Has Anyone Been Able to See Their Child's Mid-Term Exams?

[Anonymous]

My previous attempt to respond to this post didn't turn out correctly. I'm trying again:

I truly feel sad for the student (if you have any) who are in classes with teachers like you. By your email you are stereotyping students and parents into one category. A mom is a helicopter mom if she actually cares what happened on her daughter's exams. I'm sure your attitude comes off well in the classroom and is inviting to your students for coming in for extra help and to ask questions.

Have you ever spoken to your child's teachers regarding her progress throughout the semester? Have you spoken to them regarding the times she's been in for extra help? Or is your demand to see her exams your first contact with them? If it's the latter, then yes, you are acting like a helicopter parent.

My daughter has an IEP and learning disabilities. Her testing can be inconsistent for a variety of reasons. She is a child who spends more time than average studying. She is a child that speaks up for her accommodations and makes routine appointments with teachers for extended time and extra curriculum explanation. She just keeps tripping up over the longer assessments. Her poor exams did not impact her overall grades because she was able to demonstrate better her skills and knowledge through the shorter quizzes and unit tests. She is a pretty solid student when all the grades are calculated.

It is not her GPA or the overall class grades I have concerned with. It is generalized test taking strategies at issue, a skill not in the curriculum nor is supported through instruction by her teachers. It probably should be added as a goal with objectives for her special education team to teach her. Not really in the training for most teachers, especially teachers who are unfamiliar with her unique set of disabilities. Working with my daughter, talking with experts in the field of Special Education, as well as the advice she gets from her tutor, I am knowledgeable about my daughters strengths and weaknesses far better than most of her teachers. Certain strategies are better for her than others when it comes to memorizing information and taking long tests.

Most jurisdictions across the US do not find the need to lock up unit tests and exams. It sure wasn't done in MCPS till a few years ago. Your argument re: not wanting to write new tests comes off as lazy and you truly should find a new profession if you are not interested in the complete loop of the education process. Kids need the feedback from these assessments so they can learn from their mistakes and improve their test taking skills in the future. I am sure if all your parents and all your students took the initiative to make appointments to see these tests, that requirement on your time is far greater than rewriting a test.

Until you have written a complete unit exam, I wouldn't call teachers who don't have the time to re-create the wheel so YOU can have your very own copy lazy. You obviously have no idea how much work goes into teaching nor do you have any idea how long it takes to write good tests. Good thing most parents are not like you!

[Anonymous]

To the PP ^^^^

The more you write, the more bitter you sound and my advise would be to leave teaching. You obviously do not care about your students or what it takes to help them succeed. You obviously have no respect for parents. So the question would be, why do you teach? Were you in college and could not hack the engineering program or math program or majored in a ridiculous degree that you had no idea what to do with after graduation. I would bet that your first choice in majors was not education because you seem to lack the fundamentals the profession requires.

[Anonymous]

Were you in college and could not hack the engineering program or math program or majored in a ridiculous degree that you had no idea what to do with after graduation. I would bet that your first choice in majors was not education because you seem to lack the fundamentals the profession requires.

The fact that would suggest this (basically, that anybody can be a teacher) shows what little respect you have for teachers, and gives a good indicator of your attitude towards your daughter's teachers. Not surprised you are running into problems.

[Anonymous]

So tell us, did you see the tests yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Were you in college and could not hack the engineering program or math program or majored in a ridiculous degree that you had no idea what to do with after graduation. I would bet that your first choice in majors was not education because you seem to lack the fundamentals the profession requires.

The fact that would suggest this (basically, that anybody can be a teacher) shows what little respect you have for teachers, and gives a good indicator of your attitude towards your daughter's teachers. Not surprised you are running into problems.

It also proves that anyone can indeed be a parent. Sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So tell us, did you see the tests yet?

OP here - Nope. It seems they have difficulty carving out the time to show them to my daughter and I in one sitting. The meetings need to be with the teacher and the department chair so the only options are on multiple days which I cannot do because I do have a job. I will keep trying next week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So tell us, did you see the tests yet?

OP here - Nope. It seems they have difficulty carving out the time to show them to my daughter and I in one sitting. The meetings need to be with the teacher and the department chair so the only options are on multiple days which I cannot do because I do have a job. I will keep trying next week.

So let your DD do it. She needs to learn to self advocate. Once she gets to college this will be a critical skill. We worked hard on this with my DC in high school and it was successful. She learned to review tests, meet with teachers to cover things she was having trouble with, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So tell us, did you see the tests yet?

OP here - Nope. It seems they have difficulty carving out the time to show them to my daughter and I in one sitting. The meetings need to be with the teacher and the department chair so the only options are on multiple days which I cannot do because I do have a job. I will keep trying next week.

So let your DD do it. She needs to learn to self advocate. Once she gets to college this will be a critical skill. We worked hard on this with my DC in high school and it was successful. She learned to review tests, meet with teachers to cover things she was having trouble with, etc.

Precisely! Your child is in high school. It's time for HER to take the responsibility. She'll appreciate that you see her as mature enough to do it, and as the PP said, it's a critical skill. I'll add that it's not only critical for college, but for LIFE.

[Anonymous]

You're angry because the school won't cater to your professional schedule? That you can't take off for your daughter when you are asking for teachers to lose planning time that is reserved for working with ALL of their students?

That is rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So tell us, did you see the tests yet?

OP here - Nope. It seems they have difficulty carving out the time to show them to my daughter and I in one sitting. The meetings need to be with the teacher and the department chair so the only options are on multiple days which I cannot do because I do have a job. I will keep trying next week.

So let your DD do it. She needs to learn to self advocate. Once she gets to college this will be a critical skill. We worked hard on this with my DC in high school and it was successful. She learned to review tests, meet with teachers to cover things she was having trouble with, etc.

Precisely! Your child is in high school. It's time for HER to take the responsibility. She'll appreciate that you see her as mature enough to do it, and as the PP said, it's a critical skill. I'll add that it's not only critical for college, but for LIFE.

My daughter had a Spanish test and an English test during the time period the Assistant Principal scheduled. My daughter chose to take the assessments so she didn't fall behind. She had asked the meeting to be rescheduled at a time she doesn't lose two academic classes.

You are also an ass who knows nothing about children with disabilities. Hence, I second the PP who questioned why a person like you is in education. The issue we are trying to solve by reviewing the exams is that my daughter needs to learn better test taking strategies and preparedness. Reviewing the tests with different Department heads who are not familiar with her disability isn't going to give her that type of feedback. Maybe reviewing the test with someone from the Special Education department, but I was told by the Assistant Principal that her Special Education coordinator could not view her exams so that option is out. Also, if I want to see the tests and she wants to see the tests, the school wants us to come in together. They don't want to have 10 meetings instead of the 5.

And yes, to put food on the table and pay the mortgage, I do have to work. I am willing to take time off from work but like most people, I have to get permission from my supervisor and have to preschedule these things. The time period they gave me with less than 24 hours notice would mean I would have to commute into DC in the morning, commute out for the meeting, then commute back into DC after the meeting at about 1 hour trip each way. I had meetings and deadlines at work that I could not reschedule on short notice, so I asked for another appointment with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So tell us, did you see the tests yet?

OP here - Nope. It seems they have difficulty carving out the time to show them to my daughter and I in one sitting. The meetings need to be with the teacher and the department chair so the only options are on multiple days which I cannot do because I do have a job. I will keep trying next week.

So let your DD do it. She needs to learn to self advocate. Once she gets to college this will be a critical skill. We worked hard on this with my DC in high school and it was successful. She learned to review tests, meet with teachers to cover things she was having trouble with, etc.

Precisely! Your child is in high school. It's time for HER to take the responsibility. She'll appreciate that you see her as mature enough to do it, and as the PP said, it's a critical skill. I'll add that it's not only critical for college, but for LIFE.

My daughter had a Spanish test and an English test during the time period the Assistant Principal scheduled. My daughter chose to take the assessments so she didn't fall behind. She had asked the meeting to be rescheduled at a time she doesn't lose two academic classes.

You are also an ass who knows nothing about children with disabilities. Hence, I second the PP who questioned why a person like you is in education. The issue we are trying to solve by reviewing the exams is that my daughter needs to learn better test taking strategies and preparedness. Reviewing the tests with different Department heads who are not familiar with her disability isn't going to give her that type of feedback. Maybe reviewing the test with someone from the Special Education department, but I was told by the Assistant Principal that her Special Education coordinator could not view her exams so that option is out. Also, if I want to see the tests and she wants to see the tests, the school wants us to come in together. They don't want to have 10 meetings instead of the 5.

And yes, to put food on the table and pay the mortgage, I do have to work. I am willing to take time off from work but like most people, I have to get permission from my supervisor and have to preschedule these things. The time period they gave me with less than 24 hours notice would mean I would have to commute into DC in the morning, commute out for the meeting, then commute back into DC after the meeting at about 1 hour trip each way. I had meetings and deadlines at work that I could not reschedule on short notice, so I asked for another appointment with the school.

I bolded my response above. Just to clarify I am not a teacher and my DD does have LDs and ADHD so we've been dealing with these issues for years. I should have made that clear. But we really did find that being able to self advocate was important. And once she got to college there is very little assistance - it's all about what you ask for. Her psych and special Ed advisor all encouraged her to take the lead.

I thought you said earlier the teacher meetings were during lunch?

[Anonymous]

And yes, to put food on the table and pay the mortgage, I do have to work. I am willing to take time off from work but like most people, I have to get permission from my supervisor and have to preschedule these things. The time period they gave me with less than 24 hours notice would mean I would have to commute into DC in the morning, commute out for the meeting, then commute back into DC after the meeting at about 1 hour trip each way. I had meetings and deadlines at work that I could not reschedule on short notice, so I asked for another appointment with the school.

omg, you've mentioned this in every single one of your posts. We get it, YOU HAVE A JOB. What do you want them to do, take you out to dinner and show you these tests? Come to your home? Sounds like the school made the effort, but you couldn't be inconvenienced. Time to move on! At this point, do you really think it will help your kid to review tests from a month ago?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So tell us, did you see the tests yet?

OP here - Nope. It seems they have difficulty carving out the time to show them to my daughter and I in one sitting. The meetings need to be with the teacher and the department chair so the only options are on multiple days which I cannot do because I do have a job. I will keep trying next week.

So let your DD do it. She needs to learn to self advocate. Once she gets to college this will be a critical skill. We worked hard on this with my DC in high school and it was successful. She learned to review tests, meet with teachers to cover things she was having trouble with, etc.

Precisely! Your child is in high school. It's time for HER to take the responsibility. She'll appreciate that you see her as mature enough to do it, and as the PP said, it's a critical skill. I'll add that it's not only critical for college, but for LIFE.

My daughter had a Spanish test and an English test during the time period the Assistant Principal scheduled. My daughter chose to take the assessments so she didn't fall behind. She had asked the meeting to be rescheduled at a time she doesn't lose two academic classes.

You are also an ass who knows nothing about children with disabilities. Hence, I second the PP who questioned why a person like you is in education. The issue we are trying to solve by reviewing the exams is that my daughter needs to learn better test taking strategies and preparedness. Reviewing the tests with different Department heads who are not familiar with her disability isn't going to give her that type of feedback. Maybe reviewing the test with someone from the Special Education department, but I was told by the Assistant Principal that her Special Education coordinator could not view her exams so that option is out. Also, if I want to see the tests and she wants to see the tests, the school wants us to come in together. They don't want to have 10 meetings instead of the 5.

And yes, to put food on the table and pay the mortgage, I do have to work. I am willing to take time off from work but like most people, I have to get permission from my supervisor and have to preschedule these things. The time period they gave me with less than 24 hours notice would mean I would have to commute into DC in the morning, commute out for the meeting, then commute back into DC after the meeting at about 1 hour trip each way. I had meetings and deadlines at work that I could not reschedule on short notice, so I asked for another appointment with the school.

I bolded my response above. Just to clarify I am not a teacher and my DD does have LDs and ADHD so we've been dealing with these issues for years. I should have made that clear. But we really did find that being able to self advocate was important. And once she got to college there is very little assistance - it's all about what you ask for. Her psych and special Ed advisor all encouraged her to take the lead.

I thought you said earlier the teacher meetings were during lunch?

I requested the meetings to be during my daughter's lunch or during her band or PE periods. Those were my daughter's preferred times so she doesn't miss class instruction or get behind on class assignments. The school declined our request.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So tell us, did you see the tests yet?

.

So let your DD do it. She needs to learn to self advocate. Once she gets to college this will be a critical skill. We worked hard on this with my DC in high school and it was successful. She learned to review tests, meet with teachers to cover things she was having trouble with, etc.

Precisely! Your child is in high school. It's time for HER to take the responsibility. She'll appreciate that you see her as mature enough to do it, and as the PP said, it's a critical skill. I'll add that it's not only critical for college, but for LIFE.

The issue we are trying to solve by reviewing the exams is that my daughter needs to learn better test taking strategies and preparedness. Reviewing the tests with different Department heads who are not familiar with her disability isn't going to give her that type of feedback. .

I thought you said earlier the teacher meetings were during lunch?

I requested the meetings to be during my daughter's lunch or during her band or PE periods. Those were my daughter's preferred times so she doesn't miss class instruction or get behind on class assignments. The school declined our request.

PP here, not a teacher, but mom of a child with a disability. You are fighting so hard to see a test, when the information you want, ways to help your child develop test taking strategies and better prepare, can be accomplished through other means. You're in the middle of a pissing contest with the school and your daughter is never going to win unless you end it and move on. Ask to talk with the teachers about your specific questions. They can help you understand without without your seeing the tests. You can accomplish this through a series of emails so you will not have to take even a minute off work.

Two other things. The PPs are right about teaching your daughter to self advocate. She can have these same conversations with her teachers and you can follow up.

Finally, you're credibility is starting to be questionable. I have never seen a MCPS teacher refuse to meet with a student during lunch. In fact, the teachers in our MS initiate the meetings whenever a kid is not performing to the expected level. And, kids don't want to miss PE either because that's tested and graded just like other classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I requested the meetings to be during my daughter's lunch or during her band or PE periods. Those were my daughter's preferred times so she doesn't miss class instruction or get behind on class assignments. The school declined our request.

I thought the teacher or resource teacher had to be present too. Did it ever occur to you that they also teach, and they do not have a planning period when your child has band or PE?