Sitting in/observing in child's classroom

[sunlver]

Has anybody ever sat in on their child's classroom just to observe?

My oldest is a freshman in highschool. He has told me going ons in his Spanish class. My son is no saint, he has the "gift of gab", , so I am not going to prove my son is some saint LOL..

What do you think are the appropriate steps to take? I know as a parent, we have rights to observe. I just emailed his counselor, and asked her what steps to take.

Last week, there was a meeting between the counselor, my son and my husband. I wasn't able to go because of nobody to watch my 2 younger kids.
My husband is a lot nicer then me , he left with no answers, and the spanish teacher denying everything...

So as anybody ever sat in on a classroom?

 

[LMC]

While I know this is allowed, I have not ever done it. I figure that by the time I sign in, give my destination, and the office reports that the classroom has a visitor coming then what's the point? The point of observing is being able to watch whilst noone is aware so you can get a true picture of things. I have a kid on an IEP and I would LOVE to be able to go up there and peek in on every class to see if they are following his IEP. I know they aren't by his reports but how do I prove it when I can't have an unannounced visit? Don't know what you can do other than, tell the office you don't want to be announced, you want your visit to be a surprise.

 

[JoyG]

I teach 3rd grade and I encourage parents to come observe whenever they want. I HIGHLY encourage parents of behavior problems to come observe.

That said, I only observed my own kids in nursery school where there was a two way mirror.

I tried to sit in with my second grader and he was mortified to have me there. So I stood outside the door and listened instead. I can't imagine observing a 9th graders class, unless I was doing it as a punishment. If my kids were mortified in 2nd, they'd never live through the experience in 9th.

 

[daisyduck123]

Hi! 1st grade teacher here.

At my school, (elem. school w/ 650 students) we get a couple of parent requests every year to come in & observe the classroom. My principal tells them that they can not just come in, sit, & watch but that she'll be happy to "walk thru" with them during instruction.

When parents come in and sit to observe, it almost always causes disruption. The children get excited, say "hi", & then ask why their own parents can't come in. I'm sure it might be different in high school, but in elementary school,...all I can say is "Thank goodness" my principal doesn't allow it.

 

[vettechick99]

I teach 1st grade and the kids are never the same when their parents come in. They are always 10 times worse, if you can believe it! They are so excited to see the parents they can't stand it, and immediately start goofing off.

I would only observe if you could do it secretly. So you can really see your son's behavior!

 

[MushyMushy]

I've observed them, but from the point of view of an education student or volunteer.

But I know you're not going to see true goings on while you're there. Do you think you would?

 

[flying_babyb]

We encorage parents NOT to visit since well, with our kids, they cry and get all upset since they want to go home with the parent observing.

 

[Plantlady]

We had a student in our school, whose parent did not believe how misbehaved he was. So, he would come observe, which, would snap the kid right out of it.

So, he was told.. to please come, unannounced, (still has to sign in at the office of course) and just watch through the window, where his child wouldn't see him.

This did help him to see what his child was like, when a parent wasn't there.

So, at least in our school, the teacher, everyone was very open to a "secret" visit.. where the student didn't know. The teachers sometimes knew, sometimes didn't, but they had nothing to hide, so it really didn't matter either way.

 

[sunlver]

I teach 3rd grade and I encourage parents to come observe whenever they want. I HIGHLY encourage parents of behavior problems to come observe.

That said, I only observed my own kids in nursery school where there was a two way mirror.

I tried to sit in with my second grader and he was mortified to have me there. So I stood outside the door and listened instead. I can't imagine observing a 9th graders class, unless I was doing it as a punishment. If my kids were mortified in 2nd, they'd never live through the experience in 9th.

Well I have made a deal with my son. I will tell the teacher not to say who I am, as for the rest of the students not to know I am his mother
Thankfully(In this situation)we do not look a like , He said he was ok with me coming to his class as long as I dont look at him, or talk to him

 

[sunlver]

Actually I am more observing to see the teachers actions, not really my sons

 

[Robinrs]

We encorage parents NOT to visit since well, with our kids, they cry and get all upset since they want to go home with the parent observing.

A NINTH grader??

 

[Shelton123]

The kids will just act like perfect little angels when parents come in. It doesn't provide any info. With Elementary, they are not such masterminds yet, so it would be useful. Middle school and up, there's no point.

 

[Robinrs]

Actually I am more observing to see the teachers actions, not really my sons

I considered doing that myself. My son had a teacher who was very verbally abusive... something that he observed between the teacher and other students, not himself. I discussed this with the admin and he was provided a para, more to observe HIM than not. My son saw an instant difference.

 

[debster812]

We encorage parents NOT to visit since well, with our kids, they cry and get all upset since they want to go home with the parent observing.

You're currently working in a day care or preschool, right?

That post you made earlier about the job interview that set off all kinds of red flags to you, well this statement of yours, would set off HUGE red flags to me as a parent. If my child was in a facility that encouraged parents NOT to visit, he would not be there long.

To the OP, I'm not sure you'll get to see any of the teacher's 'actions' either. She's likely to be on her best behavior with a visitor in the classroom. I'm not sure what sitting in will actually accomplish.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Are there no other students to back up what your son is saying???

How about a small recorder in his jacket???
(probably not something that is good from a legal standpoint... but, possible that what is recorded might catch the principal's attn?)

PS: I know that parent's visits can be disruptive, but, like the above poster who is the parent of a child with special needs on an IEP, I have found a few, short, walk-in visits to be VERY enlightening. (not looking for anything incriminating, but very enlightening as to how things are going on and how my son may be having difficulties....) One time, after I noticed that my was coming home from school upset, anxious, overwhelmed... (just like he had had tooooo much) I decided to 'stop in' and found that my son, who had preferential seating in his IEP, was sandwiched in with all the other kids... who by nature are active and physical... with all the tables butted up together into rows, with about 18 inches of space, like what one sees with the all-in-one cafeteria tables with those tiny seats.

Like I said, I know that parent visits can be disruptive... but, I would have a huge problem with anyone tellling me, as a parent, that my child was under lockdown and I had no access.... When the new principal turned our school into alcatraz, with parents as forbidden enemy number one... That is when I pulled my child out of there. I completely agree with this...

.... would set off HUGE red flags to me as a parent. If my child was in a facility that encouraged parents NOT to visit, he would not be there long.

 

[MM27]

I teach 3rd grade and I encourage parents to come observe whenever they want. I HIGHLY encourage parents of behavior problems to come observe.

I do too. I've had parents come and spend anywhere from a period to an entire day. It was so funny to see one mother that denied that her son was a problem, yelling at him all day. And I didn't say a word She looked so stressed out at the end of the day

There was a 3rd grade teacher at my school that had a really out of control kid. The mother actually hid in the closet when the kids came in. After watching him in action for a little while she popped out and the kid was shocked, to say the least.

Actually I am more observing to see the teachers actions, not really my sons

Do you think if there is an issue that the teacher would act the same with you there if she knows why you are observing? The same way kids act differently, I would assume that a teacher that was doing something wrong (don't really know what your issue is so I'm just using that as an example) would probably fix it in front of people watching too.

 

[MushyMushy]

A NINTH grader??

That's what I was thinking!

I'm sure the kid will cry... when he sees a parent coming into the school in the first place!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Okay, I am curious...
Inquiring minds want to know!!!

What type of alleged (have to make sure I say 'alleged'!) words/behavior are we talking about.

I agree that a teacher would fly-right with a parent in tow....
But, if the allegations are serious, the school should have staff discreetly keep this under observation. (They would not necessarily tell you right away if they were doing this.)

 

[Buckalew11]

Hmm...don't the kids in this class talk their cameras in and video these goings on? Then play them on uTube? That is how I see what is going on in our areas schools. It is quite interesting. And sickening. And shocking.

I am amazed at just how much has changed since I was in school. What I've seen looks more like a bad sit-com or one of those teen movies with all the potty humor and no classes happening.

 

[MM27]

Hmm...don't the kids in this class talk their cameras in and video these goings on? Then play them on uTube? That is how I see what is going on in our areas schools. It is quite interesting. And sickening. And shocking.

I am amazed at just how much has changed since I was in school. What I've seen looks more like a bad sit-com or one of those teen movies with all the potty humor and no classes happening.

The problem is, you can't tape someone without their knowledge. Anything that was recorded wouldn't hold up anywhere. I bet a lot of teachers would be able to get good footage if they secretly taped kids doing things in class, that their parents would never believe their little angel would do. Would it be okay to post them on YouTube?