Question for teachers

[catgirl]

I plan to go to Disney April 28 to May 7. My 6 yr old niece in 1st grade is coming with me. I have asked my brother to see if the teacher would have a problem with me having her out of school for 8 days, but he still hasn't. As a teacher, do you see this to be a problem?

My niece is doing very well in school and I have told her that we cannot go unless her teacher gives her approval and to plan on homework that must be done while we are away.

I would really like to reserve the trip, but afraid the teacher/school, may not allow her to miss so much. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[taylor3297]

Now I taught middle grades and there were always students taken out of school for vacations that families couldn't fit in when school was out. In all of the places that I have taught, it was up to the school administration to decide if the student would be excused or not.

As a teacher the sooner I know about the student being absent for a length of time the better. It gave me time to put together some lessons for the student that so he/she wouldn't be too far behind when they returned. The only thing I didn't like was when I would put together work for the student (per parents request) and the student returned with none of it done. Majority of the lessons I would send wouldn't take more than 15 minutes a day. I purposely chose 15 minutes lessons figuring the student would have work from other classes. So, if you do take your niece with you, which I hope she does get to go, if the teacher sends work, please make sure she does it.

I am taking my daughter out of school next year for a trip to Disney, and she will spend time working on school work while we are there.

 

[princessmom29]

It really depends on where she goes to school ad what the school system's rules are. Sometimes the decision is completely out of the teacher's hands. In our district the first 4 days would be excuses with a parent note, but the last 4 would be unexcused and she would recieve zeros on anything that was assigned and any tests that were taken during that time. As a teacher i don't get to make the decision. I just have to enforce the policy. Her Dad needs to find out ASAP what the policy is, and if there is state testing during that time, because that could also prevent her from going. Some districts will excuse a vacation if you ask in writing so many days in advance.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

Moving to the Disney for Families Board.

You're going to get a variety of answers because different schools and teachers have their own policies regarding student absenteeism for family vacations. Your DBro needs to find out what the school's policy is and how it will impact your niece.

Unless the cancellation policy is really strict and you would stand to lose a tremendous amount of money, I would make the reservation now and then cancel/modify it should it turn out that your niece cannot miss that much school.

 

[mjkacmom]

As PP have stated, you really need to ask the teacher, and see what is the policy in the school district - 8 days is a lot! Also, you need to see when the state testing schedule is. I've taken my kids out of school in elementary, but just 4 days. Does the trip need to be so long?

 

[tzolkin]

It really just depends on the school, so your brother needs to find out.

At our school the absences are considered "unexcused", but my DD has never had a problem with missing school and making up her work (we go for two weeks). I usually mention it to the teacher at least a month out and they have always provided the work that would be missed or alternate assignments. (For example, last year DD's class was studying plants so her science assignment was to keep a journal of plants that she saw. We were there during the Flower & Garden festival, so we took lots of pictures and got info at Epcot.) When she was as young as your niece, usually the teacher just asked that she keep a journal of the trip. The teachers have always been positive and have never had an issue with the absences.

Since our school has no set policy for unexcused absences, I just deal directly with the teacher (letting them know when we will be gone, making sure our trip doesnt conflict with any state testing or important events, and make-up work). When we return I send a note to the office that simply states, "DD was absent May 18-29th because she was out of town with family."

And yes, DD has always brought all the completed work the day she returns. Last year, her teacher gave her the work several days before we left she she completed it all and turned it in before we left. Then she just had to keep a journal during the trip instead of bringing along books and finding the time to do her assignments.

 

[MrsPete]

I plan to go to Disney April 28 to May 7. My 6 yr old niece in 1st grade is coming with me. I have asked my brother to see if the teacher would have a problem with me having her out of school for 8 days, but he still hasn't. As a teacher, do you see this to be a problem?

8 days is too much. Way too much, even for a good student. I suspect your brother feels the same way, and that's why he hasn't asked the question.

 

[ceecee]

I have to agree that 8 days is too much. We took my daughter out for 5 days every year during elementary and stopped at middle school (they are really touchy at that level here). She is an excellent student and since we went at the beginning of the school year, she mostly missed the last years reviews. I always told the teachers and got homework assignments. In our school you have to have over 3 days approved to be an excused abs. in order to make up assignments. Can't you just do a nine day trip (4 weekend days and 5 school) or choice a date she has a day or two off. Make sure you aren't missing any state testing days as well.

 

[kaywoody]

As a teacher I think it's too much. They will cover several concepts during that time. Homework doesn't catch you up if you missed all of the initial instruction, reinforcement and reteach time. Two or three days would probably be OK, but eight is WAY too much.

Also, our district is paid according to Average Daily Attendance. That's money that won't be there next year when we are hiring teachers, budgeting for consumable expenses, etc. That's money out of that school's budget for the next year every time a student is out- even with illness, much less on vacation.

 

[kpgriswold]

If your niece is an excellent student, missing up to 5 days should not be a huge problem in 1st grade. (This assumes that her school district will count vacation time as an "excused" absence.)

If your niece struggles at all in school, then missing a whole week may put her at a disadvantage that takes all quarter to make up. Her parents will have alot of work to do with her at home to help her catch up.

In no case would I have a child miss 8 days of school. As several pps have said, this would be really hard on the child!

And while it would be great for this child's teacher to put together a packet of work to take with her, please do not demand that it happen. Teachers already do ALOT of work outside of the paid work day, and catering to every child whose family pulls them for frivolous reasons isn't a fair expectation.

All of that said, I have pulled my kids for 3 or 4 days just before or after a holiday to visit Disney, and felt no guilt. It IS Disney, after all!

 

[ARmomof2]

I am a first grade teacher, and it all depends on your child. If she is a good student, and you are willing to take her work load to do on vacation... GREAT! I think the benefits of traveling and spending time with family are wonderful. But, please check the testing schedule first. Also check the school policy book for the absence policy.
FYI...I will be taking 5 days out of school myself for a family trip to WDW in Feb. (With my principal's approval of course!) So I am a little biased.

 

[Minniemama350]

I am a first grade teacher, and it all depends on your child. If she is a good student, and you are willing to take her work load to do on vacation... GREAT! I think the benefits of traveling and spending time with family are wonderful. But, please check the testing schedule first. Also check the school policy book for the absence policy.
FYI...I will be taking 5 days out of school myself for a family trip to WDW in Feb. (With my principal's approval of course!) So I am a little biased.

I agree. I was thinking that if the CRCT was done and over you would probably be more likely to be in the clear. However, if they would not have taken it yet, I wouldn't do it. It isn't that the teacher will be imparting specific information just before the test, but they will be practicing format, which is crucial for a 1st grader(I teach 1st too). Kids that are out alot right before miss out on learning what the test will be like. I've seen kids to not pass that should've because they were absent two weeks before. NOT that I'm saying that would happen. Be sure you're not gone during any of it either. That is a big deal too. There is a window of time for taking the test including make-ups.

When it comes down to it, if the school is informed now it will go better, just as others have indicated. Just avoid testing.

 

[JUJU814]

As a teacher I think it's too much. They will cover several concepts during that time. Homework doesn't catch you up if you missed all of the initial instruction, reinforcement and reteach time. Two or three days would probably be OK, but eight is WAY too much.

Also, our district is paid according to Average Daily Attendance. That's money that won't be there next year when we are hiring teachers, budgeting for consumable expenses, etc. That's money out of that school's budget for the next year every time a student is out- even with illness, much less on vacation.

I think it's perfectly fine for first grade..doesn't sound like she'd miss 8 complete days of school..there's got to be a weekend in there. I wouldn't give it a second thought...BUT it's really up to her parents.

I wanted to comment on the whole money thing with school districts. As a parent, I wouldn't give a hoot about that. I pay a fortune in taxes. If I wanted to take my little 6 year old out of school for a week to take him/her to disney, worrying about the school's budget and money would be the last thing on my mind. The schools should not be penalized financially because of some absenses. I know that's how it is these days, and not much can be done about it, but IMHO, it's ridiculous. One of the one million and one reasons we stay out of the public school system..

First grade is one thing...middle/high school is an entirely different issue.

 

[Cinderella94]

You're going to get a variety of answers because different schools and teachers have their own policies regarding student absenteeism for family vacations. Your DBro needs to find out what the school's policy is and how it will impact your niece.

I agree!

Having said that...my mom has taught 1st grade for 19 years and would (and has!) said "Go for it!"

1st grade is really not that huge of a deal to miss. Do it while they're still young enough---once they hit middle school it's impossible.