Looking For Input From Middle School Teachers!

[a1tinkfans]

Here goes,

Our family is going on vacation for the FULL Holiday break, leaving on a Friday and returning the following Sunday night.

So, I am considering e mailing his teachers next week to tell them that we will not be able to take school work/books with us and if there is any work that needs to be done over vacation, can we arrange to get it before, to be sure he will be able to get it completed. He is a good student, some advanced classes and all the teachers have email addresses, so thats easy.

Let me say that I am HOPING that there will be none, BUT so far they seem to give some type of assignment over EACH break. I find it very frustrating, never mind the kid!!. I purposely don't pull him out of school and everyone deserves a vacation without worrying about schoolwork.

So, any suggestions as to wording? I really feel the need to touch base before the trip (which by the way is his first ever out of the country trip with extended family)

THANKS for ANY help!!

 

[frtchr]

I would just be as polite as possible. I know in my district, teachers are not required to give out any homework early to students if they are leaving on a family vacation. That's a lot of extra work for the teachers. Since it's over a break and not a regular school week, maybe the teachers won't have as much to give work-wise. I know what you're saying about homework over a break, but please look at it from the teachers' point of view. A week without any reminder of school can be a LONG time in the mind of a middle school kid. We have to spend a lot of the week right after a vacation reviewing material because the students blow everything out of their heads!

Have a good trip!

 

[Nicoleclaw]

I am a middle school math teacher. Ditto to what was said above. If I was giving work over break, I would give it to you early. But people think I am way too nice! lol Be aware of school policies, etc. I don't normally give work over vacations though. Have fun!!
PS I am going on my Spring Break too!

 

[DawnM]

Wow, I taught middle school for years and never have heard of giving homework over a Spring break! I think the kids AND the teachers need a break!

Could your child politely ask each teacher if they plan to give hw during the break? Or could you send a note?

We were not required to give hw early or during a child's absence (I know this is different) either unless it was excused. I always did anyway, even if other teachers didn't.

Dawn

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I teach 7th grade Social Studies and rarely assign homework at all (in return, I tell students that I expect them to give me 100% in the classroom). So when a parent tells me their child will be missing class time, I do send home some sort of activity that will allow the child to keep up with the class.

In your case, I think you are completely reasonable to ask for the work in advance. It doesn't sound as if your child will miss any class, so you aren't coming up against school rules regarding legal/unexcused absences. Also, any teacher who is expecting students to do work over vacation must have the assignment in mind well ahead of time anyway. Even if they don't have an actual paper printed out, they should be able to verbally describe the task requirements enough so that your child could get the work done.

I commend you for being forthright about the fact that your child will not have time to work over vacation - as a parent, I agree that kids often don't get the chance to finish their work. That said...

Just keep in mind my pet peeve (and I've posted on this in the past): if you *ask* for the work, please hold your child accountable! I can't tell you the number of times parents tell me of upcoming absences, I scurry to get assignments set up, and then the child returns not only empty-handed but completely ignorant of the content because they did not crack a book! Your child sounds like a responsible kid, but even those ones sometimes drive us teachers nuts!

Best of luck in dealing with the teachers and in enjoying your vacation!