What is teacher looking for???

[aprilgail2]

I use the same assignment in my high school classes. I simply want you to tell me something about your child you think I might need to know. .

In HIGH SCHOOL??? Seriously?? I would think by then you would just be having the students write something about themselves--I sure hope by the time my daughter is in high school I am not getting these homework assignments! I think that by high school age they should be taking on more responsibility and letting the teachers know themselves about things.

 

[mjkacmom]

3 years ago we did this for our DD - it was a joy to write for her. Actually my DH and I fought over doing the assignment. We ended up creating a power point to include pictures that captured her personality.

I'm guessing this is a joke! As for another PP who didn't want to do an assignment bragging about her child, I don't see the same way. It's a chance to point out things about a child that might take time for the teacher to figure out. All of my kids are bright, tested into the GT program. However, ds12 has trouble focusing, ds7 has a bad temper, dd7 is very sensitive to criticism. All children have their strengths and weaknesses, and it is helpful to know them early on.

 

[Liberty Belle]

We had to do one of these this year for our second grader. I loved it. It was nice that they wanted my input.

We didn't have to do one for our highschooler, but I gladly would have. Yes, he could write his own, but I guarantee you it would be different from the one I'd write. He's in high school, but still a child and still has strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I got the same assignment from 6th grade reading. Basically, I'll only say thing that are related to reading such as:

He's not the most confident reader and will "lean" on his partners in group assignments to do most of the work. Last year I suggested to his teacher that she solve this problem by pairing him with a child who is learning English or has special needs. Since my son is kind and patient, this was a win win situation for everyone.

OR

I tend to be very hands off on homework, unless I see that there's a problem. Please let me know if you ever think he needs more attention and I'll change my ways.

The Million thing is definitely a joke, and not a typo since it's spelled "million" and not "1,000,000". I think it's more for the kids benefit than the adults.

 

[mdsoccermom]

My daughter is in 6th grade. One of her teachers sent this home as well. I wrote 3 sentences which told the information that would be absolutely crucial for the teacher to know about her. Frankly, I am stunned that parents actually feel they need to write a dissertation on their child. Do you really believe teachers have the time to read full-fledged essays on each child?

The million words was a joke. I suspect she's trying to tell you not to go overboard as parents obviously do. You know, as in don't make a power point presentation.

 

[okeydokey]

My child. my choice. The teacher will get to know her in a couple of weeks or otherwise look at the kids files I don't need to wriite a bragging leter to a teacher for the teacher to fiind out how great my ki is.I was also out of printer ink and am visually impaired so writing inm Word with a bigger font is best for me. This ha nothing to o with me not recognizng my daughters strengths or weaknesses I just didn't agree with the assignmetmt being sent to the parents/

You don't think there is a single thing you can tell your child's teacher that will enhance your child's school experience this year? I find this sad. This assignment is a benefit your child.

We received a form this year from my son's gifted teacher and it took about two minutes to fill out and I was glad to do it.

 

[ilovejack02]

My child. my choice. The teacher will get to know her in a couple of weeks or otherwise look at the kids files I don't need to wriite a bragging leter to a teacher for the teacher to fiind out how great my ki is.I was also out of printer ink and am visually impaired so writing inm Word with a bigger font is best for me. This ha nothing to o with me not recognizng my daughters strengths or weaknesses I just didn't agree with the assignmetmt being sent to the parents/

Teacher doesn't want a letter only singing your child's praises . She wants to know things that might affect your child's year. Is there any recent family changes, death, divorce , a move , parent laid off, is there a new sibling in the family, is your child a social butterfly or shy and needs help making friends . Things that won't be in your child's file, because they are recent changes.


I think it is great that a teacher wants to learn a bit more about child . Hard to get to know 20 plus kids quickly and I would be happy to help my child's teacher out with that.

 

[janey99]

I got this too, for my seventh grader, including the reference to "a million words or less." I'm guessing this was a teacher seminar topic someplace in the past year!

Jane

 

[georgina]

I got one of these for a junior in high school last year. I didn't mind it a bit; thought it was nice the teacher wanted to know a little about him. It wasn't bragging, just filling her in on his personality, interests, etc. I think it may have been worth 5 bonus points to boot.

 

[merryweather20]

I think the assignment is a pretty poor choice on the teacher's part. Given the sillyness of "a million words or less" I would have figured she wanted to know what what his goldfishes' names were or how his favourite food was spaghetti, for some sort of know my family project/matcing project he was doing in class.

Parents should be mind readers now? I would hope if she had serious questions about his learning abilities or aptitudes she would ask this straight out.

I don't see the value of withholding the topic or desired length fron the parents.

 

[DisneyMissy318]

My 7th grade daughter had this same assignment - I turned mine in on time last week! Here's what we were asked to do:

I would like to get to know your child better. Please take the time to write me a short letter below about all the POSITIVE things about your child. In the letter include your child's hobbies, achievements, awards, sports, and things that you personally LOVE about your child!

Your child is actually very excited about giving you this homework assignment! This activity is a great way to show your child how special he/she is to you and, at the same time, it shows your child how important homework and writing are in his/her daily life.

I had a great time completing my assignment and my DD was given extra credit for having it completed! The teacher also wrote in the margin that she was very happy to learn things about my DD that she would not normally have time to learn about her in class.

I took it as another way for my DD to know how much I love her and how proud I am of her - as well as seeing what parts of herself that I thought were special enough to share with her teacher.

It was Win-Win - and I enjoyed the assignment!

 

[Magpie]

My child. my choice. The teacher will get to know her in a couple of weeks or otherwise look at the kids files I don't need to wriite a bragging leter to a teacher for the teacher to fiind out how great my ki is.I was also out of printer ink and am visually impaired so writing inm Word with a bigger font is best for me. This ha nothing to o with me not recognizng my daughters strengths or weaknesses I just didn't agree with the assignmetmt being sent to the parents/

You're right it's your choice, but I think it's a shame you passed on it. I also think it's a shame that you would consider it "bragging" to give your daughter's teacher a couple of tips on what might help make the year go smoothly for both the teacher and your daughter. Such as, "my child is flat-footed, runs slower than a snail and consequently hates gym." (Oh wait, that's my son! )

Why should the teacher have to work out for herself the individual strengths and weaknesses of 25 or more students, when all she has to do is ask the expert - you!

And FWIW, I'm visually impaired as well. Sometimes you just do what you've got to do, even if it's difficult. I'm sure the teacher would have understood if you'd waited until the weekend and purchased new printer ink. Heck, she'd probably be thrilled if you turned it in tomorrow!

 

[texaslover]

As a teacher I just have to say that this perfectly illustrates the lose/lose situation we are constantly mired in. Give a cute assignment asking for real feedback on students so we can differentiate instruction or ward off potential problems and 1/2 the parents think we are lazy for asking, bold for wanting adults to do homework, etc. The other 1/2 love it and praise us. Multiply this 20 + times a day for every single thing we do big or small and that is why I'm having a beer right now .

 

[nmmom95]

I had to do this in 6th grade for my son's teacher. He is now in 7th. I think it was hard not to sound like I was bragging because, of course, I think he is wonderful. I have to say, though, that I'm glad I did it. Not only did it give the teacher an idea of my son's personality, but it also made my son happy to read what I wrote about him. For the record, I did not write how wonderful he is...I just think it! LOL

 

[Pastamom]

As a teacher I just have to say that this perfectly illustrates the lose/lose situation we are constantly mired in. Give a cute assignment asking for real feedback on students so we can differentiate instruction or ward off potential problems and 1/2 the parents think we are lazy for asking, bold for wanting adults to do homework, etc. The other 1/2 love it and praise us. Multiply this 20 + times a day for every single thing we do big or small and that is why I'm having a beer right now .

How true and sad. What a simple, easy assignment that could take as little as 10 minutes and give the teacher so much insight. I guess not doing the assignment gives just as much insight

What kind of message does not doing it send to your child??? That he/she's not important? The school is not important? That if you don't agree with an assignment you don't have to do it?

Enjoy your beer - you deserve it!

 

[merryweather20]

How true and sad. What a simple, easy assignment that could take as little as 10 minutes and give the teacher so much insight. I guess not doing the assignment gives just as much insight

What kind of message does not doing it send to your child??? That he/she's not important? The school is not important? That if you don't agree with an assignment you don't have to do it?

Enjoy your beer - you deserve it!

It sounds more to me like they set the parents up for a lose/lose situation. When the student is sitting in class, they might have an idea of the tone of an assignment and they have the opportunity to ask questions of the teacher. Just dumping something vague on the parents is a pretty poor choice.

As I said in my previous post, I would have guessed wrong. Why waste my time with something so vague? Why not just ask me straight out?

 

[Wishing on a star]

This was not a simple, "If you would like, I would love for you to fill in a few sentences here about your child. As I get to know the students, I think it would wonderful to have any insight that might help us to get off to a good/positive start to this school year.

I am sorry. but I simply do NOT do homework....
Like parents/adults do not have enough going on in their lives... And, teachers feel that they can come up with any imposition.
I think a teacher that would send home this particular Homework for Parents, is being VERY presumptuous, is 'fishing' for any information, necessary or even, yes unneccessary and private, that they can get..

The teacher would be very unlikely to get a response from me.

Especially, since, as the parent of a child with some learning disabilities and issues, I attempted MANY times over the years to communicate with the teachers and administrators, even official IEP meetings, and what is so SAD is that they gave my thoughts exactly ZERO consideration or respect... Over, and over, and over.

I simply wouldn't do it...
I might sent a note saying that if the teacher wants to know about anything that might be important for my child academically, I would be happy to schedule a Parent/Teacher conference...

The teacher would not be receiving Parent Homework from me.

 

[nmmom95]

The teacher would be very unlikely to get a response from me.

Especially, since, as the parent of a child with some learning disabilities and issues, I attempeted MANY times over the years to communicate with the teachers and administrators, even official IEP meetings, and what is so SAD is that they gave my thoughts exactly ZERO consideration or respect... Over, and over, and over.

I simply wouldn't do it...
I might sent a note saying that if the teacher wants to know about anything that might be important for my child academically, I would be happy to schedule a Parent/Teacher conference...

The teacher would not be receiving Parent Homework from me.

But don't you think that this would be a great opportunity to express your thought regarding your child's education? I think that refusing to do the assignment says more about the parent's attitude than the teacher needed to know. Parents and teachers have the same goal. Why not help them out? After all, you know your child best.

 

[dislal]

OP here, thank you everyone who gave me suggestions or made comments, it really helped me out. I spent about an hour last night and was able to write about a page about my DS.

The look on my DS's face this morning when I told him I was finally done with it was great, but the look on his face as he was sitting there reading it was priceless. (something I hope I never forget)

So my advice to all parents who are given this assignment just take an hour out of your day and start writing.

Thank you again everyone

 

[Mickeypooh99]

We got one for our 5th grader, but it was in a question/answer form. It asked things like:

List 5 words that describe your child.
What motivates your child?
What upsets your child?
What activities does your child participate outside of school?
What is your child's best subject?
What is your child's worst subject?

Etc...

I was happy to fill it out. I think this fomat might have been easier on parents than the vague wording of the OPs assignment. Either way I think it is a good idea.