Can middle school teachers give assignments out earlier due to absence?

[Anonymous]

It's the first time that we will be away for more than a week during the school year due to family obligations. Can and will teachers give out assignments ahead of time so the student can stay relatively on pace? Cabin John MS for reference.

[Anonymous]

No and you’re an a hole if you ask for them. You’re creating more work for the teacher by taking your kid out of school. They catch up when they get back. This is a CHOICE you made.

[Anonymous]

Understand why you'd ask but this is not a reasonable request and is unfair to the teacher. Teachers often don't have assignments ready until the last minute (demands on their time, crushing workload, not ready to finalize them due to not knowing where the class will be) and they often don't want to release assignments early for good reason (so they aren't out in the wild for kids to see and work on early).

Your kid will have to check Canvas in real time or do them late, which MCPS provides time guideslines for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No and you’re an a hole if you ask for them. You’re creating more work for the teacher by taking your kid out of school. They catch up when they get back. This is a CHOICE you made.

Appreciate your input but no need to be nasty about it. It's a medical emergency outside of the country and yes it is a CHOICE to be there when your parent takes their last breath.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Understand why you'd ask but this is not a reasonable request and is unfair to the teacher. Teachers often don't have assignments ready until the last minute (demands on their time, crushing workload, not ready to finalize them due to not knowing where the class will be) and they often don't want to release assignments early for good reason (so they aren't out in the wild for kids to see and work on early).

Your kid will have to check Canvas in real time or do them late, which MCPS provides time guideslines for.

Thank you, this is very clear and helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No and you’re an a hole if you ask for them. You’re creating more work for the teacher by taking your kid out of school. They catch up when they get back. This is a CHOICE you made.

Appreciate your input but no need to be nasty about it. It's a medical emergency outside of the country and yes it is a CHOICE to be there when your parent takes their last breath.

Can they, yes, will they, not in our experience. I'm sorry you are going through that. All you can do is reach out and ask.

[Anonymous]

You can ask but don't expect it.

[Anonymous]

Relax, it is just MS

[Anonymous]

OP. Sorry for what you’re going through. Reasonable you can ask for the notes to be published in Canvas so your kid can keep up and try to schedule time for questions while gone or schedule time in advance for making up work when you return.

[Anonymous]

It's reasonable to ask that it be posted on Canvas as they go but not ahead of time,

[Anonymous]

Yes, at least they did for us, when we had to leave for two weeks to have our visa interviews in our home country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, at least they did for us, when we had to leave for two weeks to have our visa interviews in our home country.

And BTW I can't believe how nasty that other PP was! There are legitimate reasons to leave sometimes. For us it was literally force majeure. We couldn't stay legally in the country without getting our visa renewed. The teachers were very supportive and understanding.

[Anonymous]

You can of course ask. But like others have said it will depend of the teacher and the lesson. Not all lessons/assignments are easily done if you aren't in class. And some teachers are hanging on and haven't planned that far in advance.

And I am sure that this is not you, but I have spent considerable time providing work for students prior to a trip, only to get nothing when the student returns. That is more often than not. So, if you request the work please have your child actually do it.

[Anonymous]

I would ask for a meeting with the grade-level VP to ask for what could be done. You have a good reason for the student to be absent, and I think at the very least you could get all materials and notes posted to Canvas so your child could keep up. I'm sorry you are going through this, OP.

[Anonymous]

Just email the teachers, explain the situation, and ask what would be more convenient for them. The good thing about the million little assignments is that missing some of them is not the end of the world. Between that and the way the quarter grades make up the semester grades (A+B = A), your child will be fine. So sorry for the family health issues!