Search Results for: blog requesting a new teacher

Communicating With Your Child’s Teacher

Some parents barely know the name of their child’s teacher, let alone their phone number of email address. Then, there’s an entire camp of moms and dads who have their child’s teacher on speed dial. Which are you? My daughter has only been in school for a year-and-a-half. She’s had one teacher who winced every time a parent stepped into her classroom. Seriously; the woman would have been overjoyed if the students in her classroom were immaculately conceived by robots, so she wouldn’t have to deal with questions and concerns from parents. As for communicating, well, let’s just say it … Continue reading →

The New Teacher

Most of the time my posts are specifically about college or about tips for young adults in a paper-writing or presentation giving mode. It’s what I do and what I know. It’s been a long time since I was in high school. Reunions (plural) have already taken place apparently. I’ve missed them, sadly. They were arranged — poorly — via social networking services. It seems that attendance was well under ten percent as a result. At any rate, I’m fairly well focused on the older crowd of students. That’s not a bad thing at all. But today my focus shifts … Continue reading →

How Do You Thank Priceless Teachers?

A couple weeks before school let out for summer break I received a note asking for money in order to buy my first grader’s teacher a thank you present. I love that the room moms take up a collection, as it takes the pressure off busy parents, and allows the teacher to score a gift worth more than a couple of bucks. I am all for pitching in for the class gift, and sent in money right away. In addition, my daughter drew her teacher a lovely card and we shipped in a couple lei from Hawaii. Honestly, my daughter’s … Continue reading →

When Teachers Fail to Make the Mark

You know you’re in trouble when your child’s teacher behaves worse than your child. Whereas most parents realize that neither the public nor the private school system is 100 percent sound, I think it’s reasonable to expect that a child should not be subject to violence or ridicule within the confines of a classroom. Obviously, this has not been the case in the past. The news is filled with stories of teachers who duct tape their students’ mouths shut in class to stop them from talking, educators who push kids against walls when they don’t do as they are told … Continue reading →

Requesting a New Teacher

What happens when your child and his teacher are polar opposites? Do you spend the year watching your child suffer or do you request that he be moved to a new class? Personally, I don’t find either option very inviting. However, it’s a problem faced by thousands of parents each year… including my best friend. My extremely non-confrontational best friend. Her son recently started all-day kindergarten and he dreads going because his teacher is a yeller. The kid has been raised by one of the sweetest, gentlest, kindest souls on the planet. I’m not sure his mother’s voice reaches a … Continue reading →

Back-to-School Motivators

Like mother like daughter. When it comes to back-to-school, my daughter and I are on the same page. I’m not singing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and my kid is not tailgating at the bus stop. Instead, we’ve been desperately clinging to the last days of summer vacation, squeezing in as many outdoor activities as possible before she is forced to remain indoors for nearly seven hours per day. It’s not that my child hates school; it’s just that she enjoys summer more. Ditto for the Mama; only I don’t make a habit of verbalizing my personal … Continue reading →

Country Kids Get Beat

… in school… by their teachers… and it’s not against the law. Add this to the list of reasons why I am so glad I don’t live in Florida. According to NPR, Florida is one of 19 states that still allows teachers the right to paddle students who misbehave in the classroom. The right to use corporal punishment to discipline kids has been in place for decades in rural parts of the south and Mountain West region. In those areas state law doesn’t require school administrators to get parental consent before paddling a kid. According to the NPR piece, the … Continue reading →

What Really Happens in the Classroom?

My 7-year-old and I play a little game on the ride home from school each day called “High Low.” After we clear the madness that is the school’s parking lot we take turns telling each other one high point and one low point of our respective days. A couple of weeks before Christmas my daughter shared a “high” of crafting Christmas cards for her teacher’s 20-something-year-old unmarried daughter who couldn’t make it home to Wisconsin for the holidays. I didn’t get all the details, but I from what I gathered, the teacher’s daughter had to remain in Texas for some … Continue reading →

Is Safe Always Better?

A few years ago my 9-year-old cousin fell out of a tree and broke his arm. Turns out the reason he was climbing the tree was because my aunt felt it was too dangerous for him to bike over to a local park to meet up with a bunch of his buddies. Rather, she felt it would be safer for him to play in their backyard where she could keep an eye on him. About 45 minutes after she made the call to have him stay home she was dialing 911. Irony. Oh, what a bitter pill to swallow… especially … Continue reading →

The Dark Side of Recess

Have you ever wondered what really goes on at your child’s school during recess? At my daughter’s private school, parent volunteers aid teachers in monitoring the 200 plus kids who run around on the outdoor playground like wild animals twice a day. As a parent volunteer, I get to witness firsthand some of the shenanigans that take place during the students’ break from class. What’s more, I am also privy to the attention given to each child by adult supervisors when or if a problem rears its head on the playground. This gives me priceless peace of mind on the … Continue reading →