Teacher Communication

[MM27]

I must say, the kids that participate in the stepping are amazing. My school has 3rd-6th graders and they look like a college team when they perform.

 

[luvmy3]

Well after posting this morning my ds came home from school with a note from the teacher. It seems he was finished with his work early and started humming while drawing and he had to be moved away from his neighbor. I don't think this is a huge deal, its definitely something she could have handled in the classroom, which she did. She just wanted to let me know that he needs to work silently in the future. I appreciate her letting me know because I'm 100% sure ds would have forgot to mention it when I asked him what he did in school today. Its the little things like this that make me so very thankful my kids have the teachers they do.

 

[Maryr1]

I think my DD has the VERY BEST TEACHERS IN THE WORLD! I am not kidding. They are the most dedicated, devoted, hardworking people I know. DD is 11 and in 5th grade. She has a ton of learning issues but is mainstreamed. She really does try her hardest, but nothing comes easy to her. Today I recieved 3 emails from her teachers- one each from her special ed teacher, her math teacher and her regular classroom teacher. Each teacher took the time to tell me something that my daughter had worked hard at, had accomplished and how my daughter had met success today. It made my day, no, my week or maybe my year!!!!!! They also took the time to outline some new ideas they have to help DD gain more success and then they even thanked me and my husband for all the effort we put forth at home and all the support we give them. I am not kidding when I tell you I sobbed happy tears when I read what they each wrote. They really are an inspiration. We are so lucky to have such amazing people teaching our daughter!!!!!!

 

[jodifla]

It's dismaying to read how many children go to school in virtual fortresses.

Our school does have a buzz-in system, and you sign a book, but it's pretty low-key once the staff recognizes you. Our school has a very high volunteer rate- parents are in my son's classroom daily -- and there are no background checks.

We use the folder system so notes go back and forth, but our teacher encourages us to use email. Those emails get answered promptly.

Because DS has a communication disorder, we decided Wednesday to do even more emailing back and forth to fill each other in and help DS with prompts to enable him to talk more about his days with us.

I was in his class for two or three hours each week in K so we did most of our communicating then.

Where if falls down a bit is with the specials teachers...art, music, gym. I was pretty angry to get a note saying my son had been kept out of gym because he didn't have the right shoes at wintertime. There's no way for my son to tell me this (I had forgotten that they had to have gym shoes) and I'd dressed him in boots for the winter. (We're in the north right now...)

In fact, this thread reminds me that I need to go visit all his specials teachers and let them know to contact me directly about issues such as this.

 

[mjkacmom]

Well after posting this morning my ds came home from school with a note from the teacher. It seems he was finished with his work early and started humming while drawing and he had to be moved away from his neighbor. I don't think this is a huge deal, its definitely something she could have handled in the classroom, which she did. She just wanted to let me know that he needs to work silently in the future. I appreciate her letting me know because I'm 100% sure ds would have forgot to mention it when I asked him what he did in school today. Its the little things like this that make me so very thankful my kids have the teachers they do.

Oh, ds10 is a hummer - we've brought it up in conferences, and we use the agenda pad with back and forth communication over humming! He's an A student, but I suspect there are some ADHD issues, which include humming.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

I thought about this thread when the news came on this morning. In the apartments next to my school there was a triple homocide yesterday. A mother and her two daughters were killed. I don't believe I know them because of their ages, although I may have taught the oldest one previously. Their names are being withheld at this time.

I fully support all the reasons we have a closed campus.

And I would never, ever give my personal contact information to parents. I am entitled to a private life. NOTHING is so important that it can't wait until tomorrow. It really disheartens me that it is becoming an expectation that teachers be available at all times. I had a parent pop in the office yesterday 20 minutes before the day ended. The receptionist called and asked if I wanted to stay after school and meet with the parent. Nope. We met seven days ago, spoke by phone four days ago, and she's received two notes this week as well. Whatever her concern, it can wait until Monday. My family time starts at the end of the school day.

I am dedicated to my profession but not at the expense of my own family. I expect that my communication procedures be respected, just as I respect those of my children's teachers, doctors, dentists, etc.

I guess that I just expect everyone else to be as reasonable.

 

[mjkacmom]

It's dismaying to read how many children go to school in virtual fortresses.

Our school does have a buzz-in system, and you sign a book, but it's pretty low-key once the staff recognizes you. Our school has a very high volunteer rate- parents are in my son's classroom daily -- and there are no background checks.

We use the folder system so notes go back and forth, but our teacher encourages us to use email. Those emails get answered promptly.

Because DS has a communication disorder, we decided Wednesday to do even more emailing back and forth to fill each other in and help DS with prompts to enable him to talk more about his days with us.

I was in his class for two or three hours each week in K so we did most of our communicating then.

Where if falls down a bit is with the specials teachers...art, music, gym. I was pretty angry to get a note saying my son had been kept out of gym because he didn't have the right shoes at wintertime. There's no way for my son to tell me this (I had forgotten that they had to have gym shoes) and I'd dressed him in boots for the winter. (We're in the north right now...)

In fact, this thread reminds me that I need to go visit all his specials teachers and let them know to contact me directly about issues such as this.

I love our fortness! Our schools sound just like yours (although MS and HS require ID's worn around the neck), without parental volunteers. I'm more worried about wacky moms than terrorists in the schools! We don't need parents gossiping about children, and what happens at school.

 

[pigletz]

It's dismaying to read how many children go to school in virtual fortresses.

Our school does have a buzz-in system, and you sign a book, but it's pretty low-key once the staff recognizes you. Our school has a very high volunteer rate- parents are in my son's classroom daily -- and there are no background checks.

We use the folder system so notes go back and forth, but our teacher encourages us to use email. Those emails get answered promptly.

Because DS has a communication disorder, we decided Wednesday to do even more emailing back and forth to fill each other in and help DS with prompts to enable him to talk more about his days with us.

I was in his class for two or three hours each week in K so we did most of our communicating then.

Where if falls down a bit is with the specials teachers...art, music, gym. I was pretty angry to get a note saying my son had been kept out of gym because he didn't have the right shoes at wintertime. There's no way for my son to tell me this (I had forgotten that they had to have gym shoes) and I'd dressed him in boots for the winter. (We're in the north right now...)

In fact, this thread reminds me that I need to go visit all his specials teachers and let them know to contact me directly about issues such as this.

What's really dismaying is that the reason our building is a fortress. We can't seem to keep PARENTS from coming up to school to fight. It's not unusual for two kids to get into a fight during the day and then to have both families show up after school to finish it. Just yesterday we had a situtation after school where a child's mother and a whole group of other adult relatives came to the school and started beating up another child. My principal ended up having to go to the hospital after one of the adults picked her up and threw her against the wall when she tried to break it up. Last year we had a mother bring a baseball bat to school so her daughter could use it to beat up another girl. Sadly, these aren't isolated incidents. We haven't had a single day this year that there hasn't been a fight and I can count at least five times that the police have had to come arrest parents that are continuing the fights.

As for contacting parents, I do it all the time. Parents and teachers can't be a team if one side doesn't have all of the information. Parents can't help me with problems in the classroom if I don't tell them that there is a problem. It also helps if parents tell us about problems at home. I don't need to know all of the details but if the child is going through something difficult at home, its a lot easier for me to figure out the best way to help the child in the classroom.

 

[jodifla]

What's really dismaying is that the reason our building is a fortress. We can't seem to keep PARENTS from coming up to school to fight. It's not unusual for two kids to get into a fight during the day and then to have both families show up after school to finish it. Just yesterday we had a situtation after school where a child's mother and a whole group of other adult relatives came to the school and started beating up another child. My principal ended up having to go to the hospital after one of the adults picked her up and threw her against the wall when she tried to break it up. Last year we had a mother bring a baseball bat to school so her daughter could use it to beat up another girl. Sadly, these aren't isolated incidents. We haven't had a single day this year that there hasn't been a fight and I can count at least five times that the police have had to come arrest parents that are continuing the fights.

As for contacting parents, I do it all the time. Parents and teachers can't be a team if one side doesn't have all of the information. Parents can't help me with problems in the classroom if I don't tell them that there is a problem. It also helps if parents tell us about problems at home. I don't need to know all of the details but if the child is going through something difficult at home, its a lot easier for me to figure out the best way to help the child in the classroom.

Wow! That's quite a school you are in. I'm sure it must be tough to teach there. Kudos to you for sticking it out, and for being an advocate for your students.

 

[Luv'sTink]

I thought about this thread when the news came on this morning. In the apartments next to my school there was a triple homocide yesterday. A mother and her two daughters were killed. I don't believe I know them because of their ages, although I may have taught the oldest one previously. Their names are being withheld at this time.

I fully support all the reasons we have a closed campus.

And I would never, ever give my personal contact information to parents. I am entitled to a private life. NOTHING is so important that it can't wait until tomorrow. It really disheartens me that it is becoming an expectation that teachers be available at all times. I had a parent pop in the office yesterday 20 minutes before the day ended. The receptionist called and asked if I wanted to stay after school and meet with the parent. Nope. We met seven days ago, spoke by phone four days ago, and she's received two notes this week as well. Whatever her concern, it can wait until Monday. My family time starts at the end of the school day.

I am dedicated to my profession but not at the expense of my own family. I expect that my communication procedures be respected, just as I respect those of my children's teachers, doctors, dentists, etc.

I guess that I just expect everyone else to be as reasonable.

20 minutes before classes ended or your day? At my work I can't say, oh I only have 20 mintues left so I wont deal with anything else, must be nice.

 

[MM27]

20 minutes before classes ended or your day? At my work I can't say, oh I only have 20 mintues left so I wont deal with anything else, must be nice.

My school dismissal is 3:05 for students and 3:10 for teachers. If I want to leave at 3:10 it is totally within my contract obligations, although that rarely happens. The problem I have is when parents feel they can just do the pop in and expect that I am going to drop everything to talk to them. I've had parents show up in the office when I was working with students after school and expect that the kids will leave the room so I can conference with them and it's not going to happen. You can't just show up in your doctor's office whenever you want and expect that he/she is going to entertain you, so why do it to a teacher?

 

[december]

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.

Why is this a problem? She can't see you during the day-she is busy teaching. She is providing you with 2 times to call-I have parents who work nights and parents who work days. I don't want to call and wake them, or call them at work if it is frowned on. Maybe she is giving you the same consideration. I don't give out my home number, either. I tell parents at the beginning of the year (the ones who bother to come anyway) they can call the office and schedule an appt before school or on my planning pd, or they can email (the best way to reach me due to my work schedule).

My school dismissal is 3:05 for students and 3:10 for teachers. If I want to leave at 3:10 it is totally within my contract obligations, although that rarely happens. The problem I have is when parents feel they can just do the pop in and expect that I am going to drop everything to talk to them. I've had parents show up in the office when I was working with students after school and expect that the kids will leave the room so I can conference with them and it's not going to happen. You can't just show up in your doctor's office whenever you want and expect that he/she is going to entertain you, so why do it to a teacher?

Because the general public has no respect for teachers, and no idea how many hours or how hard we really work.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

20 minutes before classes ended or your day? At my work I can't say, oh I only have 20 mintues left so I wont deal with anything else, must be nice.

Twenty minutes before the day ended, when I was monitoring students for dismissal, making sure that they made it to their bus when called. Staying would have required that I stay past my contract time. Not going to happen on a Friday without prior arrangement when my dog is sitting at home crossing her little doggy legs because my daughter is at a debate tournament and didn't come home as she usually does to let her out. Mom can wait.