Teacher Communication

[mamacatnv]

I have almost always had good communication with my kids' teachers. Back before Email when DS was younger, if I needed something or had a question I would either stop by right as the bell rang or call at the end of the day. I think notes often do not make it to their destination. I continue this practice now, even though I can email my DD's teacher, I much prefer to just stop in and ask my question or call her.

I am also in my DD's class 1 afternoon a week so that keeps me in tune with what is going on better than any other sort of communication ever could.

I work full time and do not want my office calling me after hours or on the weekends and I extend this courtesy to my kids teachers. I try to reach them during their hours, not during mine.

The invention of email and online parent monitoring software has been a huge help in the communication factor yet at the same time IMO it has harmed one on one contact with teachers and administrators. As the kids get older, teachers have a much larger group of kids and parents to deal with.

I think if you have an issue with your kid or have a question, stop by and ask, it has the quickest results.

 

[Cindy B]

I have almost always had good communication with my kids' teachers. Back before Email when DS was younger, if I needed something or had a question I would either stop by right as the bell rang or call at the end of the day. I think notes often do not make it to their destination. I continue this practice now, even though I can email my DD's teacher, I much prefer to just stop in and ask my question or call her.



I think if you have an issue with your kid or have a question, stop by and ask, it has the quickest results.

Some schools (mine) does not allow this. You have to make an appointment with the teacher to discuss anything. They do not allow parent to come in or linger aroung the classroom. The security guard movest them out of the building if they do not comply.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

We have GREAT communication from our teachers. I email DS10's 5th grade teacher and she emails me back. But DS8's 3rd grade teacher is an exceptional communicator (one of our IB profiles!). She called me a couple of weeks ago just to tell me how much she enjoys my son in her class, and to see if I had any questions or concerns. ( I am certain that every parent got one of those phone calls )Today she called me because I had written a note asking her if she received our field trip money-apologising because she hadn't sent the receipt yet. Our 15 minute conference turned into 30+ minutes. She hugs the children and when they leave for the day she THANKS THEM for working so hard...

We have weekly green folders that come home with homework samples and flyers and notes. We have to sign and return homework and the actual folder. I also started on my own to sign my 5th grader's agenda to make sure all the homework is finished and checked. Our school is set up on an automatic call system to receive information about meetings, 1/2 day reminders, and even when a kiddo is out sick to let us know he wasn't in school that day.

If I have a burning question that doesn't involve a lengthy answer, I can drop in before school starts or after it ends.

We have had great communication ever since we started this school 3 years ago. I couldn't be happier, I will hate to leave it when my last kiddo graduates!

 

[mamacatnv]

Some schools (mine) does not allow this. You have to make an appointment with the teacher to discuss anything. They do not allow parent to come in or linger aroung the classroom. The security guard movest them out of the building if they do not comply.

Wow, we just check in sign the book in the office and proceed to the classroom.

 

[Cindy B]

Wow, we just check in sign the book in the office and proceed to the classroom.

I'm in a high crime urban area. It just isn't safe for parents just to waltz in. You just never know who they are -- or what they may have on them at the time (yes, guns, weapons, etc.)

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm in a high crime urban area. It just isn't safe for parents just to waltz in. You just never know who they are -- or what they may have on them at the time (yes, guns, weapons, etc.)

Low crime area here, and you need to be buzzed in, and aren't allowed to go to your child's classroom (if you're dropping something off, someone from the office will bring it, if you are picking up your child, the office will call the classroom). No parent volunteers, either.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

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.

Did you send it back corrected?? Sometimes I'm shocked by what gets sent home. Spellcheck has been around for a while now.

And no, I've never sent anything back corrected, as tempting as it was, but I have thought my head would explode.

 

[mamacatnv]

Low crime area here, and you need to be buzzed in, and aren't allowed to go to your child's classroom (if you're dropping something off, someone from the office will bring it, if you are picking up your child, the office will call the classroom). No parent volunteers, either.

Our schools beg for and highly encourage parent volunteers. We did have to submit a form for a background check to be in the classroom or to go on field trips (not a big deal, they run it thru the local Sheriff).

 

[Boston Tea Party]

OP, glad that the communication system is working out for you.

As a parent I feel that is it unreasonable for me to expect the teacher to drop everything and give me personal attention any time I desire. They are there during classroom hours to teach the children. Questions I have can wait.

As I parent, I also want my child protected from strangers in the school environment. I am glad that my son's school doesn't permit parents to just meander into the learning environment whenever the whim strikes them. Interruptions are distracting and disruptive. The bottom line is that school is there for children, not parents.

 

[mamacatnv]

Did you send it back corrected?? Sometimes I'm shocked by what gets sent home. Spellcheck has been around for a while now.

And no, I've never sent anything back corrected, as tempting as it was, but I have thought my head would explode.

In the newsletter sent to 700+ parents from our Principal last year addressing the use of the drop off lane as a parking spot. It was so bad, I saved it and taped it to my office wall.

"It would be more better for parents to use the provided parking spaces at the parking lot instead of parking at the drop off lane which can be not safe for our students"

Ummm, yeah, moved DD to a Charter School this year.

 

[mamacatnv]

OP, glad that the communication system is working out for you.

As a parent I feel that is it unreasonable for me to expect the teacher to drop everything and give me personal attention any time I desire. They are there during classroom hours to teach the children. Questions I have can wait.

As I parent, I also want my child protected from strangers in the school environment. I am glad that my son's school doesn't permit parents to just meander into the learning environment whenever the whim strikes them. Interruptions are distracting and disruptive. The bottom line is that school is there for children, not parents.

Oh let me clarify, we wait outside the door until the bell rings. I never intended for someone to think that one could just drop in. It's just how we do it here.

 

[tae1218]

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.

I am a kindergarten teacher and this drives my crazy. You would not believe how many times I have seen this.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

In the newsletter sent to 700+ parents from our Principal last year addressing the use of the drop off lane as a parking spot. It was so bad, I saved it and taped it to my office wall.

"It would be more better for parents to use the provided parking spaces at the parking lot instead of parking at the drop off lane which can be not safe for our students"

Ummm, yeah, moved DD to a Charter School this year.

Well, you've provided some evening entertainment for DH and me. (In that "if it wasn't so pathetic, it would be funny" kind of way.) DH said that there's no way someone can write like that and be a principal, but I've seen it enough over the years.

I'm originally from NJ, but live in RI now. When oldest DD was in daycare, they would send a little slip home every day with notations about the day. People with New England accents tend to drop their "R's", altho they will also put them on the end of a word (as in "It's against the lawr to pahk the cah in Hahvahd yahd"). Well, one day I got a note home saying "Today (DD) slept on a cart". I was like . Until it hit me that she had slept on a cot (like the big kids).

 

[friend of pooh]

In my area parents are not allowed in the building unless they are in the office picking up or dropping off a child or are there for a meeting. This is for several reasons. First you never know what the parents are carrying (weapons, drugs, etc.). If a parent is really upset and is carrying a gun, you don't know what they will do. Think of how heated threads on here get regarding school issues. Add in weapons and you have a problem. Also, many kids have custody issues and while yes that person is Johnny's mom or dad, he/she isn't allowed to be anywhere near the child. Another reason is that parents tend to want to ask questions and have them answered right then even though the teacher has a class in front of them that they are trying to teach.

The times the teacher provided are most likely when she doesn't have the kids in front of her. Do you really think she should stop teaching to answer a phone call every time a parent calls? How much teaching would get done then?

I talk to parents often, but yes there are some I do not get to. I only have a certain amount of time to call them and can't make 50 phone calls in an hour or so a day. I also can't spend all my prep time on the phone since I have plans to write, meetings to attend, and papers to grade. Unfortunately in my area many parents really don't care and sometimes phone calls are annoying them.

So no, not everywhere is the same.

Oh and if I hugged kids, you can bet I'd be sued for something or other.

 

[MM27]

Some schools (mine) does not allow this. You have to make an appointment with the teacher to discuss anything. They do not allow parent to come in or linger aroung the classroom. The security guard movest them out of the building if they do not comply.

My school is also in an urban area and all of our doors are locked. Parents must buzz into the school through the front door. They must go directly to the main office where they hand over their driver's license or state issued id and the computer program we use prints out a visitor's sticker for them to wear with their picture on it as well as why they are in the building, where they are going and the time they arrived. It's very prison-like. We also have a security guard that does sweeps of the building every hour to make sure nobody slipped in.

My problem is, I have many students with uninvolved parents. I had a total of seven parents at back to school night. Many times when I call home, the phone number I was given in September is no longer in service or they have call intercept and I can't even leave a voice message. Even our school nurse has this problem trying to reach parents of sick kids. But, I still try. For me it works best when I make a positive call to a parent I know I can reach in between these other problem calls. It's frustrating, but it comes with the territory here. I try to grab parents when I see them, like when they drop them off or pick them up at school. I do write notes and require them to be returned signed also and a few parents are regular emailers.

 

[LisaR]

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.

Wow! Is this teacher new? With all the helicopter parents out there, I can just imagine the calls she could get while she is trying to enjoy a night out with her husband or a movie. I can't imagine most teachers would want to give out their home and cell phone numbers and make house calls. I think you have a truly unique teacher.

 

[Cindy B]

My school is also in an urban area and all of our doors are locked. Parents must buzz into the school through the front door. They must go directly to the main office where they hand over their driver's license or state issued id and the computer program we use prints out a visitor's sticker for them to wear with their picture on it as well as why they are in the building, where they are going and the time they arrived. It's very prison-like. We also have a security guard that does sweeps of the building every hour to make sure nobody slipped in.

My problem is, I have many students with uninvolved parents. I had a total of seven parents at back to school night. Many times when I call home, the phone number I was given in September is no longer in service or they have call intercept and I can't even leave a voice message. Even our school nurse has this problem trying to reach parents of sick kids. But, I still try. For me it works best when I make a positive call to a parent I know I can reach in between these other problem calls. It's frustrating, but it comes with the territory here. I try to grab parents when I see them, like when they drop them off or pick them up at school. I do write notes and require them to be returned signed also and a few parents are regular emailers.

It is very prison like here as well. I'm glad you used that term because it is like a prison/jail type set up.

I'm new to this, but I have very limited parental involvement as well. I have to incorporate a home-school connection to my lessons and I am having a difficult time doing so because of lack of involvement. I've been talking to parents as they come in/drop off as well. We don't have any emailers!

 

[MM27]

We do math and literacy nights, and other academic nights for parents, and maybe 10 parents in the whole school show up. At our spring concert last year, you couldn't find a seat in the gym. Why? My school has a champion stepping team and they come out for things like that. It's a shame, but it's the reality.

 

[agnes!]

I think that the DIS must have some of the best teachers around who post here.

agnes!

 

[Cindy B]

We do math and literacy nights, and other academic nights for parents, and maybe 10 parents in the whole school show up. At our spring concert last year, you couldn't find a seat in the gym. Why? My school has a champion stepping team and they come out for things like that. It's a shame, but it's the reality.

That is a sad thing. We even have a parent resource room in my school-- where parents can look at materials, get copies of lessons/teaching ideas in English and Spanish-- and does it get used? NO! It's where the PTA sells pretzels.

All these beautiful books, resources and manipulatives--- all to waste.

The stepping teams sounds interesting though. I mentioned a stepping team to my girls and boys today---and I got the look-- it was "the white lady knows what that is" look-- I get that look a lot.