My 2nd grader’s teacher intends to mask all year
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Anonymous
| His 1st grade teacher masked all year too. He has a speech delay and is behind in reading. His teacher said she is immunocompromised and plans to mask all year and maybe beyond “just to be safe”. I get it from the teacher’s perspective. But my perspective is valid too. I feel stuck. |
Anonymous
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And, how is this an issue? Its better they mask vs. be out for a week or two sick and make their family sick. If your child has a speech disorder, get them private therapy and an IEP. MCPS is offering free tutoring again this year so take advantage of it.
Its none of your business why they choose to mask. But, good for them. |
Anonymous
How could it NOT be an issue?? All the other 2nd grade teachers were unmasked at open house today… I felt a bit jealous. |
Anonymous
Then ask for a teacher change. And, get your child a good evaluation for the speech and reading and private speech and reading support. |
Anonymous
This is so entitled. |
Anonymous
| Ask for a new teacher, if that doesn’t work go the IEP route. www.wrightslaw.com |
Anonymous
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Ask to switch teachers. But just realize that the new teacher could decide to mask if a scary new variant comes out or if someone in her family gets cancer and is undergoing treatment. There’s only so much you can control here.
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Anonymous
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I understand the frustration with speech delays (my child had severe speech problems, and I had mild ones). I also understand reading difficulties. I was young for my class and the worst reader, until it finally clicked the following summer. I think in both cases, the classroom teacher wearing a mask would have had minimal impact, if any.
In the case of speech, generalized classroom instruction has zero impact. The child’s attention is on the subject/activity at hand, and isn’t thinking about articulation. You’d have better success talking to your child at home because you could slow down and exaggerate pronunciation and mouth movement, whereas the classroom teacher is focusing on teaching the 20 other kids the core lesson. Really, the only thing that’s going to make much difference is dedicated time with a trained therapist. In the case of reading the main factors are associating the letters to the sounds they make. Explicit instruction in phonics is critical. Mouth movements might make a small difference here, but even without a mask, the teacher is not going to be talking close enough and slow enough for the child to gather useful information. For that, even with an unmasked teacher, I’d recommend you either work with them at home, get a private tutor, or get cards like these which are specifically designed for that: https://www.google.com/search?q=moving+mouth+sound+cards&client=safari&hl=en-us&ei=CdMJY7uwD9HhxgGK2KwQ&oq=moving+mouth+sound+cards&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAMyBQgAEKIEMggIABCiBBCLAzIICAAQogQQiwMyCAgAEKIEEIsDMggIABCiBBCLAzoHCAAQRxCwA0oECEEYAFCALlj_OGD3O2gCcAF4AIABYogB3AOSAQE2mAEAoAEByAEIuAEDwAEB&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#ip=1 What will make a difference in your child’s progress is if the teacher and/or your child gets sick and can’t come to school. |
Anonymous
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I would only make a big deal about this if my child were hard of hearing.
By 1st/2nd grade, teacher speech patterns likely won't influence a speech delay one way or another. If your child cannot yet read, then work with them at home on the letter sounds and tongue placement. I wouldn't change teachers in your particular circumstance. |
Anonymous
| Lots more families are figuring out a path to homeschooling because of these issues. |
Anonymous
Exactly. |
Anonymous
| Good. It’s her right to protect herself, being in a room of unmasked kids traveling the country every weekend and break. |
Anonymous
Because you’re an adult and you understand that other people have the right to make choices to protect themselves. That’s “how it could not be an issue.” Or your kid can stay home and you can teach them, blissfully mask free. |
Anonymous
| You're fixating on the wrong things. Blaming masked teachers bc your child is struggling to meet speech benchmarks??? Parenting is hard, but don't take your anxiety out on the teacher. |
Anonymous
+1 |