Best 2nd and 3rd grade teachers at Louise Archer?

[Anonymous]

OP, if you can go to a PTA meeting, do. Folks at LA are quite nice. We go to another school and LOVE our school. Good luck!

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get it. She said she was not going to ask for a particular teacher. She merely said it was to have a little background to provide her kids. I agree with that other poster...we all hear tidbits of information passed to us from other parents about the teachers our kids are about to have every new school year. We don't use that information to scare our kids or tell them it is easy sailing...we use it however we deem appropriate (which may be doing nothing)? What is the difference in this case? I do agree that feelings about teachers will differ but you can reply IF YOU HAVE information with, "In our experience..." or "we personally...".

Geesh...cut the lady some slack.

Since you are just moving to the DC area I'll assume that you are also new to DCUM. In that case, welcome to our community. As other posters have pointed out, it is not good form to discuss other individuals by name while remaining anonymous yourself. The information posted here could remain for years and can be easily found by a Google search. You can't think of these discussions as you might a conversation over tea with a neighbor. What gets posted here has a much longer life and a much larger potential audience. Those responding to you are doing an excellent job of sharing information that my help with your children's transition to the school, while avoiding naming names.

Finally, responding in a thread as if you are a different poster is called "sock puppetting". Sock puppets are frowned upon here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I taught first grade. One year I had the "perfect" class. I said "jump" and the kids said "how high?" It was a terrific group of kids-some smart, some middle and some not so smart. However, they were ALL well behaved. After years of struggling with discipline problems I thought I had all the answers. We were able to accomplish so much because the kids were cooperative and respected each other as well as the teacher.
The next year, the principal had lots of requests for me because I had such a terrific class. Guess what? It was the class from Hell. (Nice kids--but tons of issues.) The principal also threw in some problem children because I "had such good control" of the classroom. I'm sure all those parents who requested me regretted it. I spent most of my time with a girl who was emotionally disturbed. The psychologist thought it would be worse if she were put in a class of like children because she would follow their lead.........I had to keep her constantly by my side or she would hurt other kids. I worked three times harder that year and probably accomplished less than 60% of what my class had done the year before.
Moral: be careful what you ask for--a lot of the effectiveness of a teacher depends on the make up of the class.

This. This is why people home school. And I used to be a public school teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught first grade. One year I had the "perfect" class. I said "jump" and the kids said "how high?" It was a terrific group of kids-some smart, some middle and some not so smart. However, they were ALL well behaved. After years of struggling with discipline problems I thought I had all the answers. We were able to accomplish so much because the kids were cooperative and respected each other as well as the teacher.
The next year, the principal had lots of requests for me because I had such a terrific class. Guess what? It was the class from Hell. (Nice kids--but tons of issues.) The principal also threw in some problem children because I "had such good control" of the classroom. I'm sure all those parents who requested me regretted it. I spent most of my time with a girl who was emotionally disturbed. The psychologist thought it would be worse if she were put in a class of like children because she would follow their lead.........I had to keep her constantly by my side or she would hurt other kids. I worked three times harder that year and probably accomplished less than 60% of what my class had done the year before.
Moral: be careful what you ask for--a lot of the effectiveness of a teacher depends on the make up of the class.

This. This is why people home school. And I used to be a public school teacher.

Teacher here, too. I long for the days when students like this were removed to alternate schools. So unfair (and dangerous).

[Anonymous]

I think my DC was in that class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Wow...hard to believe what I thought was an innocent question would be met with some of these comments. I'm not asking that an innocent teacher be trashed. I'm asking for input so that I can help my kids with any adjustment and expectations. Of course I wouldn't tell my kids verbatim comments from here...but I would want to set up expectations.

We are moving mid year because my father can no longer live alone due to some falls. I'm an only child and promised my mother I would assist. We were moving in the summer anyway due to my husband's job, but my father has declined so much that we can't wait for his own safety.

And last thing...of course I'm not thinking of requesting any particular teacher. Wow...please...if you have any input, lthat is responsive to what I asked, let me know. Otherwise, dissing my question isn't helping what is already a stressful situation for us.

I understand that you've got a difficult situation, and I think it's a wonderful thing that you're coming to take care of your father. I don't understand how having a "difficult situation" makes it OK to invite people to make negative comments about someone online. I work in a field where sometimes I google teachers who are looking for jobs. I also know that when I was a teacher sometimes people googled me, whether they were prospective parents or an old college buddy looking to get back in touch. I hope you can appreciate that having negative comments, that you can't respond to because they're anonymous, online about you would be stressful and a "difficult situation" too.

I also don't understand how knowing that some anonymous person thinks your child's teacher is the "best" or the "worst" is going to help you prepare your kids in any meaningful way. The best way to learn about a person is to form a relationship with that person, not to talk about them on an internet forum.

Finally, I would like to point out that you've now effectively ID's yourself to the Louise Archer community. They'll figure out pretty quickly who the new second grader moving into be close to the ailing grandfather is. If someone does post something negative about your child's teacher, the community and your child's teacher will know that you're the one who created the opportunity for that to happen. Is that really what you want?

[Anonymous]

Relax, PP! OP you r fine, ignore PP; probably a teacher!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Relax, PP! OP you r fine, ignore PP; probably a teacher!

You're such a great detective. Was it when I said this:

PP wrote: I also know that when I was a teacher sometimes people googled me . . .

that you figured it out?

[Anonymous]

Well...I think you are still, not when, as you wrote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well...I think you are still, not when, as you wrote.

I'm not sure that I understand your point. If I am currently a teacher, then my opinion couldn't possibly matter. Even though we're talking specifically about teachers, a teacher couldn't contribute meaningfully.

On the other hand, if I am a former teacher, because I retired, or got promoted, or decided to stay home with my kids . . . then my opinion would matter?

Why would you take my opinion differently if I was a current teacher?

[Anonymous]

As a parent with three children at LA I can state that the teachers are all great with certain exceptions.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are transferring in from out of town (relocation). Any input would be appreciated on best and worst just so we have any background information. Thanks!

This forum is not for trashing individual teachers or even for praising individual teachers and from what I've seen any posts that directly name teachers are deleted. OP, you may have better success connecting with parents of current students - I am sure the school would put you in touch with some. You can ask them about the "best and worst" so you could "help your kids with adjustments and expectations."

[Anonymous]

The OP should never ask for "best and worst" of teachers. It's totally subjective and no teacher is the best at everything. If she goes to the school, she should mention her children's strengths and weaknesses and leave it at that. I'd be much more interested in finding out more about the families nearby to help the children get adjusted better. Perhaps getting a PTA directory or something. All teachers in FCPS are held to high standards even if they aren't "the best".

[Anonymous]

Vienna moms club has some school subgroups that you can join. Most of the children are preschool age, but there are families with elementary age students. A couple of LA parents in particular have been in the area awhile and could give you a lot of information on the school and area.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm sorry your innocently asked question got derailed by a lot of posters who apparently don't have kids at LA and who decided to go after each other and you. I hope you don't think all the snarkiness somehow reflects LA. It only reflects DCUM, unfortunately.

My child goes to LA (6th) and it has been a great school for us. I wouldn't name names in a forum like this anyway, for reasons others have mentioned, but also because we did not start at LA until third grade and teachers have changed somewhat over the years; however, I would suggest you go to the LA PTA web site (separate from the school website, which you also should visit) to learn more about the activities there, the extracurriculars, PTA programs, etc. Have you visited the school yet? Definitely do so before your kids start there, if you can. It's an older school in need of more space that isn't on the horizon but we've found the teachers to be good to great (in both the AAP and base programs) and the administration to be very supportive and helpful. Ask to meet with your kids' teachers before the kids start, so you can ask the teachers how they'll work to move your kids into the curriculum and you can tell them (as much as you want) about your own situation -- you want them to be aware of any stresses your kids may be under as they move and change schools.

I hope your move goes well. It's tough to move midyear and especially tough to deal with helping a family member in need. Good for you for making that move. Your kids will do fine at LA. If you can, get involved there and get to know other parents, teachers and others in the school.