How soon to tell teacher?

[jtdl]

Just wondering what others have done when pulling kids out of school. My DD is in grade 8 and she will miss 11 days of school. I've heard so many people ditching their vacation plans because the new Ontario curriculum is so difficult. We had originally planned to go next year but then found out grade 9 is much worse. So how far in advance do you tell the school? I've heard that teachers get rather upset if you ask for work to be sent with students when they will be off on vacation, but do you think it would be asking to much if I were to ask for an outline of what she will miss so that I can find work for her myself? She is new to this school, the teacher was off sick at the time of parent-teacher interviews and has yet to reschedule them, so I have never even met him!

 

[cslittle999]

One of the reasons that teachers don't like being asked for work to take on vacation is that they have to prepare everything ahead of the rest of the class. How far in advance classroom materials are ready really depends on how organized the teacher is and whether or not they have taught the grade before.

You might be better off asking for the outline as you suggest and then make a commitment with the teacher for all of the missed work to be completed by a certain date after the trip. We'll probably use this strategy with our kids for out trip in December.

I'm guessing that we'll give the teacher a couple of months notice.

 

[Sandyincanada]

I let them know as soon as I can and then remind them again when its about a week or 2 away and tell the kids to remind them again the day before we go. I send a copy of the letter to each teacher and a copy to the office. I always ask if they can provide the kids with work so they don't get to far behind but after several years of doing this, not one teacher has provided any work ahead of time. They have always been able to catch up when they return though, we usually go a week.

My DD is now graduated but we are taking DS out for 8 days of school this Feb (he is in gr 10). Unfortunately, because of the new semester with new teachers, they are not going to get alot of notice this year...I'm hoping that won't cause problems.

 

[sunkissed212]

One of the reasons that teachers don't like being asked for work to take on vacation is that they have to prepare everything ahead of the rest of the class. How far in advance classroom materials are ready really depends on how organized the teacher is and whether or not they have taught the grade before..

This is true but most teachers have lesson plans and assignments created at least a week or two in advance. What my parents used to do when they would take me out of school for vacations (and it was usually 2 weeks), was tell the teachers as soon as we knew when the vacation would be and then remind them a few weeks before and at that time,ask for the work that will need to be done.

My parents took me out of school every year from grade 1-10 and we never had any real big problems with teachers and/or getting homework to take along on the trip. In fact, a lot of the teachers said it helped get them planned ahead of time since they wanted to make sure to have the work ready for me before I left.

All teachers are different though. I think that communication is key!

 

[crazee4mickey]

Our trip was not until this December-pulled kids out for 3 weeks-but we notified all teachers in June as soon as we found out about the trip, then I went around to each in September to let them know again--then I sent each teacher a letter approx. one month before asking for any work they may miss so we could do it ahead of time! Overkill , I know but I work in the same school and know that the more notice teachers have of the holiday, the better prepared everyone is!
We have 4 kids-gr. 1, gr. 2, gr.10, gr.12--it worked out great, no upset teachers and homework done!
Moral of my story...as soon as you know let the teachers know, then remind at least 2 weeks before you are to leave ..if you leave it too long it tends to look like school was not the most important thing and it just "slipped" your mind! Give teachers the same notice you yourself would appreciate!

 

[maryliz]

I told them first week of Dec for our trip this week. Now keep in mind, my kids are only in JK and grade 2. DDs teacher and I agreed that if there is work to be caught up, she will give it to her upon her return. No biggie since she's only 7. And that DD will do a daily journal complete with pics to present to the class. Oh, and MY idea ... have DD do an extra book report over Xmas break -- DD was not impressed by my thinking

I know it would be great if the teachers could give the work ahead of time, but like others said, they don't always have it done that far in advance. I just figure that if we need to spend a week getting caught up (which we won't because of her age), then that's the price to pay. I cannot believe how much school has changed in how much work, and how more complex the curriculum is now. But am I taking her out for 2 weeks in October ... you betcha!

Mary-Liz

 

[DisneySpence]

We always tell the school at the beginning of the school year then about 2 months in advance we send a letter to the teacher then again about 2 weeks prior. Never hurts to keep them reminded saves any problems also keep a copy of each letter and date submitted in case any problems arise. Our teachers always seem to have the work ready for us and we take it with us and it is usually completed in teh car during the drive down and done after we eat dinner in our room each night.

 

[Disneyof3]

Last year I told my son's teacher the first day back in the new year and we left 20 days after that and she had no problems with sending work. She didn't really want to and just wanted him to have a good trip but I insisted on it. This Feb. were going again and have informed the teacher in December and will again write a letter next week to remind her again. This time he is in grade 3 and will miss 6 days. My daughter is in SK so it really won't effect her anyway. I feel the earlier the better for the teacher and your child.The teacher this year was more concerned if he was going to miss the Grade 3 provincial test. Supposely they can't miss these tests at all. :

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi I give our teachers a few days to a week. Last year a snow day changed my daughter's last exam, to the day we were leaving.I phoned the school and explained. They were not too happy but she got to write it early.My girls have never had to do homework while we are gone, the one teacher gave my daughter a hug the last day and said to have a good time.Have fun. We are down in early March.

 

[alohamom]

I am glad you posted this thread! I read it last week and then immediately proceeded to write up notes for the teachers as we leave in 11 days. I had totally forgotten!!! Until now, I usually tell them when I know or no less than 2 weeks before unless it is last minute however my kids are only 5 and 7 and it has never really been an issue. Thanks for the reminder...

 

[Susan--Ontario]

It really depends on the child's teacher. I always ask for the work, but I've had teachers send everything he's going to miss and I've had his teacher this year (Grade 4) say.. No big deal. to me it is more important that the time is spent together as a family than the child doing hours of homework each day. That worked out great for me because then there was no arguing about homework verses swimming. He did miss a few things but it wasn't a big deal. Our school (a private Christian school) does the grade 3 testing in a cycle. Year 1 -- grades 3 and 6, next year--every grade--3 to 8 does it. My son did miss the last day of testing but he was able to do those two tests during lunch hour on the previous days. That reminds me that I must go and get his results.
I've never had a problem and if I did I'd be talking to the principal.

 

[jtdl]

Thanks for all the tips. I sent notes to all the teachers shortly after posting my inquiry and only received a note back from one teacher. He said to remind him about 1 week prior and he will gather up some work. I guess at the same time I will remind the other teachers who did not respond as I'm sure they have forgotten about it.

I think it is important to get some homework as here in Ontario our cirriculum has recently changed and each "unit" is done and then not touched upon again during the school year. Each senior grade math unit is about 2 weeks long - which is how long she'll miss, so if they start a new unit the Monday after we leave, the class will be tested on it before we return and DD will know absolutely nothing about it. Then next year when it's brought up, she'll be lost. We have a 24 hour drive, so we've already decided she will do her homework during travel time.

 

[tinkerbeth]

Hiya,

I'm a HS teacher, so just thought I'd drop in my .02. I've had kids go away recently and I agree that the more time you can give the teacher to prepare the better. I sometimes don't know exactly what I'm going to be doing in 2 or 3 weeks, or even if I do, I might not have the actual assignments drawn up that far in advance if I've never taught that course before. The best advice I can give you is that after you return, make sure you get everything that was missed. THe only time I get annoyed with students who leave is when they don't take responsibility for catching up what they've missed. For a highschool student, I would say get one of your friends in each class to get copies of everything that's handed out. that way the teacher doesn't have to scramble to find you a copy of everything when you get back.

I don't mind AT ALL if people leave b/c i understand how expensive it is to go at peak times. However, I have in the past resented students who came back from vacation and a week later said, "I didn't know that we had such-and-such due." When I hear that, I think. Okay. So you went on vacation while I was teaching and now I have to re-teach it to you because you couldn't ask someone what you missed? That's when I get annoyed. Can you tell this just happened to me last week?

Just my opinion. Have a great trip.