Teacher Communication

[luvmy3]

This is sort of a spin off from the pencil thread. I have posted on there that I have open communication with my kid's teachers. I also expect that if there is any problem with my child that their teacher would contact my via a phone call, email or note sent home. When I say expect I don't mean that I feel the teacher needs to coddle my child or that I want special treatment. I expect it because thats what has always been done for my kids and others I know. It has been this way since my kids started school and I assumed it was pretty normal but after reading the other thread I guess it isn't.

In the beginning of the school year the parents come to a parent/teacher nigt. We all meet in the classroom, the rules are gone over and the handouts come home. Every single teacher over the years have told us parents that if we have any questions, no matter what they are to email them, send in a note, or call, and they would do the same if needed.
I have had occasions with one of my ds where a problem was re-occuring. I have always gotten a phone call about it, except this year the teacher has sent a note home 2 times. That note requires my signature so that she knows that I did in fact get it. These haven't been major issues, just things like handing in work late, getting distracted or being distracting in class. Each teacher has taken the time to get to know my ds, and me and we have worked together to keep these things from happening. When he was in 2nd grade his teacher would even call me every so often just to let me know he was doing well.

Just last week I wrote my other ds' teacher a note. It wasn't urgent just a quick question I had. She called me the next day to apologize that she didn't get back to me right away. This was on her lunch, in betweeen her morning and afternoon class. She didn't have to, she just did.
I am so thankful for these teachers. I know its my responsibility as a parent to do what is best for my child's education, to make sure they understand what they are learning and reinforce it at home, and to make sure they have the proper materials and are prepared and to make sure I know what the rules are and that my children follow them. But its so nice to know that if anything was going on at home and these things were not getting done and my kids were having difficulties in school, that their teachers would take the time to discuss it with me and work with me to help the kids. I can't possibly be the only one who has teachers like this, can I ?

 

[Kathi OD]

No, you're not the only one who has been fortunate to have teachers like the ones you have described. Education, like every occupation, has those few bad apples, but by far most teachers are pretty close to those you've experienced.

 

[CTPinkPrincess]

You are very lucky - I just sent a note to DD's teacher Monday morning about two concerns I had. A note just came home yesterday that I could call her to discuss it at MY convenience between the hours of 7 - 7:30 am and 2 - 2:30 pm at the school.

 

[mrsv98]

This is sort of a spin off from the pencil thread. I have posted on there that I have open communication with my kid's teachers. I also expect that if there is any problem with my child that their teacher would contact my via a phone call, email or note sent home. When I say expect I don't mean that I feel the teacher needs to coddle my child or that I want special treatment. I expect it because thats what has always been done for my kids and others I know. It has been this way since my kids started school and I assumed it was pretty normal but after reading the other thread I guess it isn't.

In the beginning of the school year the parents come to a parent/teacher nigt. We all meet in the classroom, the rules are gone over and the handouts come home. Every single teacher over the years have told us parents that if we have any questions, no matter what they are to email them, send in a note, or call, and they would do the same if needed.
I have had occasions with one of my ds where a problem was re-occuring. I have always gotten a phone call about it, except this year the teacher has sent a note home 2 times. That note requires my signature so that she knows that I did in fact get it. These haven't been major issues, just things like handing in work late, getting distracted or being distracting in class. Each teacher has taken the time to get to know my ds, and me and we have worked together to keep these things from happening. When he was in 2nd grade his teacher would even call me every so often just to let me know he was doing well.

Just last week I wrote my other ds' teacher a note. It wasn't urgent just a quick question I had. She called me the next day to apologize that she didn't get back to me right away. This was on her lunch, in betweeen her morning and afternoon class. She didn't have to, she just did.
I am so thankful for these teachers. I know its my responsibility as a parent to do what is best for my child's education, to make sure they understand what they are learning and reinforce it at home, and to make sure they have the proper materials and are prepared and to make sure I know what the rules are and that my children follow them. But its so nice to know that if anything was going on at home and these things were not getting done and my kids were having difficulties in school, that their teachers would take the time to discuss it with me and work with me to help the kids. I can't possibly be the only one who has teachers like this, can I ?

I think it varies school to school. DD's school is awful with communication. It is like pulling teeth. I think the culture of the school starts with the pricipal and she is far too lax and not concerned with keeping the lines open with parents.

We have had trouble with communication and misunderstandings from Kdg. and it isn't just our family, it is a prevailing theme in the school. They don't value email, letters home are vague and late and voicemail often goes unanswered.

The school I used to teach at was quite the opposite, we were constantly in touch with the parents. We would call just to give an update, say "hey, your kid had a great day/week" or to discuss concerns before they got out of hand. We used email extensively and if vm wasn't answered asap, then you had some 'splainin' to do.

I think you are lucky to have a school that values communication but I don't think it is unusual to have one that does not.

 

[agnes!]

I'm sure you're not the only one, I think sometime we parents remember the horrendous years more vividly than the placid/peaceful years. But by the same token we also especially remember with gratitude the teachers who mentor our kids & seem to think they're something special.

That being said, how old are your kids? I think sometimes the more-nurturing teachers tend to be clustered in the lower elementary grades. In my experience the communication from the teachers dropped away as my child progressed into the upper elementary grades, dropped away drastically(almost nothing) during the middle school years, but has now picked up again for high school.

agnes!

 

[RitaE]

In my son's private school most communication now is done online. The school has an online system that posts grades, all extra curricular activity info, the school bulletin, and also an area in the online report card where the teachers can leave notes of concern for the parents. Unless you specifically request it, we don't even get paper report cards anymore.

It makes the teacher's job must easier because he or she can set up a mailing list of all parental emails and just send one message out.

I really don't know what they do for big problems, other than detention slips and chronic homework problems would certainly earn a detention slip in my child's school. I imagine the Teacher calls at first, then a face to face meeting.

 

[agnes!]

You are very lucky - I just sent a note to DD's teacher Monday morning about two concerns I had. A note just came home yesterday that I could call her to discuss it at MY convenience between the hours of 7 - 7:30 am and 2 - 2:30 pm at the school.

Hey, I'm wondering....is that *HOUR* convenient?

agnes!

 

[GJM]

My DS 2nd. grade teache last year was wonderful with communication. She like emailed and so did I. I could always call or stop in school and talk to her.

This year is a little different - I don't have the same communication as last year.

 

[mlynn]

My daughter has a GREAT teacher. On the 1st day of school she called all the parents and gave her home and Cell phone #'s so if we need to talk to her she is always there. She goes the extra mile on everything. My DD was sick on Monday she stopped by after school was out to see how she was and to drop off her homework.and said"only if she is up to doing it. If she isn't we will get it later"(thank god my house wasn't a mess) I'm so happy my daughter has her and she will have her for 2nd grade as well. So I know when my dd4 starts 1st I'm asking the school to put her in the same teachers class.

 

[mjkacmom]

I've had notes sent home from teachers, but I've had children in school for 7 years, have never received a phone call from a teacher, and have never called a teacher. I've had face to face conferences with teachers, but I don't think teachers at our school call parents. I prefer notes and emails to phone calls, anyway.

 

[Luv'sTink]

I emailed my sons teacher about a month ago asking a question about what a "P" meant on his online report, she never emailed me back.

I emailed her again this week over a missing assignment, I asked how my son would know he had missing work (this was classroom work, he hasn't missed a day of school) and got a response back.

Students should be aware of their missing assignments. As for make up, I normally do not turn away a student interested in making up their work. However, I would caution students from doing it too often.

This is the ONLY missing assignment since school started in Sept. no he wont be doing it too often, thanks for the warning.

I asked my son and his friend how they know they are missing work and both of them looked at me with the deer in the headlights look and said "I don't know"

I checked on 10/18 no missing work. Checked again on 10/22 and he had missing work from 10/9, other grades had been put in up to date, so I asked how long to find out about missing work..

Assignments are put in as soon as I can get them into the machine. Since I do correct papers away from my desk, I have a recording sheet to keep track of grades, thus the delay in entering the grades. The dates you refer to are when the assignments were due not necessarily when they were entered.

Of course my sons said "I finished it and turned it in, it was easy!"
She gave him a copy to bring home and do and he did it in about 5 minutes, so who knows what happened to it.

Sometimes I feel like I am damned if I do and damned if I don't when it comes to school and teachers.

 

[agnes!]

If you have one of "those" this year, I would suggest making copies (yes, *really*) of everything and NOT throwing anything away that's handed back until the quarter is over. I know someone who had a teacher who physically lost assignments/projects/even tests throughout the entire year last year (and this is in high school). It was a nightmare.

agnes!

 

[luvmy3]

I emailed my sons teacher about a month ago asking a question about what a "P" meant on his online report, she never emailed me back.

I emailed her again this week over a missing assignment, I asked how my son would know he had missing work (this was classroom work, he hasn't missed a day of school) and got a response back.



This is the ONLY missing assignment since school started in Sept. no he wont be doing it too often, thanks for the warning.

I asked my son and his friend how they know they are missing work and both of them looked at me with the deer in the headlights look and said "I don't know"

I checked on 10/18 no missing work. Checked again on 10/22 and he had missing work from 10/9, other grades had been put in up to date, so I asked how long to find out about missing work..



Of course my sons said "I finished it and turned it in, it was easy!"
She gave him a copy to bring home and do and he did it in about 5 minutes, so who knows what happened to it.

Sometimes I feel like I am damned if I do and damned if I don't when it comes to school and teachers.

That sounds like my one of my ds' teachers. I did have phone conversations with her and honestly I still never knew what happened to his work. Even at the parent teacher conference she said "I have half the board filled with names of kids who didn't hand in their work, I can't keep track of who hands me what" There were a group of us parents in the same boat so I know my ds was not alone. I did exactly what the pp suggested, I kept every assignment so if she said it was never handed in I could prove it was or wasn't. When I started doing that ds's work never disappeared, it was still sometimes late but never missing.

 

[CTPinkPrincess]

Hey, I'm wondering....is that *HOUR* convenient?

agnes!

Apparently for the teacher it is!

I shouldn't complain since I haven't spoken to her yet (and the school nurse just called with the wonderful news DD can't even see the blackboard - which isn't surprising since DH and I both have worn glasses/contact lenses since second grade as well).

 

[C.Ann]

This is sort of a spin off from the pencil thread. I have posted on there that I have open communication with my kid's teachers. I also expect that if there is any problem with my child that their teacher would contact my via a phone call, email or note sent home. When I say expect I don't mean that I feel the teacher needs to coddle my child or that I want special treatment. I expect it because thats what has always been done for my kids and others I know. It has been this way since my kids started school and I assumed it was pretty normal but after reading the other thread I guess it isn't.

In the beginning of the school year the parents come to a parent/teacher nigt. We all meet in the classroom, the rules are gone over and the handouts come home. Every single teacher over the years have told us parents that if we have any questions, no matter what they are to email them, send in a note, or call, and they would do the same if needed.
I have had occasions with one of my ds where a problem was re-occuring. I have always gotten a phone call about it, except this year the teacher has sent a note home 2 times. That note requires my signature so that she knows that I did in fact get it. These haven't been major issues, just things like handing in work late, getting distracted or being distracting in class. Each teacher has taken the time to get to know my ds, and me and we have worked together to keep these things from happening. When he was in 2nd grade his teacher would even call me every so often just to let me know he was doing well.

Just last week I wrote my other ds' teacher a note. It wasn't urgent just a quick question I had. She called me the next day to apologize that she didn't get back to me right away. This was on her lunch, in betweeen her morning and afternoon class. She didn't have to, she just did.
I am so thankful for these teachers. I know its my responsibility as a parent to do what is best for my child's education, to make sure they understand what they are learning and reinforce it at home, and to make sure they have the proper materials and are prepared and to make sure I know what the rules are and that my children follow them. But its so nice to know that if anything was going on at home and these things were not getting done and my kids were having difficulties in school, that their teachers would take the time to discuss it with me and work with me to help the kids. I can't possibly be the only one who has teachers like this, can I ?

----------------------

This is the way things are handled at DGD's school too (she's in 5th grade now).. Every piece of paper that comes home - no matter what the reason - has to be signed by her parents or me (because I live there in the winter).. She also has a daily planner (provided by the school) where she has to write down her homework assignments and every single night one of us has to sign it after she has completed her homework/project or whatever..

I think it's a great system.. Works out well for everyone..

 

[mom2aredhead]

I can't possibly be the only one who has teachers like this, can I ?

I wish.

I knew I was doomed when the first piece of written communication I received from my son's teacher began...

"Welcome to Kindergarden".

Nope - not kidding. And it's been downhill from there.

 

[Kathi OD]

That sounds like my one of my ds' teachers. I did have phone conversations with her and honestly I still never knew what happened to his work. Even at the parent teacher conference she said "I have half the board filled with names of kids who didn't hand in their work, I can't keep track of who hands me what" There were a group of us parents in the same boat so I know my ds was not alone. I did exactly what the pp suggested, I kept every assignment so if she said it was never handed in I could prove it was or wasn't. When I started doing that ds's work never disappeared, it was still sometimes late but never missing.

Just want to say that making a copy of your child's work doesn't necessarily mean that it gets turned in. You'd be surprised at the number of children that truly can't find an assignment when it's time for it to be turned in. Sometimes they show up later, it's shoved in a book, the back of their desk, or, as in the case of my youngest, at the bottom of his locker.

 

[mumom95]

I've been very lucky and have always had great communication with my kid's teachers. Email has made this so easy.

I guess I've just been lucky all around when it comes to school, because my kids have had really good experiences. There have been a couple of incidents over the past few years that I was upset about, but, I don't expect the school to be perfect and I hope in turn they don't expect my kids to be perfect. My kids have loved their teachers, learned a lot, had a good time, I've become friends with their teachers and have enjoyed really feeling a part of the school. I read so many threads on the DIS where people are complaining about their child's school, it makes me realize my family is very lucky.

 

[luvmy3]

Just want to say that making a copy of your child's work doesn't necessarily mean that it gets turned in. You'd be surprised at the number of children that truly can't find an assignment when it's time for it to be turned in. Sometimes they show up later, it's shoved in a book, the back of their desk, or, as in the case of my youngest, at the bottom of his locker.

I didn't make a copy, I kept the actual work that the teacher had already graded. There were times when she would send home a sheet for the second time and I knew I had seen it the first time (already graded and handed back). There were also times where ds said he handed in things but really didn't. It seems after each knew I was saving everything the work mysteriously was always handed in

 

[declansdad]

Apparently for the teacher it is!

I shouldn't complain since I haven't spoken to her yet (and the school nurse just called with the wonderful news DD can't even see the blackboard - which isn't surprising since DH and I both have worn glasses/contact lenses since second grade as well).

Obviously those are the times when the teacher can leave the classroom.