A note from a 3rd grade teacher

[rlduvall]

Gotta disagree on this one. I teach elementary school, and this is unacceptable. I'd be all about tattling here. I guess it could possibly be different if it were a math or science teacher of an upper grade, but a 3rd grade teacher needs to be teaching the basics of everything. No one being paid to teach my child would be getting my respect if they wrote that.

There are more important things for me to worry about then if a teacher misspells a word or uses poor sentence structure in a memo sent home to the parents.

 

[Jennasis]

The note wasn't littered with absentminded or careless typos. It calls into question the teacher's level of literacy. In my opinion,of course.

 

[BSmithington]

OP - I assume this was a gifted class? I have yet to meet a DIS parent that did not have a gifted child.

I'll give the teacher a pass. Assuming this was a gifted class perhaps it was short hand completed by the assistant.

 

[rlduvall]

The note wasn't littered with absentminded or careless typos. It calls into question the teacher's level of literacy. In my opinion,of course.

You're right and I totally agree that in the OP's situation it was horribly written. I was speaking generally of what I see come home, not this specific teacher interaction. But personally, even in this situation, I wouldn't forward it to the boss.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

He/she spelled something wrong. Fire her/him! Tar and feather! Crucify!

Sloppy? Yes. Unprofessional? Yes.

Going to forward it to her principal? So, you want to be "That Parent"?



You know what? They don't even get paid to work today. It's vacation.

 

[U2_rocks!]

The note wasn't littered with absentminded or careless typos. It calls into question the teacher's level of literacy. In my opinion,of course.

That's my opinion too. I could overlook certain things, but that whole note was very badly written.

 

[U2_rocks!]

How many of you have tried to write an important note, balance the checkbook, etc. while being interrupted repeatedly by your own children? The same situation happens times twenty in an elementary classroom. True, the students should know not to interrupt the teacher, just as I'm sure you've told your kids not to interrupt while you are on the phone. We all know how well that goes over, right?

Ummmm.... if you are a good writer, it's pretty much automatic i.e. you don't have to really think about it too hard. Sure, you may make the occasional typos if you are constantly being interrupted, but you don't write such a clumsy note simply as a result of being distracted. That note contained very simple thoughts and words - it should have required very little concentration for a 3rd grade teacher.

 

[alicat8]

The note wasn't littered with absentminded or careless typos. It calls into question the teacher's level of literacy. In my opinion,of course.

Exxxxactly. Can't think of many things more important than an early childhood educator's personal literacy level. That's the basis of the majority of your school career.

 

[cabanafrau]

The supply of teachers I've seen in my kids and grandkids lives lead me to be very thankful we are able to be part of a strong homeschooling co-op.

This kind of statement always makes me suspicious that in fact someone isn't completely confident in their assertion, rather looking to bolster perception of their choice whenever a possible opening presents itself. I'm sure homeschooling has produced some tremendous results. I'm also sure that a school-based education has quite a bit of merit as well.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

If this was a high school math teacher, I would giggle to myself and move on. But since this is a 3rd grade teacher who presumably teaches their students all of the fundamental subjects (including Spelling and Grammar) I would be concerned. How are they supposed to teach their students write properly if they can't even do it themselves?

 

[DWGal210]

As for the OP's note, you could always respond with, "I wood like to meat with you abowt my sons neads."

I would be tempted to do that, too.

One typo or even two maybe, I could see; we all make mistakes. But that many?? Yeah, I would be forwarding that to the principal.

 

[pad406]

You should reply with "Well, if all else fails, at least he can be a third grade teacher."

That is hilarious

And from a family of teachers (Dad, Mum, Sister and Niece), I take it as a joke before I'm set alight.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

That is hilarious

And from a family of teachers (Dad, Mum, Sister and Niece), I take it as a joke before I'm set alight.

Thank you. My mother is a teacher as well.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Sorry but I can not agree with that on an advanced level. I am an elementary school teacher and would not feel comfortable at all teaching my own children any math or science past the 6th grade. Plus what about the electives like foreign languages???

There are plenty of sources out there, including on-line classes.

For now, our language if choice is Latin and my daughter takes it through an on-line course.

There are resources out there. Just because you feel uncomfortable does not make it impossible or even difficult. It is a personal decision that a parent must make. But it should not be hindered by opinions that fail to recognize the resources that do exist and the success that does occur.

 

[Disneychick75]

ITA! I just talked with a mom who is pulling her children out to homeschool over the common core. She has not been educated past high school so I am sure she is not as highly qualified as she thinks.

I know at least 10-15 people who never got to high school who have started multi-million and in a couple of cases, multi-billion dollar businesses. Education is good but not necessary for success.

He/she spelled something wrong. Fire her/him! Tar and feather! Crucify!

Sloppy? Yes. Unprofessional? Yes.

Going to forward it to her principal? So, you want to be "That Parent"?



You know what? They don't even get paid to work today. It's vacation.

"Johnny is eager to learn but motifications need to be made due to his academic delays for his to be successfull."
"He benifits for addtional adult assistance to complete task and stay on task."

4 words misspelled not to mention "his" is improperly used. Also, the sentences are a mess. It is not as though one word was wrong.
How did this person pass the state's teacher exam?

 

[Fortuosity]

How did this person pass the state's teacher exam?

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...and-in-to-take-their-certification-tests?lite

I got that same note, only she claimed to be a Nigerian Princess, not a teacher.

lol

 

[CdnCarrie]

There are idiots in ALL professions.

Exactly.

 

[Jennasis]

Exactly.

Of course there are, but when you find an idiot plumber you fire them. An idiot doctor? Time to find a new doc and maybe let the medical board know. I think it's important to weed the idiots out, lest we end up like the movie Idiocracy (great movie BTW).

 

[girlswithbows]

I know at least 10-15 people who never got to high school who have started multi-million and in a couple of cases, multi-billion dollar businesses. Education is good but not necessary for success.

That is a very true statement but educating a child is very different from running a million dollar business. I am also not saying that parents who have not received a degree/degrees in education or unable to home school successfully because that would be both unfair and inaccurate . I was really referring to the particular parent in my post. My many interactions with her both in person and via emails/notes is how I came to the opinion that this child would be better off academically in a traditional school setting. This mother has formulated her opinion of the common core based solely on information from social media and that is why she is pulling her daughter out of a school.

 

[EMode]

How many of you have tried to write an important note, balance the checkbook, etc. while being interrupted repeatedly by your own children? The same situation happens times twenty in an elementary classroom. True, the students should know not to interrupt the teacher, just as I'm sure you've told your kids not to interrupt while you are on the phone. We all know how well that goes over, right?

I would expect the teacher to 'check their work' before handing it to a parent, especially if he/she were distracted while writing it.

If this was a high school math teacher, I would giggle to myself and move on. But since this is a 3rd grade teacher who presumably teaches their students all of the fundamental subjects (including Spelling and Grammar) I would be concerned. How are they supposed to teach their students write properly if they can't even do it themselves?

MTE


As to the posters who have an issue with homeschoolers who aren't educated after highschool, the teacher who wrote that note has a college education.