Parent-teacher interviews

[MamaLema]

My kids' school is doing something new this year. Interviews are a first-come, first-served basis instead of the usual where every parent gets an interview time.

If your kids' school does this, do you like it?

I just have this feeling that I'll go and there will be 20 people before me.

Just wondering

 

[bananiem]

Ugh, the middle school does that here and I HATE it. Even though you know there are a bunch of parents that don't bother to come it still takes 1-1.5 hours to get through 6-7 teachers.

 

[Bob Slydell]

That sounds like a recipe for disaster. Do they guarantee that if you come, you will get a chance to speak with your child's teacher? Or is there a limited amount of spaces available to meet with them? Having to stake out a spot for something like that like it's a Playstation or concert tickets is insane and seems like it would discourage people from going.

 

[beautybelle]

Im not a big fan of public schools anyway so Im just wondering how long its going to take them to just phase out parents all together. Schools are just plain flat out not parent friendly at all anymore. Im constantly getting papers about "how parents can help at school" etc. but when you go they act like they cant wait to get rid of you UNLESS of course you're bringing money. LOL

 

[bananiem]

Im not a big fan of public schools anyway so Im just wondering how long its going to take them to just phase out parents all together. Schools are just plain flat out not parent friendly at all anymore. Im constantly getting papers about "how parents can help at school" etc. but when you go they act like they cant wait to get rid of you UNLESS of course you're bringing money. LOL

I don't get that feeling at our public schools at all. I get all kinds of thank you notes from teachers and kids when I've helped out.

 

[The_Horned_King]

Im not a big fan of public schools anyway so Im just wondering how long its going to take them to just phase out parents all together. Schools are just plain flat out not parent friendly at all anymore. Im constantly getting papers about "how parents can help at school" etc. but when you go they act like they cant wait to get rid of you UNLESS of course you're bringing money. LOL

WOW bitter abotu something much???

I am a teacher in Ohio..in my district we do ths different grade conferances different ways....
Elementary Sign up
Middle School and High School walk in

That said do you really need to go see every teacher????
Why not find out from your child who they really want you to go see.
Add to their list the ones you feel you need to see((for good or bad reasons)) and then do it...if your child has 7 teachers why not choose half.

Also in my district and Myself ESPICALLY I find it very important to have contact with parents...At years start I sent home a ltter with my school phone number, home number, and e-mail address. to all the parents along with my teaching philosphy. I incourage them to call with any concerns comments, or suggestions. Add to that the fact that I periodically send notes home with children who are doing extra well. not only my problem children.

Also don't be afarid to simply call your childs teacher and see if they can meet with you at another time or day(in person or over the phone) about your child. More then likely they will worksomething out and this way you gett as much time as you need to talk to them.

 

[MamaLema]

Do they guarantee that if you come, you will get a chance to speak with your child's teacher? Or is there a limited amount of spaces available to meet with them?

I have no idea All the info we were given is what I stated in the original post, plus where all the teachers will be. That's it. Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait until Thursday to see how it goes.

 

[MamaLema]

Im not a big fan of public schools anyway so Im just wondering how long its going to take them to just phase out parents all together. Schools are just plain flat out not parent friendly at all anymore. Im constantly getting papers about "how parents can help at school" etc. but when you go they act like they cant wait to get rid of you UNLESS of course you're bringing money. LOL

Sorry to hear that. My kids' school is pretty good. I used to help out quite a lot in the school and at Christmas, the teachers would always buy me gifts as a way to say thank you.

 

[Pigeon]

That's insane. I would contact the teacher and explain that I have to get to work by a certain time, and could we arrange an appointment. My guess is that the teachers will accommodate you.

 

[Hannathy]

We experienced this for the first time this fall and it worked out ok. They had all the teachers in the gym at small tables and then 4 chairs slightly away for people to wait arranged alphabetically . We knew who we wanted to see and started there, if the teacher had more than 3 people waiting we went to the next one and came back. We never waited more than 2 parents. The teachers spent about 5 minutes with you. It worked out ok and we saw everyone, I even went and said hello to the Orchestra teacher because he looked lonely! Truthfully if your child is having enough problems that it takes more than 5 minutes to touch base you should be scheduling a private meeting.

 

[drag n' fly]

We have both and I swear it is the most ridiculous thing ever thought up. I want to get in get to the point come up with a plan and get out. We tried the drop in thing once and it took almost three hours to fit in 2 interviews. Appointments are short but as far as I am concerned my time is worth something also.

 

[pigletz]

We've never done ours by appointment. The parent's just show up from 2-5 or 6-8. With that said, we don't have a lot of parental involvement in my school. We sometimes have parents waiting but I'm usually sitting there by myself with about 20 minutes in between parents. I could see how this would be a disaster in a district where the parents are involved.

 

[tkd lisa]

My kids schools do this. Some teachers have a list for you to sign up, others it's just wait in line.

Last year I had two kids in middle school, so I was trying to see 9 teachers in the 2 hour window. At a very minimum, I stuck my head in and said "I think things are okay with child xyz. Do you agree?"

They do set up guidelines (the teachers know the rules and try to keep the parents on track) to meet for no more than 15 minutes with a parent. The teacher will suggest a conference if it's more involved than that.

I have had the most success in setting up team conferences before school with the kids teachers. I email the team lead and ask for this, and it's usually set up within a week. That way all the teachers can see what works well and what doesn't for this particular child. And I can suggest things that I know do and don't work.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I have a child in the middle school and one in the high school, and that's the way both are handled. Last year, our oldest was in high school too, so I juggled 3 kids in one day.

Doing the middle school wasn't bad because the teaching "team" all have classrooms close together. Also, I know two of them, and ran into them elsewhere in town beforehand, and said "so how's he doing?" So I skipped them.

At the high school, DD's classes are all over the place, so I was running around (and getting lost) and also I couldn't see from outside of one classroom if another classroom had a shorter line. But I got them all in.

My kids get good grades...DS's lowest grade was a 95...but I'm not going to limit who I go to see. Sometimes, esp beyond elementary school, there aren't many opportunities to get to know the teachers. I want them to know that I care about my children's education and what's going on in class. And just because they're getting good grades, you never know what might come up in a conversation at parent/teacher conferences.

 

[summerrluvv]

Im not a big fan of public schools anyway so Im just wondering how long its going to take them to just phase out parents all together. Schools are just plain flat out not parent friendly at all anymore. Im constantly getting papers about "how parents can help at school" etc. but when you go they act like they cant wait to get rid of you UNLESS of course you're bringing money. LOL

Wow, I don't have that experience with my son's school at all. They are very appreciative when parents help and very accomodating to working parent's regarding conference times, etc.

 

[krismom]

We still have the pre-arranged appointment thing. It works out well, with everyone getting 15 minutes. I was bothered 2 years ago, thoug, when my DD teacher set a kitchen timer and abruptly stopped talking (mid-sentence!) when it dinged.

 

[beautybelle]

Wow! It sounds like you all are a lot better off than we are here then. I have all but got down on my hands and knees and begged for better communications with my sons teacher. This year and the ones before as well. It is horrible at our school. Example: You can go into the front office at sons school and the principal and secretary and whoever else happens to be working in the office and they will trip over you and not say a word. "can I help you?.....Do you need anything?" I have stood there and stood there and they will look right at you and not say a word. Finally I'll end up getting mad and say Im here to pick up my son or whatever it is im there for.

Its unbelievable but like I said if you're bringing in fundraiser money or donations or whatever they're all smiles. Maybe it just where I live I dont know but I do know that I have zero faith in our schools.

Bitter? Maybe a dab and I feel with good reason.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

We still have the pre-arranged appointment thing. It works out well, with everyone getting 15 minutes. I was bothered 2 years ago, thoug, when my DD teacher set a kitchen timer and abruptly stopped talking (mid-sentence!) when it dinged.

15 minutes seems like a lot. There are probably 100 kids on each "team" at our middle school, altho of course, not all parents go to P/T conferences. Also, some need 15 minutes, some don't. That's one of the bad things about scheduling time.

One year, they did have signups and did 10 minutes each at the high school. (DDs had to schedule all their teachers individually, and if a teacher ran late, then the parents would be late for their next scheduled time.) One teacher had 5 minute meetings because so many parents wanted to "chat" with her. She met DH and me at the classroom door with "Hello. Are you going to tell me how much your child hates my class too?" LOL She doesn't teach there anymore. (She was a Math teacher that couldn't calculate the kids' grades...kept having to re-do them till they were correct. Sad.)

 

[RitaZ.]

I don't like the sound of it. At my children's schools, we get one-on-one conferences by appointment. I like that much better.

 

[CEDmom]

Im not a big fan of public schools anyway so Im just wondering how long its going to take them to just phase out parents all together. Schools are just plain flat out not parent friendly at all anymore. Im constantly getting papers about "how parents can help at school" etc. but when you go they act like they cant wait to get rid of you UNLESS of course you're bringing money. LOL

Wow, that's too bad your school doesn't want parent involvement. Our school loves parents being involved. Every day you'll find parents all over doing things.

As far as the OP's question, I just don't see how this is effective. How does the teacher plan if he/she doesn't know what parent will walk in the door next ? I just can't imagine this being a benefit to anyone.