OT - to the teachers - first 2 days of school question?

[ICan'tWait]

I'm considering various vacation options over the next school year. One scenario would mean missing the first 2 days of school, but would save us over $500. To the teachers out there - how much do you think it would effect my kids academically/socially in their classes to miss the first 2 days of school? They will be going into 8th and 5th grade.

 

[BBandDisney]

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I teach 11th grade Physics. I don't think missing the first few days is a big deal at all. I'd give the school and the teachers a heads up so they don't assume your student is a no-show.

 

[An_Island_Girl]

Elementary school, not a big deal... middle school and up, no way!

 

[stitchfriend]

I'm not a teacher but I work for a school district. Our district has a policy that u cannot take the first and last 5 days of school off. Check with ur district before booking.

 

[3pletprincesses]

I use to miss the first few days of school as a child once in a while and I hate it. I felt like the new kids entering a classroom. I felt lost.

My girls school has a policy also abotu not missing the first and last week of school.

 

[Bob NC]

I'm considering various vacation options over the next school year. One scenario would mean missing the first 2 days of school, but would save us over $500. To the teachers out there - how much do you think it would effect my kids academically/socially in their classes to miss the first 2 days of school? They will be going into 8th and 5th grade.

Everyone is different, but, I would have never done that to my 8th grader to save $500.

 

[teller80]

I pulled my 10th grader out for a week and he was fine. I don't think it's a big deal.

 

[dimimi]

I use to miss the first few days of school as a child once in a while and I hate it. I felt like the new kids entering a classroom. I felt lost.

My girls school has a policy also abotu not missing the first and last week of school.

I am a teacher. What your kids will miss are all of the procedures for the class. Now both of your kids have been in their respective schools for a while. I guess for $500 I would just schedule it around school.

 

[ICF]

acadmeically they probably wont miss much....but they would miss getting settled into the class and figuring out who their teachers and such were.

I'd never have my kids miss the 1st two days. Seems like a bad idea to me.

 

[jrw118]

I am a former middle school Math teacher and currently a high school math teacher. I would not worry about it. They are not going to miss much.

 

[we3peas]

Dad was union so seniority ruled at his job. We always missed the 1st week of school. I was an honors student, didn't seem to harm me at all. All I missed was the rules, getting all the books assigned, and finding out who was in all my classes. No big deal. Not like I couldn't catch up in 15 minutes after I was back......

Go on vacation and if you can save some $$$ then definitely do it!

 

[mm1971]

I'm considering various vacation options over the next school year. One scenario would mean missing the first 2 days of school, but would save us over $500. To the teachers out there - how much do you think it would effect my kids academically/socially in their classes to miss the first 2 days of school? They will be going into 8th and 5th grade.

Not a teacher, but my dad was a teacher. From an academic standpoint, there is not a lot missed in the first two days. They will miss the classroom rules, school policies and meeting the teacher(s) and other students.

Personally, we have taken our children out of school a few times. Never in the first month as we wanted them to get settled first. It really is a personal decision. If you think they will adjust quickly when they return, you may be fine. If they have difficulty with change or it is a new school it may not make sense. $500 is a lot of money to save.

Good luck making the decision. It's not simple one.

 

[bumbershoot]

I like that the teachers are saying it's OK.


But the personality of the kids is important, and if they would feel at a loss because they weren't there from the beginning, it's worth taking into consideration. I was extremely shy, and although I despised being in school from 1st through 12th grades (college and grad school were OK), I would not have wanted to miss the first days. Would have made me feel new and uncomfortable. Then again, assuming your kids's schools are "normal", they are in the last grades of each one and probably won't feel as new as if they were going into 6th and 9th.

 

[AuroraRora]

In my Junior year of high school, my parents pulled me out for 2 weeks in the middle of pre-exam season. They gave me the option to cnoose if I wanted to go with them, or stay. I chose to go and took work to make-up what I missed, and made all A's, except for a B in a class i thought I'd make a C in. It all depends on your kids, IMO

 

[Aliceacc]

I teach on day one and quiz on day 3. I teach high school math.

 

[Sadie22]

I teach on day one and quiz on day 3. I teach high school math.

Good for you. Maybe it's a regional thing. Every teacher I ever had and every teacher my kids ever had did the same thing. My kids would not have wanted to miss the first days of school.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Academically it is probably fine. Socially it might be tougher. Everyone is finding their "place" in their classes. And your middle schooler will miss the first couple of grace period days when teachers are more lenient about students late because they get lost or forget their schedules, or are just trying to find the most efficient route.

 

[tinksgilrs251520]

delete

 

[ICF]

they look at me like "Are you kidding"...

I agree with your teachers. It's bad enough you would take your kid out of school for two straight weeks (especially in HS), but to do it for the first two weeks of school is nuts.