Kindergarten

[Anonymous]

Does your MCPS kindergarten class have a teachers aide/assistant? It concerns me that my child's kindergarten class does not have one. My child says there are a lot of children in class that don't listen and that the teacher yells and screams a lot. My child says this everyday without me asking or anything. What should I do? I have no talked to the teacher or the principal. Not sure I would be making a big deal out of this or not. I want my child to enjoy school.

[Anonymous]

What school, OP?

[Anonymous]

Have you observed? Have you volunteered?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What school, OP?

I rather not say what school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you observed? Have you volunteered?

I have not went to observe but wouldn't the teacher behave differently if a parent was I the room? I figured with an aid, the aid could pull some kids aside if needed. Maybe the teacher is stressed? Sorry, first time mother here and just worried.

[Anonymous]

OP- how many kids are in the class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- how many kids are in the class?

Sadly, I have no idea. How do parents know these things? I feel so left out now that my child is in kindergarten. No idea what happens during the day, what they are learning, who is in class, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- how many kids are in the class?

Sadly, I have no idea. How do parents know these things? I feel so left out now that my child is in kindergarten. No idea what happens during the day, what they are learning, who is in class, etc.

Perhaps we are in the same school, I feel your pain

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- how many kids are in the class?

Sadly, I have no idea. How do parents know these things? I feel so left out now that my child is in kindergarten. No idea what happens during the day, what they are learning, who is in class, etc.

If you join your PTA, chances are they will put out a directory with all of the kids' names and addresses. So, you will know how many kids are in the class. If you go to back to school night, they explain about the school program. Also, you'll see all of the parents whose kids are in the class. Go to parent observation day on Columbus Day. Go through the Friday Folder and look at the work they bring home. Homework, when it starts, will tell you a lot.

And, no, none of my kids had an aide in kindergarten. Classes were about 26 kids for each.

[Anonymous]

My DS is in private 1st grade. FWIW, I felt exactly the same way last year (not knowing what they were doing) and to some degree this year as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- how many kids are in the class?

Sadly, I have no idea. How do parents know these things? I feel so left out now that my child is in kindergarten. No idea what happens during the day, what they are learning, who is in class, etc.

If you join your PTA, chances are they will put out a directory with all of the kids' names and addresses. So, you will know how many kids are in the class. If you go to back to school night, they explain about the school program. Also, you'll see all of the parents whose kids are in the class. Go to parent observation day on Columbus Day. Go through the Friday Folder and look at the work they bring home. Homework, when it starts, will tell you a lot.

And, no, none of my kids had an aide in kindergarten. Classes were about 26 kids for each.

Not, OP but I only know how many kids are in the class because my DC told me. Not all parents made it to back to school night and class list is being "put together" I've heard. We have I think 24 students with no aide.

[Anonymous]

Our teacher sent the parents a list of the kids in the class. Even without that though, you could just ask at back to school night or simply email the teacher and ask. Also, at the open house right before school opened, our school had all the class lists posted in the entrance to the school. I would think most schools do that.

We have 24 in our class, no aide -- but parent volunteers will begin next month. No yelling that I'm aware of. That's just bad teacher.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you everyone. I will attend the back to school night and ask questions. I would just hate to feel like I'm nagging. 24 kids with no aide seems like a lot of work for the teacher. Has anyone been successful with requesting an aide inside of the classroom? Even if it is for half a day, I feel it is necessary.

[Anonymous]

A request for an aide will be unsuccessful, sorry. There isn't money in the budget for that-they don't just have someone hanging around the school that they can pull in.

But, definitely ask questions at Back to School Night-that is what it is for. There is nothing wrong with asking, "How many children are in this class?" There is also a chance that there is an aide (in MCPS they are called paraeducators) for a couple of select times during the week-though it might be like 45 minutes twice a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you everyone. I will attend the back to school night and ask questions. I would just hate to feel like I'm nagging. 24 kids with no aide seems like a lot of work for the teacher. Has anyone been successful with requesting an aide inside of the classroom? Even if it is for half a day, I feel it is necessary.

Is montgomery county doing back to school nights this late? I'm afraid you've missed it...