MCPS Back to School night

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For HS, I much rather each teacher create a 10-15min "summary" of their class, rules, and syllabus for parents to look at - at their leisure and sign an electronic form saying they watched it.

I think it's cruel for teachers to have to repeat the same thing for 5-6 classes a night and there are ALWAYS ALWAYS parents who ask personal questions even after the teacher says I am sorry I can't answer personal questions.

It's such a waste of time for everyone.

I think they should have an informal open house night with food trucks outside and parents can meander around and see classes, auditorium, gym, lockers, etc... and there can be a PTA meeting, the principal does a talk and the student clubs can set up etc.... But the teachers shouldn't have to do BTSN live by middle school.

Yeah, I would definitely skip that. Waste of time. Seeing inside the school and hearing directly from the teachers though, as your one and only opportunity, is valuable.

It really isn't lol

[Anonymous]

I go every year (DS is in 10th now). Even if I learn nothing, it shows that I care to carve out time from my schedule to attend. I agree that in HS it is the ONLY insight we have into their day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I go every year (DS is in 10th now). Even if I learn nothing, it shows that I care to carve out time from my schedule to attend. I agree that in HS it is the ONLY insight we have into their day.

The HS teachers never ever know who is there. They don't care, trust me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go every year (DS is in 10th now). Even if I learn nothing, it shows that I care to carve out time from my schedule to attend. I agree that in HS it is the ONLY insight we have into their day.

The HS teachers never ever know who is
there. They don't care, trust me

This is clearly untrue given that most of you have you fill out info about your kid meaning they know EXACTLY. who is there. Not that it matters I’m sure, except to show that you don’t have a clue what you are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go every year (DS is in 10th now). Even if I learn nothing, it shows that I care to carve out time from my schedule to attend. I agree that in HS it is the ONLY insight we have into their day.

The HS teachers never ever know who is
there. They don't care, trust me

This is clearly untrue given that most of you have you fill out info about your kid meaning they know EXACTLY. who is there. Not that it matters I’m sure, except to show that you don’t have a clue what you are talking about.

DP but let me rephrase, most teachers are praying no one shows up for each class. You’re doing the opposite of what everyone actually wants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attend them but I think format is so brief and crammed that as a parent, you don't get a lot of value from the hour or so of time you invest in the experience.

I think elementary is the most valuable, followed by middle and high school being the least valuable. I can sort of see the value of running through your kids' schedule at the secondary level, but given that you're spending so much time on the logistics of moving from classroom to classroom (and getting lost along the way) only for the teacher to breathlessly and double-speed attempt to talk through their syllabus, it seems like it's a setup to fail.

I disagree. In high school it’s the only opportunity to meet teachers and interact with them and see the setting my kid spends his day in. In elementary it’sa waste of time.

By high school your child should have a relationship with their teacher that doesn't necessarily involve you unless there is a problem. You also don't need to see their classroom. By college they will have relationships with their professors that doesn't involve you e en when there is a problem. And you certainly won't be see the lecture halls.

As a college professor I can assure you we still get mommies emailing us. Yes it’s crazy, but it happens more than you think, especially in the last 5 years.

Yes! Not only emailing but also during office hours. WTF you're not a student. Call your kid and tell them to schedule a meeting. SMH

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I attend them but I think format is so brief and crammed that as a parent, you don't get a lot of value from the hour or so of time you invest in the experience.

I think elementary is the most valuable, followed by middle and high school being the least valuable. I can sort of see the value of running through your kids' schedule at the secondary level, but given that you're spending so much time on the logistics of moving from classroom to classroom (and getting lost along the way) only for the teacher to breathlessly and double-speed attempt to talk through their syllabus, it seems like it's a setup to fail.

I disagree. In high school it’s the only opportunity to meet teachers and interact with them and see the setting my kid spends his day in. In elementary it’sa waste of time.

By high school your child should have a relationship with their teacher that doesn't necessarily involve you unless there is a problem. You also don't need to see their classroom. By college they will have relationships with their professors that doesn't involve you e en when there is a problem. And you certainly won't be see the lecture halls.

As a college professor I can assure you we still get mommies emailing us. Yes it’s crazy, but it happens more than you think, especially in the last 5 years.

Yes! Not only emailing but also during office hours. WTF you're not a student. Call your kid and tell them to schedule a meeting. SMH

So now showing up at BTSN and showing an interest in your kids education is on a par with interfering in their college experience?! Shaking my head.

In reality BTSN is a great opportunity for the non helicoptering parents among us who let their kids handle school on their own but would like an opportunity for a small insight into what’s going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I go every year (DS is in 10th now). Even if I learn nothing, it shows that I care to carve out time from my schedule to attend. I agree that in HS it is the ONLY insight we have into their day.

Definitely not the ONLY insight in a HS day. Try talking to them, going to their activities, signup for the emails in ParentVue, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go every year (DS is in 10th now). Even if I learn nothing, it shows that I care to carve out time from my schedule to attend. I agree that in HS it is the ONLY insight we have into their day.

The HS teachers never ever know who is
there. They don't care, trust me

This is clearly untrue given that most of you have you fill out info about your kid meaning they know EXACTLY. who is there. Not that it matters I’m sure, except to show that you don’t have a clue what you are talking about.

PP here, I meant to my kid I expect him to put his best effort forward, so I can spare couple of hours to show up to learn about his day.

[Anonymous]

It’s bizarre that there is someone angry enough to berate parents who find back to school night useful and tell them they are wrong. Why don’t you just not go and leave others to their own devices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s bizarre that there is someone angry enough to berate parents who find back to school night useful and tell them they are wrong. Why don’t you just not go and leave others to their own devices.

+1! It's entirely optional. I don't see why anyone would care what anyone else chooses to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go every year (DS is in 10th now). Even if I learn nothing, it shows that I care to carve out time from my schedule to attend. I agree that in HS it is the ONLY insight we have into their day.

The HS teachers never ever know who is
there. They don't care, trust me

This is clearly untrue given that most of you have you fill out info about your kid meaning they know EXACTLY. who is there. Not that it matters I’m sure, except to show that you don’t have a clue what you are talking about.

Teachers barely even look at those. I stuck them in a drawer and forgot that I had them until the end of the year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go every year (DS is in 10th now). Even if I learn nothing, it shows that I care to carve out time from my schedule to attend. I agree that in HS it is the ONLY insight we have into their day.

The HS teachers never ever know who is
there. They don't care, trust me

This is clearly untrue given that most of you have you fill out info about your kid meaning they know EXACTLY. who is there. Not that it matters I’m sure, except to show that you don’t have a clue what you are talking about.

Teachers barely even look at those. I stuck them in a drawer and forgot that I had them until the end of the year

Then why ask parents to fill them out?

[Anonymous]

In our ES it was great last year (K). Very substantive presentation and lots of time for questions. About an hour, just the class (not whole grade) with the kid's teacher. There was also something set up in the APR for the whole school that was less useful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go every year (DS is in 10th now). Even if I learn nothing, it shows that I care to carve out time from my schedule to attend. I agree that in HS it is the ONLY insight we have into their day.

The HS teachers never ever know who is
there. They don't care, trust me

This is clearly untrue given that most of you have you fill out info about your kid meaning they know EXACTLY. who is there. Not that it matters I’m sure, except to show that you don’t have a clue what you are talking about.

Teachers barely even look at those. I stuck them in a drawer and forgot that I had them until the end of the year

Then why ask parents to fill them out?

Because my department head suggested it and said that parents like to have something to fill out. It is good information. I’m not trying to dis parents. But when you are a relatively new teacher, it takes a lot of effort to keep from drowning so extraneous things get ignored. Just way too much going on every day