Would this be rude?

[Wishing on a star]

[/B]

Oh no we have a new Principal this year. I have gone before and haven't had any problems but now you've got me worried. Yep the things I noticed before stood out like a sore thumb. Uhm yeah that kid did push DD and a classmate down on the ground and the teacher didn't notice.

Ohhh, I didn't mean to cause concern!!!
Just mentioning what I had found to be a potential issue in MY case.

I guess my advice is to be quick, unobtrusive, and do not engage....

You will most likely be able to see how your daughter is functioning and how things are going with a quick, stand in the back, visit.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Sorry should have pointed out that DD is on an IEP. There have been a couple of things that have happened that in my mind shouldn't have like choir was canceled and I wasn't notified. Thank goodness I deiced to come home unload the car and then go get her at school because the bus was in my street. Her homeroom teacher has been quick to fall on her sword so to speak only for me to find out later that it really was the math/science teacher or the special ed teacher. So that is why I am going with out getting into to many more specifics

My son also had issues with things like big or unexpected scheduling changes, etc...

One time I dropped by, 'just dropping him off to the classroom that morning'... to find out why he had been so upset/stressed....

All I needed to see was the inappropriate desk configuration, with absolutely NO elbow room or personal space.... (DS had 'preferential seating' on his IEP)
Took all of 10 seconds to figure that one out...

Good Luck!!!!

 

[allison443]

Sorry should have pointed out that DD is on an IEP. There have been a couple of things that have happened that in my mind shouldn't have like choir was canceled and I wasn't notified. Thank goodness I deiced to come home unload the car and then go get her at school because the bus was in my street. Her homeroom teacher has been quick to fall on her sword so to speak only for me to find out later that it really was the math/science teacher or the special ed teacher. So that is why I am going with out getting into to many more specifics

I hope you can work it out with everyone involved. I know you are just concerned with doing the best for your dd.

 

[Graciesmom77]

I wouldnt send my kids to a school where I wasn't allowed to come in and observe! Are you kidding me? If you sent your child to daycare and the babysitter wouldn't allow you to come in and visit your child and observe his or her day, this should set off HUGE red flags. The same goes for a school. They have you child for the better part of the day, you should be able to see what that day is like any time. If you have to schedule a specific time and the teacher would have to be prewarned, that should also set off red flags.

I don't think the OP was talking about going in the classroom dancing and singing. She was going to go quietly observe her own child in the classroom that her tax dollars are helping pay for. Sitting in the back of the class for awhile would not bother the class environment so there should be no reason someone shouldn't be allowed to do this.

IMO, seeing what your child does all day, with whom they do it with, who the interact, or don't interact with, is a parents job, and if you feel there is something "up" there porbably is.

If you would feel more comfortable with a notebook, by all means bring it. That way when you talk later with the teacher, you can remember your important thought and observations.

Good luck and I hope all goes well!

 

[allison443]

I wouldnt send my kids to a school where I wasn't allowed to come in and observe! Are you kidding me? If you sent your child to daycare and the babysitter wouldn't allow you to come in and visit your child and observe his or her day, this should set off HUGE red flags. The same goes for a school. They have you child for the better part of the day, you should be able to see what that day is like any time. If you have to schedule a specific time and the teacher would have to be prewarned, that should also set off red flags.

I don't think the OP was talking about going in the classroom dancing and singing. She was going to go quietly observe her own child in the classroom that her tax dollars are helping pay for. Sitting in the back of the class for awhile would not bother the class environment so there should be no reason someone shouldn't be allowed to do this.

IMO, seeing what your child does all day, with whom they do it with, who the interact, or don't interact with, is a parents job, and if you feel there is something "up" there porbably is.

If you would feel more comfortable with a notebook, by all means bring it. That way when you talk later with the teacher, you can remember your important thought and observations.

Good luck and I hope all goes well!

Have you checked out the schools where you live to see if they allow this?

In OP's case she has a valid concern, but you sound like you are saying any parent could go and sit in the back of the room, at any time, just because they want to and they support it with their tax dollars...do you think there should be any restrictions?

 

[Wishing on a star]

I wouldnt send my kids to a school where I wasn't allowed to come in and observe! Are you kidding me? If you sent your child to daycare and the babysitter wouldn't allow you to come in and visit your child and observe his or her day, this should set off HUGE red flags. The same goes for a school.

Agree, 110%

There were a couple of times where simply observing, while dropping DS off at school, during a lunch visit, or an 'observation', such as the OP is doing, made a huge, life or death, difference with my son.

I would advise any and every parent of an at-risk child to personally visit their child's school.

Not only would I have a huge problem if it were prohibited...

Not only do I consider this a parental right,
But I would consider it a parent's responsibility.

 

[disneyfans95]

And this is your/our business... HOW?????


OP, again, just in case this is new to you and this forewarning is necessary... Don't let yourself get sucked in here.

The point was that we don't know the full story. However without knowing more of the story, why bother asking for opions about something?

Personally I don't care to know the whole story, however if you ask people what do you think about "x" and you don't give them much, if any info, then what feedback you get is pretty limited.

 

[vettechick99]

Rude to observe? No, kids are used to it. Teachers are used to it. No biggie.

Rude to drop in unannounced? Not as long as it's a quick visit. All visitors disrupt the day.

Rude to observe unannounced? IMO, yes. And not indicative of true behavior.

If you want to get the low-down on why your child is struggling, call the teacher and meet with her. If you want to observe, the best way is to NOT let your child see you. I can tell you right now that with you being in the room, your child is not going to act like they normally do. I have seen the best behaved students go nuts with their parent in the room, and I've seen the worst behaved students clam up. It's not a good indicator of what truly goes on everyday.

But I do wish you luck!

 

[palavra]

Oh, okay, I misunderstood, it sounds like you are going to observe the teacher because there might be a problem with the teacher?
But wouldn't you speak to the teacher when you get there anyway?

Yes, I consider this rude. As a professional, you should ask permission to observe the teacher. Would you walk into a doctor's office and sit in on a visit unannounced? If you come with the attitude that the teacher is somehow "the enemy", you won't accomplish much. Why not talk with the teacher, discuss the issues you have and try to work together for your child. believe it or not, most teachers have your child's best interest at heart too.

 

[Minnesota!]

Rude to observe? No, kids are used to it. Teachers are used to it. No biggie.

Rude to drop in unannounced? Not as long as it's a quick visit. All visitors disrupt the day.

Rude to observe unannounced? IMO, yes. And not indicative of true behavior.

If you want to get the low-down on why your child is struggling, call the teacher and meet with her. If you want to observe, the best way is to NOT let your child see you. I can tell you right now that with you being in the room, your child is not going to act like they normally do. I have seen the best behaved students go nuts with their parent in the room, and I've seen the worst behaved students clam up. It's not a good indicator of what truly goes on everyday.

But I do wish you luck!

 

[IFLOSIRI]

No remember you have to due whats best for your child, there alot of great teachers and there are also some poor teachers like in any other walk of life involving professionals

 

[1stluvispooh]

Ohhh, I didn't mean to cause concern!!!
Just mentioning what I had found to be a potential issue in MY case.

I guess my advice is to be quick, unobtrusive, and do not engage....

You will most likely be able to see how your daughter is functioning and how things are going with a quick, stand in the back, visit.

Totally my plan!

 

[Cooky]

.

 

[Deb Quen of Colorado]

just an idea... volunteer in the class if at all possible. You get to see the class for more then just a peek.

 

[eduk8r26]

In most schools around here you have to go through the office to even get into the school. You can't just walk onto the school grounds.

 

[ENSOCK]

You can't just walk into a school and go to the class room to observe. You have to make an appointment. This is done for the safety of the kids. I would request from the teacher that you would like to sit in. Good luck!

 

[FireDancer]

It isn't taking notes that is rude, it is showing up unexpected. Hopefully the school has the common sense to stop any adult (parent or not) at the door and advise them they need an appointment before sitting in on a class.

There was not one single day while I was going to school that parents came in and sat in a class unless it was a pre-designated day for the parents to do so. I find it a bit odd anyone would do even consider doing this but I could say that about a lot of threads on here. I imagine anyone considering this would be installing a breathalyzer on their teens car down the road and would also escort them to their first job interview after college.

 

[ccgirl]

OP - have you spoken to the teacher yet? I would call the school to make sure it is allowed. In my DD's school, you are not allowed in the classroom, or to volunteer for a school event without being CORI checked. This is for the protection of all students. If I heard of parents being able to sit in with my children without being CORI'd I would be very upset.

If you feel something is going on; have you discussed it with the teacher/principal?

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I'm sure the op knows her schools policy. Even a new principal shouldn't matter. He doesn't make the rules. It should be in a school handbook. Ours states that they have an open door policy and parent are welcome to drop by at any time. They must sign in and get a visiter pass in the office before going to the classroom.

If my child were having a problem, I would be doing what the op is doing. I would probably try volunteering a few times too. I wouldn't take a notebook.

I would never send my kids to a school that didn't have an open door policy.

 

[mjkacmom]

Wow, since 9/11 our schools are locked up tight! Everyone adult (and JH/HS student has to display an ID card with a photo. There are no parent volunteers. Parents are not allowed on the playground at lunch. I have no problem with it, as the safety of my children comes first, and in all of these years, I have yet to have a problem with any of the schools. Maybe I'm just lucky?