Vent: Not happy with classroom assignment

[Anonymous]

I am currently reading "The Influence of Teachers: Reflections on Teaching and Leadership". There is a POV that the BEST Teachers should be teaching K/1st grade b/c this is where the foundation is established and if you miss it, it is very costly to catch up.

So I would not look at it as - it is only K.

What I would do would talk to the school to understand what structures they have in place to support this new teacher. Do they have a master teacher mentoring? Are they providing additional planning time? Is there a more experienced aid in the classroom? If they do not have any specifics, or you do not feel there is the support that the teacher will need, request that your child is moved to the other classroom.

[Anonymous]

PP-I have taught Kindergarten for 10 years. Yes, the early years are important for a child's learning/social/emotional development. However, the early years BEGIN at birth up to about 2nd grade. The foundation of a child's success is first dependent on the parent's nurturing/support/ guidance given to a child as he/she develops and grows from the infant stages to toddler and so on. I HIGHLY doubt any Head of School will change the class list just because you don't want a new teacher. Trust me, the OP is not the only parent who did not get what they want (for whatever reason-friendships, bigger classroom, teacher, not wanting their child to be with certain children, etc). If the OP wants to pursue the issue, he/she would have to PROVE why their child's assigned teacher CAN NOT provide their child with a solid education. Since OP really can not make the case, based on what was stated, the Head will not make the change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am currently reading "The Influence of Teachers: Reflections on Teaching and Leadership". There is a POV that the BEST Teachers should be teaching K/1st grade b/c this is where the foundation is established and if you miss it, it is very costly to catch up.

So I would not look at it as - it is only K.

What I would do would talk to the school to understand what structures they have in place to support this new teacher. Do they have a master teacher mentoring? Are they providing additional planning time? Is there a more experienced aid in the classroom? If they do not have any specifics, or you do not feel there is the support that the teacher will need, request that your child is moved to the other classroom.

This is a good way for OP to become a flaming PITA with a rep at the school. And she should tell her self over and over again that THIS MATTERS SO MUCH because you can't get kindergarten back again. Its sooooo costly to catch up?

By the way, that is bunk. Miss Algebra and Introductory Spanish and yeah, you are going to have to catch up. Have a teacher who is not absolutely perfect in kindergarten, not a big deal at all.

My DC had a mediocre teacher in kindergarten and at 16 is no worse for the wear.

[Anonymous]

BS! An early childhood teacher is extremely influential in forming a child's confidence/love of learning (or not)/curiosity/foundation for academics and inter-personal skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best teacher I ever had growing up was fresh out of grad school. The worst teacher (4th grade) had been teaching for 35 years. My parents had to get me a summer tutor so that I would be on the same level as the other 5th graders in the fall.

I just experienced this this year. My dd had a first year teacher who was awesome! She was innovative and made lessons really fun for the kids. However, my dd had a different teacher for math. She has probably been there for 35 years, and seriously needs to retire. As I was working with dd this summer...just to keep math skills fresh, I realized that she did not know some basic math info. I could't believe it! Basically, I am reteaching the entire curriculum, because she will not be ready for the next level of math. Give the newbie a chance, she could turn out wonderful!

[Anonymous]

Pp, I'm the one who posted about the teacher who had been teaching the longest was also the worst. My mom realized how big of a problem it was when we went to our beach house in april and found my math book. We hadn't been at the house since February. We spent a month learning about spiders, 2 months about the colonial age (interesting but spent way too long on it) and other english/history type knowledge. She obviously was not strong in math or science and did not teach it. A friend's younger sister had the same teacher 10 years later and her curriculum had not changed one bit.

[Anonymous]

That sucks! I hope it didn't affect you too much academically. Fortunately, as I am working with dd, she is learning and seems to "get it". Because of this experience, I am nervous about next year. One thing for sure is that I will be more of a pita parent. Even though I hate to be like that.

[Anonymous]

One of the best teacher my daughter has had so far was new. She had a ton of energy and just really understood my daughter's extreme extroverted personality.

[Anonymous]

There's a famous school in these parts that seems to exist to have teachers and associate teachers with very limited years of experience. So I wouldn't worry.

[Anonymous]

Now imagine how shortchanged this poor teacher must feel to have taken a job at a school that seemed so great only to find out her student's parents are controlling, judgemental jerks. I feel for her.

[Anonymous]

This is exactly why our school does NOT post classroom assignments till the Saturday before school starts. It avoids people spending the whole summer carrying on.

Everyone has to start their career somewhere, we all had our first job. At least give this teacher a chance, she may be wonderful. If she is incompetent, then you have a legitimate concern, but to freak out without even giving her a chance is really unfair.

[Anonymous]

I don't think OP was freaking out at all, simply raising a legitimate concern and seeking advice on how to handle it.

[Anonymous]

Hated the 2 grade classroom experience where a child had the same teacher for 2 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS got into a school we really like. We have just learned that he has been put into a classroom that will be led by a new teacher who has just freshly graduated and has no prior experience leading a class of her own. Other teachers in the same grade all have more than 10 years of experience and are very well respected. DS will be with this new teacher for two school years if everything is according to the plan. Part of me think that I should just let this go and see how he progresses through the two years with the new teacher. Part of me think that we have been short changed. For the same amount of tuition we paid, we are not receiving the same quality of education. I don't even know how to bring this up to the school and most likely will be labeled as a PITA parent even before the school starts. So I guess this is more of a vent. How should I deal with this?

1) Just because teacher is new doesn't mean she's bad. On the contrary, younger teachers can have more energy and enthusiasm than veterans.

2) Consider that as illogical as your reaction is that others may have a similar one. What makes you so special that the headmaster will reassign you? I don't mean that snarky -- I mean you really need to consider that question b/c if headmaster gets 6 or 7 requests, the answer will probably a blanket no. In fact, it should probably be a blanket no anyway since your concerns are irrational and invalid.

[Anonymous]

A new teacher should be mentored, the curriculum and instructional activities should planned and executed by all of the same grade/divisional teams of teachers. If your school is not doing these things, you should find a new one.