SISparent - frustrations

[Anonymous]

Sure parents can complain but unless principals stop taking away teacher time with useless meetings, it's going to continue.

Most teachers use the planning time given during the day to grade and input grades. Once they leave school, they have their own children and families to take care of. They're sitting down to do homework with their children and preparing dinner.

With HOURS each week being eaten out of the time teachers have off, there's little time for the administrative paperwork they need to do.

There are grade level meetings, team meetings, content area meetings ON A WEEKLY BASIS. That's 3 out of your 5 free hours there GONE! Then there are monthly faculty meetings and other meetings that pop up on a needed basis like parent conferences, meetings with the principal or AP to discuss different things. And goodness forbid your school is piloting some new program or initiative. There's TRAINING for that!

So what time really is there to grade and keep up with paperwork?

I agree that teachers need to get on top of it, but don't be surprised when that does not happen. Unless the meetings are cut to a minimum.

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine a salary job where, if I were behind on my work, I wouldn't have to spend a few hours getting caught up on the weekend, or on one of the 17 days of winter break, or on a snow day. Teaching is not a job where you punch the time clock. Why is it treated that way?

[Anonymous]

I often read that we parents don't realize all the extra time teachers are putting in. Is it very time consuming to add grades to SIS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure parents can complain but unless principals stop taking away teacher time with useless meetings, it's going to continue.

Most teachers use the planning time given during the day to grade and input grades. Once they leave school, they have their own children and families to take care of. They're sitting down to do homework with their children and preparing dinner.

With HOURS each week being eaten out of the time teachers have off, there's little time for the administrative paperwork they need to do.

There are grade level meetings, team meetings, content area meetings ON A WEEKLY BASIS. That's 3 out of your 5 free hours there GONE! Then there are monthly faculty meetings and other meetings that pop up on a needed basis like parent conferences, meetings with the principal or AP to discuss different things. And goodness forbid your school is piloting some new program or initiative. There's TRAINING for that!

So what time really is there to grade and keep up with paperwork?

I agree that teachers need to get on top of it, but don't be surprised when that does not happen. Unless the meetings are cut to a minimum.

Professional teachers manage.

[Anonymous]

Apparently if it says "Not Graded" that means the student has not turned in the work. You would be best to start by having a chat with your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that teachers need to get on top of it, but don't be surprised when that does not happen.

Seems to me if a teacher cannot keep up with the demands of the position, then it is time to look for another position elsewhere where the requirements are not as onerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently if it says "Not Graded" that means the student has not turned in the work. You would be best to start by having a chat with your kid.

Not the case for my high school student -- the teacher specifically shows two items for each test -- the first attempt and the "if you opted to retake the test and completed the necessary remediation to be eligible for a retake" second attempt. Those students who did not do the retake have a Not Graded for the second attempt.

Therefore, no chat with child necessary, at least for this class/teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure parents can complain but unless principals stop taking away teacher time with useless meetings, it's going to continue.

Most teachers use the planning time given during the day to grade and input grades. Once they leave school, they have their own children and families to take care of. They're sitting down to do homework with their children and preparing dinner.

With HOURS each week being eaten out of the time teachers have off, there's little time for the administrative paperwork they need to do.

There are grade level meetings, team meetings, content area meetings ON A WEEKLY BASIS. That's 3 out of your 5 free hours there GONE! Then there are monthly faculty meetings and other meetings that pop up on a needed basis like parent conferences, meetings with the principal or AP to discuss different things. And goodness forbid your school is piloting some new program or initiative. There's TRAINING for that!

So what time really is there to grade and keep up with paperwork?

I agree that teachers need to get on top of it, but don't be surprised when that does not happen. Unless the meetings are cut to a minimum.

Do all those meetings figure out what you're going to teach or do you actually have to still do planning meetings? Grading papers at least when I was growing up was rarely done during the school day. Maybe a teacher got through one assignment a day while the kids were working. The rest was done at home. I don't really understand what has changed so much. I remember taking a weekly AP History exam every week consisting of 2 short essay responses each week and getting the grades back two days later every single week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently if it says "Not Graded" that means the student has not turned in the work. You would be best to start by having a chat with your kid.

Not in our case. There are 18 items that the teacher has filled in and 2 of them have a grade. That would be a real problem if that were the case. And of course I've spoken to my kid. Students, all of whom are experiencing the same thing, have asked the teacher several times throughout the quarter and he said he's working on it.

[Anonymous]

Ideally students turn work in promptly and get a grade and the work returned promptly. As time goes by, it makes it more difficult for the student to learn from the mistakes and make corrections to that unit. It also increases the likelihood that the teacher may misplace the students work (happens all the time). Teachers should at least acknowledge that the work has been received, to avoid the question a month later of the student who is certain they turned it in but the teacher can’t find it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that teachers need to get on top of it, but don't be surprised when that does not happen.

Seems to me if a teacher cannot keep up with the demands of the position, then it is time to look for another position elsewhere where the requirements are not as onerous.

Seems to me they can.

Just not in the time you’d like.

You can be contrary and defensive or accept reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure parents can complain but unless principals stop taking away teacher time with useless meetings, it's going to continue.

Most teachers use the planning time given during the day to grade and input grades. Once they leave school, they have their own children and families to take care of. They're sitting down to do homework with their children and preparing dinner.

With HOURS each week being eaten out of the time teachers have off, there's little time for the administrative paperwork they need to do.

There are grade level meetings, team meetings, content area meetings ON A WEEKLY BASIS. That's 3 out of your 5 free hours there GONE! Then there are monthly faculty meetings and other meetings that pop up on a needed basis like parent conferences, meetings with the principal or AP to discuss different things. And goodness forbid your school is piloting some new program or initiative. There's TRAINING for that!

So what time really is there to grade and keep up with paperwork?

I agree that teachers need to get on top of it, but don't be surprised when that does not happen. Unless the meetings are cut to a minimum.

Professional teachers manage.

Yup! Just not in the timeframe you’d like when they’re overwhelmed with other things.

Again, contrary and defensive or reality.

The reality is that burnout is very real. Professional teachers must manage THAT to be able to come in and teach your children.

Professionals prioritize. Lesson planning, teaching, attending meetings (that you’ll be browbeat for not attending), and meeting deadlines take precedence for most. There’s also testing and data gathering.

After work, your own family is your priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure parents can complain but unless principals stop taking away teacher time with useless meetings, it's going to continue.

Most teachers use the planning time given during the day to grade and input grades. Once they leave school, they have their own children and families to take care of. They're sitting down to do homework with their children and preparing dinner.

With HOURS each week being eaten out of the time teachers have off, there's little time for the administrative paperwork they need to do.

There are grade level meetings, team meetings, content area meetings ON A WEEKLY BASIS. That's 3 out of your 5 free hours there GONE! Then there are monthly faculty meetings and other meetings that pop up on a needed basis like parent conferences, meetings with the principal or AP to discuss different things. And goodness forbid your school is piloting some new program or initiative. There's TRAINING for that!

So what time really is there to grade and keep up with paperwork?

I agree that teachers need to get on top of it, but don't be surprised when that does not happen. Unless the meetings are cut to a minimum.

Do all those meetings figure out what you're going to teach or do you actually have to still do planning meetings? Grading papers at least when I was growing up was rarely done during the school day. Maybe a teacher got through one assignment a day while the kids were working. The rest was done at home. I don't really understand what has changed so much. I remember taking a weekly AP History exam every week consisting of 2 short essay responses each week and getting the grades back two days later every single week.

None of those meetings include lesson planning. That’s done on your own time. Usually at home if you can’t find time (due to meetings) during the day.

It’s very likely your teachers were grading during their planning time. That’s the class period they do not have students so you wouldn’t know that.

I’ve taught over 20 years. Grading and getting essays and work back was much faster and easier before No Child with all of the testing and accountability that’s led to all of these meetings-indirectly. There are are also the education gurus who have a new great initiative that will be a game changer. That requires even more meetings and trainings.

You are correct: grading on time was not the issue decades ago when I/we were in school that it is now. Today teachers are pulled in too many directions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I often read that we parents don't realize all the extra time teachers are putting in. Is it very time consuming to add grades to SIS?

Not terribly. But it must be done accurately so it’s best to do during quiet/planning time. It’s not something you want to do as a multitask.

Grading is the more time consuming part.

And with the planning, meetings etc, sometimes it’s in everyone’s interest for the teacher to take mental rests instead of trying to plow through everything.

[Anonymous]

Since when do parents monitor their middle and high school age students' assignments? Unless there was a serious problem that involves a learning disability, it should be the student's responsibility. Students need to take responsibility for their own assignments and grades. This is an important step toward adulthood.

I'm positive my parents NEVER knew what my grades and test scores were except for at report card time. This SIS system sounds like a case of enabling over-parenting anyway.

If your child really needs that much supervision you should at least leave it up to your student (not the teacher) to let you know what grades he/she is getting on assignments, test, projects. At least that's a little responsibility for the student to take. Do you not even trust your child to tell you that?