How to you address your child’s teacher?

[Anonymous]

I moved to the US four years ago and my daughter entered Kindergarten this year and I’m confused over how to address my child’s teacher. In Lebanon, where I am from, teachers are highly respected and are address as the arabic equivalent of professor. I am not sure what the norm is here in the US. If I am emailing my child’s teacher or even speaking to her, do I address her as Ms. [lastname], Ms. [firstname] or by her first name. Things seem to be more causal in the US but I am embarrassed to address a teacher by her first name!

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I always start with Mr./Ms. Last Name and go from there. There are very few teachers I've called by their first names.

[Anonymous]

I say Mr/Ms. Lastname.

[Anonymous]

Almost no teachers who are working in K-12 are professors. So you wouldn't call them Professor Biden, or Dr. Biden.

My kids teachers sign things with their first name, so I address them via writing, by their first name. In front of the kids I sometimes try to remember to say Mrs. Obama, but if I slip and call her Michelle, then no bid deal. I'm not a student - part of the awesomeness of being an adult is calling everyone by their first name.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! Related question. I noticed at work if someone sends an email to someone and address them as Mr/Ms lastname and then they respond and sign the email with their first name, then the original sender will start using the first name. Is it the same with teachers? Or should I continue to address the teacher as Mr/Ms lastname no matter how they sign their name? Or do I start using the first name? In my country the teacher would be addressed formally regardless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Almost no teachers who are working in K-12 are professors. So you wouldn't call them Professor Biden, or Dr. Biden.

My kids teachers sign things with their first name, so I address them via writing, by their first name. In front of the kids I sometimes try to remember to say Mrs. Obama, but if I slip and call her Michelle, then no bid deal. I'm not a student - part of the awesomeness of being an adult is calling everyone by their first name.

Just saw this! Thank you too. So if they sign with the first name I use the first name?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost no teachers who are working in K-12 are professors. So you wouldn't call them Professor Biden, or Dr. Biden.

My kids teachers sign things with their first name, so I address them via writing, by their first name. In front of the kids I sometimes try to remember to say Mrs. Obama, but if I slip and call her Michelle, then no bid deal. I'm not a student - part of the awesomeness of being an adult is calling everyone by their first name.

Just saw this! Thank you too. So if they sign with the first name I use the first name?

Yes, that’s what most people do. By signing with her first name, she’s telling you she’s OK with you using it.

[Anonymous]

Between my two high school aged daughters, out of all the teachers they’ve had over the years, only one called me by my first name. All of the rest called me Mrs. Smith. Therefore, I have addressed all of them by Mr./Ms. Surname, except for that one teacher because she signaled that we were on a first name basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost no teachers who are working in K-12 are professors. So you wouldn't call them Professor Biden, or Dr. Biden.

My kids teachers sign things with their first name, so I address them via writing, by their first name. In front of the kids I sometimes try to remember to say Mrs. Obama, but if I slip and call her Michelle, then no bid deal. I'm not a student - part of the awesomeness of being an adult is calling everyone by their first name.

Just saw this! Thank you too. So if they sign with the first name I use the first name?

Yes, that’s what most people do. By signing with her first name, she’s telling you she’s OK with you using it.

Most people do not do this around here. Not sure what PP's talking about. Most people use Mr./Ms. Lastname (I've worked in many schools).

[Anonymous]

I always say Mrs Smith. Never Jane or Ms Jane. Even if that’s how they sign their emails (“Jane”), I still default to Mrs Smith. Even if Mrs Smith is 10 years my junior. She is my kids teacher, not my friend, and I want to afford her the respect she deserves and maintain that professional boundary for her.

[Anonymous]

I’m old fashioned. Mr. / Mrs. Lastname.

Old habits die hard.

[Anonymous]

Call them what you want your children to call them. Treat them how you want your children to treat them. Model good behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always say Mrs Smith. Never Jane or Ms Jane. Even if that’s how they sign their emails (“Jane”), I still default to Mrs Smith. Even if Mrs Smith is 10 years my junior. She is my kids teacher, not my friend, and I want to afford her the respect she deserves and maintain that professional boundary for her.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Ms. or Mr. until they call themselves by their first name in email form.

I generally sign my emails by my first name only. So if they write back and say:

Susie,
Thanks for reaching out about your son.
Barb

I will write back to "Barb" and not Ms. White.

[Anonymous]

I always use Ms./Mr.