lessons and make-up lessons . . .

FROM AN ECONOMIST'S POINT OF VIEW
By Vicky Barham, Ph. D.

I'm a parent of children enrolled in Suzuki music lessons. I'd like to explain to
other parents why I feel - quite strongly, actually - that it is unreasonable of
we parents to expect our music teachers to make up lessons we miss, even if
I know as well as they do just how expensive lessons are, and, equally
importantly, how important that weekly contact is with the teacher to
keeping practicing ticking along smoothly. I think that it is natural for we
parents to share the point of view that students should have their missed
lessons rescheduled, but if we were to 'walk a mile' in our teachers' shoes, we
might change our minds about what it is reasonable for us to expect of our
teachers.

Like many parents, I pay in advance for lessons each term. In my mind, what
this means is that I have reserved a regular spot in the busy schedules of my
sons’ teachers. I understand - fully - that if I can't make it to the lesson one
week (perhaps my son is sick, or we are away on holiday, or there is some
other major event at school) then we will pay for the lesson, but that my
teacher is under no obligation to find another spot for me that week, or to
refund me for the untaught lesson. And this is the way it should be.

In my 'other life' I am an economist and teach at our local university.
Students pay good money to attend classes at the university; but if they
don't come to my lecture on a Monday morning, then I am not going to turn
around and deliver them a private tutorial on Tuesday afternoon. When I go
to the store and buy groceries, I may purchase something that doesn't get
used. Days or months later, I end up throwing it out. I don't get a refund
from the grocery store for the unused merchandise. If I sign my child up for
swimming lessons at the local pool, and s/he refuses to return after the
first lesson, I can't get my money back. So there are lots of situations in our
everyday lives where we regularly pay in advance for goods or some service,
and if we end up not using what we have purchased, we have to just 'swallow
our losses'. On the other hand, if I purchase an item of clothing, and get home
and change my mind, I can take it back and expect either a refund or a store
credit.

So why do I believe that music lessons fall into the first category of 'nonreturnable
merchandise', rather than into the second case of 'exchange privileges unlimited' (which I think is one of the advertising slogans of an established women's clothing store!)? Speaking now as an economist, I would claim that the reason is that items like clothing are "durable goods' - meaning, they can be returned and then resold at the original price - whereas music lessons are non-durable goods - meaning, once my Monday slot at 3:30 is gone, my son's teacher can't turn around and sell it again. The only way she would be able to give him a lesson later in the week would be if she were to give up time that she had scheduled for her own private life; and that seems pretty unreasonable - I can't think of many employees who would be thrilled if their bosses were to announce that they couldn't work from 3:30 to 4:30 this afternoon, but would they please stay until 6:30 on Thursday, because there will be work for them then!

Many teachers hesitate to refuse our request to shift lesson times
(because our busy schedules do change), because unless they keep us parents
happy, we will decide to take our child somewhere else for lessons (or to drop
musical study), and they will lose part of their income. This is particularly
true in areas with lower average income, where it can be particularly difficult
to find students. So rather than telling us that 'well, actually, the only time
when I'm not teaching and that you can bring your son for lesson is during the
time I set aside each week to go for a long soul-cleansing walk, and I can't do
that on Monday at 3:30 when you should have turned up,' they agree to
teach us at a time that really doesn't suit their schedule.

Teachers, who are 'nice' in this way often, in the long run, end up exhausted,
and feeling exploited; they try to draw a line in the sand. However, too few
parents ask to switch only when absolutely necessary, and too many parents
want lesson times when it suits them this week, which is not the same time
that suited last week. The only time that I would feel entitled to discuss
shifting a lesson time is if the reason I can't make the lesson is because (i) I
have to do something for the Suzuki school and the only time at which that
other event can happen is during my lesson time; (ii) my teacher were to ask
us to participate in some other activity (e.g., orchestra, etc.) and that
other activity were to create the conflict. If the conflict arises because my
child is in the school play, and they have their dress rehearsal during his
lesson time, then I feel that I must choose between the two activities, and if
he attends the dress rehearsal my private lesson teacher doesn't owe me
anything.

During May, my eldest son will be missing three lessons because he is going to
accompany me on a trip to New Zealand to visit his great-grandparents. I do
not expect my son's teacher to refund me for those missed lessons, or to
reschedule them by 'doubling up' lessons in the weeks before or after our
departure. Since there will be lots of advanced notice, I might ask her to
consider preparing a special 'practice tape' for that period, or to answer my
questions via e-mail, but if she doesn't have the time (the second half of
April is going to be really busy for her, and she wouldn't be able to do the tape
until more or less the week we left) and so has to refuse, then that's fine. I
certainly don't expect her to credit me with three make-up lessons; there is
no way for her to find a student to fill a three-week hole in her schedule during
our absence. Instead, I hope that she will enjoy the extra hour of rest during
those three weeks, and that we will all feel renewed enthusiasm when we
return to lessons at the end of the trip.

Article Copyright & copy; 2001 Vicky Barham

About the Author - Vicky Barham, Ph. D., is the mother of two children who
are enrolled in Suzuki music lessons in Canada. She also teaches Economics
at the University of Ottawa.

[anakha13]

One student paid me and said, there you are, you have some extra shopping money! 

My goodness!!! I just laughed my head off. This reminds me of the time I had a student's mum pay me a month in advance once (this was when I was 22). Back then I was very lenient with paying by the month. She said, 'There you go, aren't you lucky!' I was like, 'Excuse me?'

[dinulip]

Here is an article concerning this topic...

MAKE-UP LESSONS FROM AN ECONOMIST'S POINT OF VIEW
Reconsider the matter of missed lessons and make-up lessons . . .

FROM AN ECONOMIST'S POINT OF VIEW
By Vicky Barham, Ph. D.

(...)

Article Copyright & copy; 2001 Vicky Barham

About the Author - Vicky Barham, Ph. D., is the mother of two children who
are enrolled in Suzuki music lessons in Canada. She also teaches Economics
at the University of Ottawa.

Thanks so much for posting this article, Allthumbs!  I felt so good after reading it!! )

[dinulip]

Thank you so much to all those who took the time to answer my questions!  I found some extremely interesting suggestions, which will certainly help me create my own cancellation policy for next year.  I will let you know its main points in due time!  Meanwhile, happy teaching to all! 

[green]

I had a student cancel today right at the time of the lesson, i had just arrived, and they were out. They pay in advance, fine if I am notified and dont have to travel, but I suddenly felt there should be some form of additional fee involved here! It takes me an hour to get to their house (and an hour back home). So I wasted about 2.5 hours altogether of my time. They have a two hour block lesson. They said they didn't anticipate how long they would be at lunch, but surely they knew that before the actual time of the lesson, so they've paid up until next week, unfortunately i cant afford to drop them, but they are first on my list!

[anakha13]

I operate a piano studio and currently we have a 24 hour policy. If they do not notify us 24 hours in advance, the lesson is forfeited. However any make up lessons are scheduled at the teacher's convenience. I find I have a big long list of make up lessons though and it seriously depresses the hell out of me.

I have actually had students drop out because they feel this policy is 'too strict'. It is true; people will take whatever they can get and be rude if they can't get their way. I have had a parent who was angry because it was raining and she didn't want to get out of the house and hop into the car to take the kid to the lesson. Rain? Is it really my problem it's raining? Or if there is bad traffic? I've heard all the excuses in the world. There was this one time it hailed briefly in the middle of a sunny day. The student was late 15 mins. The mother expected me to go overtime into the other students' lessons to compensate for her being late. I really wasn't sure what I should have done in this instance, in situations such as snow/severe weather. I gave her 15 mins extra some other time, but I felt that I shouldn't have. Any opinions on this type of situation, teachers?

Lol re: the shopping quote sucom!! That is hilarious. And no, I don't think that you would have had that remark if you were a man...

[patrickd]

It's official, I am be the most inconsiderate student for rescheduling my lessons approximately 30 times over the past year.

[bernadette60614]

As a parent, I can say that Xmas holidays and family visits are scheduled well in advance.

What if you simply had a written policy that said something on the order of:

If you need to miss a lesson during the winter break due to family/holiday reasons, you must let me know by Thanksgiving or you will be charged for the lesson.

Sometimes you just have to get on someone's to do list before the holidays start.

[slobone]

I'm not a teacher, but I hope at least you're all telling the parents in advance what your policy is so they don't get indignant when you ask them to pay for a missed lesson. How about billing once a month, the same amount each month, regardless of whether any lessons were missed for any reason? And it should be strictly understood that you will only make up lessons at your own convenience (since after all, you really do want your students to make good progress).

[brogers70]

It's good to have a policy up front, so there are no unpleasant surprises. Other than that, I think everything depends on economics and supply and demand. If there are more students than teachers, you can insist on payment for missed lessons with no make-up. If there are not so many students and you are not in great demand, you may have to accept only getting paid for lessons the students actually take. There's nothing personal here, only the question of what the market will bear.

[lrittmer]

I tell all of my parents and students when they first begin what my policy is.  If they are sick or on vacation they can be excused without paying for the lesson.  I do give them an opportunity for a 'make-up' lesson later in the week if they cannot attend.  Anything else and they still have to pay me.  I just don't feel right about making them pay if the child is sick.  But I also am not going to be taken advantage of either.  They know my policy.  Most of them accept it.

[anakha13]

I feel this is a tricky area. Even if you give out a policy people have this tendency to 'forget'. I had a mother who frantically rang me earlier this week because her child was running late from an excursion. She blurted out 'Can we reschedule the lesson?' Inside I was like, "Uh, no? 24 hour policy?"

I've read these couple of articles regarding make up lessons. They totally changed my perspective and although I haven't implemented the 'no make up lesson' policy, I will be heading in that direction. It will cause burnout if you try to accommodate students' needs.

https://ottawasuzukistrings.ca/makeuplessons

https://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/make-up-lessons-to-give-or-not-to-give-that-is-the-question/

Hope this helps.

[jpahmad]

No make-up lessons ever, ever!  And get back-dated checks, back-dated checks!

[magic_sonata]

As a student (and a part time teacher for young children whom are beginners), I am quite aware of the problem of cancelling lessons. My teacher sends my parents a contract at the start of my year of lessons (usually September through May) with expectations of me attending lessons and practicing. My parents sign it, and I do as well. If my teacher misses a lesson, then he makes it up (since we have all of our lessons planned the entire year, he has a lot of planning for his other students and me). If I miss a lesson, I miss it. But, we pay in bulk at the end of the 'school year' lessons, since he tends to get sick and has missed one or two make up lessons during the year. So, we move it into the summer lessons (which is a whole another contract)

For me, I think that parents and students should sign a contract from their teachers with all of the expectations that the instructor has for the child. And, as others have said, lessons should be prepaid and make ups should be allowed, as well.

As a teacher, though, you shouldn't plan out your lessons as you go along. If you have a lot of students, sit down or take time to plan out with the parents of every lesson during the year. Then your schedule can be open to make ups if needed, and things would run much more smoothly. Being a teacher, stay in contact with parents and make them aware of things that happen in your lesson, the requirements, and the consequences of cancelling or missing a lesson.