Meet teachers before back to school night

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher in MCPS and we are not allowed into our classrooms until Tuesday, Aug. 23, the first official professional day. We have meetings scheduled until lunch time on Tuesday and Wednesday, which leaves us Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to unpack everything we had to pack up in June (couldn't leave anything on the walls or tops of shelves, closets had to be emptied, etc) and be ready for Open House on Thursday. There is no way I would have time to meet with a parent during preservice week given the limited time we have in our classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher in MCPS and we are not allowed into our classrooms until Tuesday, Aug. 23, the first official professional day. We have meetings scheduled until lunch time on Tuesday and Wednesday, which leaves us Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to unpack everything we had to pack up in June (couldn't leave anything on the walls or tops of shelves, closets had to be emptied, etc) and be ready for Open House on Thursday. There is no way I would have time to meet with a parent during preservice week given the limited time we have in our classrooms.

I'd guess you'd be even less likely to find time for OP since it would basically be a job interview for you as to whether you are good enough to teach her snowflake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher in MCPS and we are not allowed into our classrooms until Tuesday, Aug. 23, the first official professional day. We have meetings scheduled until lunch time on Tuesday and Wednesday, which leaves us Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to unpack everything we had to pack up in June (couldn't leave anything on the walls or tops of shelves, closets had to be emptied, etc) and be ready for Open House on Thursday. There is no way I would have time to meet with a parent during preservice week given the limited time we have in our classrooms.

Same here. It's really going to be a mad dash already so I'd really resent having to sit down and credential myself with the parent of a student I haven't even met yet. If your DD has a complaint about my teaching on the first day, please, please, please request a transfer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is starting middle school this year and I really want to meet the teachers before hand to talk about her as a learner and to make sure they start off on the right foot with her academically. I'd also like to make sure that they are all good so that I can request a schedule change if necessary before she even arrives. Will the school organize a team meeting or individual meetings with the teachers during pre-service week if I ask? How can I get this to happen?

Please don't be THAT parent, OP. You sound like a helicopter parent.

Teachers are CRAZY busy during preservice. We have required meetings (whole school, team, content) and very little time to get our rooms together. Let's not mention planning for the start of the school year - and making copies.

This is our time.

Remember that WE pay taxes, too.

sorry for sounding like such a B, but there's plenty of time to get to know us AFTER school starts.

You seem to have plenty of free time for social media, teacher...?

uh

I'm sorry?

I'm 50 and have very little for social media. I've been home - with my kids - either working on some new lesson ideas, keeping the house in order, and spending time with my family.

Furthermore, summer IS indeed my time. I don't report to work until Tuesday. If that bothers you, then join our ranks. However, knowing that you can't recognize a sweeping generalization might hurt you in our field, as we do aim to hire intelligent people.

[Anonymous]

So middle school orientation is only for students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
So middle school orientation is only for students?

Yes, please don't embarrass your DD by accompanying him and trying to participate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
So middle school orientation is only for students?

Depends on your school. Our MCPS MS does an evening orientation where 6th graders meet their counselor and homeroom teacher. They can also purchase PE clothes and sign up for activities. They get locker assignments and have practice with opening the locks. There are also two separate orientations just for the kids. I forget what they do at that those except that for one, the school bus picks them up and drops them off and the other requires parents to transport them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher in MCPS and we are not allowed into our classrooms until Tuesday, Aug. 23, the first official professional day. We have meetings scheduled until lunch time on Tuesday and Wednesday, which leaves us Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to unpack everything we had to pack up in June (couldn't leave anything on the walls or tops of shelves, closets had to be emptied, etc) and be ready for Open House on Thursday. There is no way I would have time to meet with a parent during preservice week given the limited time we have in our classrooms.

My son has an IEP which requires a pre- start of school meeting. I have never once felt resentment from teachers or been rushed through because they didn't have time. I guess I should have a greater appreciation for them based on this attitude.

[Anonymous]

LOL OP! Good luck with that.

[Anonymous]

Our MS already did the 6th grade orientation last week. I think 6th grade students benefit when they can get the lay of the school. MS is a big jump from ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher in MCPS and we are not allowed into our classrooms until Tuesday, Aug. 23, the first official professional day. We have meetings scheduled until lunch time on Tuesday and Wednesday, which leaves us Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to unpack everything we had to pack up in June (couldn't leave anything on the walls or tops of shelves, closets had to be emptied, etc) and be ready for Open House on Thursday. There is no way I would have time to meet with a parent during preservice week given the limited time we have in our classrooms.

My son has an IEP which requires a pre- start of school meeting. I have never once felt resentment from teachers or been rushed through because they didn't have time. I guess I should have a greater appreciation for them based on this attitude.

Teachers aren't going to resent meeting for your son or any other kid with SN. But OP's DD doesn't have SN and she just wants to interview the teachers to make sure they are worthy of teaching her child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher in MCPS and we are not allowed into our classrooms until Tuesday, Aug. 23, the first official professional day. We have meetings scheduled until lunch time on Tuesday and Wednesday, which leaves us Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to unpack everything we had to pack up in June (couldn't leave anything on the walls or tops of shelves, closets had to be emptied, etc) and be ready for Open House on Thursday. There is no way I would have time to meet with a parent during preservice week given the limited time we have in our classrooms.

I wonder if you and I work together?

As for me, along with the fact that I haven't been able to get into my room all summer, I'm also one of those people who needs a good two weeks to really learn names / faces. If a parent met with me to talk about a kid I'd never met, it would feel very abstract. Much better to approach me a few weeks in when I know your child a bit better, since he/she is one of 140-150 kids I'll be meeting on 8/29. Just my two cents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher in MCPS and we are not allowed into our classrooms until Tuesday, Aug. 23, the first official professional day. We have meetings scheduled until lunch time on Tuesday and Wednesday, which leaves us Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to unpack everything we had to pack up in June (couldn't leave anything on the walls or tops of shelves, closets had to be emptied, etc) and be ready for Open House on Thursday. There is no way I would have time to meet with a parent during preservice week given the limited time we have in our classrooms.

I wonder if you and I work together?

As for me, along with the fact that I haven't been able to get into my room all summer, I'm also one of those people who needs a good two weeks to really learn names / faces. If a parent met with me to talk about a kid I'd never met, it would feel very abstract. Much better to approach me a few weeks in when I know your child a bit better, since he/she is one of 140-150 kids I'll be meeting on 8/29. Just my two cents.

I'm jealous. I just looked at my classes on myMCPS and, right now, I have 163 students.

[Anonymous]

^^ maybe you'll get lucky and one of them is OP's kid, and she'll deem you unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
So middle school orientation is only for students?

Yes, please don't embarrass your DD by accompanying him and trying to participate.

This.

I'm a middle school teacher, and my oldest starts middle school next week. Please...step back and allow your child to navigate this on his/her own at first. Step in only when necessary.