Poor teaching skills

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

Plenty of non-teachers say it’s an easy job so come on in and try it out.

I’m a retired teacher. The teaching is the easiest part. It’s all the other stuff that you don’t think about that takes away your time to plan and grade that makes it hard. It’s unbelievable what crap teachers are asked to do other than teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

Plenty of non-teachers say it’s an easy job so come on in and try it out.

I’m a retired teacher. The teaching is the easiest part. It’s all the other stuff that you don’t think about that takes away your time to plan and grade that makes it hard. It’s unbelievable what crap teachers are asked to do other than teaching.

This!!! no one can do their job properly in these schools-add in rude parents and people are leaving quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

Plenty of non-teachers say it’s an easy job so come on in and try it out.

I’m a retired teacher. The teaching is the easiest part. It’s all the other stuff that you don’t think about that takes away your time to plan and grade that makes it hard. It’s unbelievable what crap teachers are asked to do other than teaching.

Me again. Let me give you a concrete example that illustrates this. I remember years ago on the first day we went back. It’s always the week before the students come back. Keep in mind that our classrooms were packed up completely in boxes and what not at the end of the previous school year. We need the week to basically unpack and decorate in time for Open Houses, some of which are scheduled on the Thursday before school starts. That literally gives the teacher 3 days to unpack and decorate. But in those 3 days, we are required to attend all sorts of meetings and do things that take us away from the work we need to do in our classrooms.

So first thing Monday we always have a giant staff meeting that takes up most of the morning. We get a rough master schedule but still have to decide within the team which exact schedule we are taking (A, B, C, D, E). We are required to let admin know who is taking what schedule at some point later in the day. At the end of the meeting, we usually expect to get to work in our classrooms unpacking the rest of the day. But not this time. No sir. We were actually tasked with the most ridiculous assignment ever: we were given several different stacks of papers and had to stuff, address, and stamp our own envelopes to mail to our students. We were given the stamps, the address labels, and other labels to add to one of the papers in the envelope. It was a paper with our students’ class assignments (we had to attach a label to the top of that paper first before stuffing it), a sheet with bus info, and the lunch menu. We were also told to include a personal note in there. So I had to type that first, print it, and go to the copy machine to get 25 copies and then sign each one by hand and put the kids name somewhere on the letter. All of this takes time. They were due to the office by 1 pm. Keep in mind the staff meeting ended around 11 am. I still hadn’t had any time to do any classroom unpacking and my contract says I get to leave for the day at 3:50 pm.

So there I am on Day 1 frantically stuffing 25 envelopes and labeling and stamping and I’m thinking: why tf isn’t the office staff doing this? It’s nearing 1 pm and I’m not done yet and I get a call into my room from the office: “Mrs. Larla, where are your envelopes?” I say I’m almost done. Finally at 1:30 pm I walk to the office to deliver my envelopes. I’ve now wasted almost the entire day on a meeting and an administrative task that I shouldn’t have to be doing in the first place. I haven’t unpacked one box in my classroom. I know tomorrow I am expected to drive to some far off place in the county for some ridiculous professional development which won’t help me set up my classroom or get ready for my students the first week. That usually takes most of the day.

So my choices are: I stay at the school working in my classroom way past my contract time to unpack. Because I can’t get unpacked in just two and a half hours and I know tomorrow I won’t have much time in my room because of the county required meetings outside of the building. Open House is Thursday. We must be done unpacking and decorating by Wednesday end of day. So I do what I always do - I stay way past 3:50 pm. I am there until 6 ish usually.

This is why a lot of teachers actually come in the week before the first week which is off contract time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

Plenty of non-teachers say it’s an easy job so come on in and try it out.

I’m a retired teacher. The teaching is the easiest part. It’s all the other stuff that you don’t think about that takes away your time to plan and grade that makes it hard. It’s unbelievable what crap teachers are asked to do other than teaching.

Me again. Let me give you a concrete example that illustrates this. I remember years ago on the first day we went back. It’s always the week before the students come back. Keep in mind that our classrooms were packed up completely in boxes and what not at the end of the previous school year. We need the week to basically unpack and decorate in time for Open Houses, some of which are scheduled on the Thursday before school starts. That literally gives the teacher 3 days to unpack and decorate. But in those 3 days, we are required to attend all sorts of meetings and do things that take us away from the work we need to do in our classrooms.

So first thing Monday we always have a giant staff meeting that takes up most of the morning. We get a rough master schedule but still have to decide within the team which exact schedule we are taking (A, B, C, D, E). We are required to let admin know who is taking what schedule at some point later in the day. At the end of the meeting, we usually expect to get to work in our classrooms unpacking the rest of the day. But not this time. No sir. We were actually tasked with the most ridiculous assignment ever: we were given several different stacks of papers and had to stuff, address, and stamp our own envelopes to mail to our students. We were given the stamps, the address labels, and other labels to add to one of the papers in the envelope. It was a paper with our students’ class assignments (we had to attach a label to the top of that paper first before stuffing it), a sheet with bus info, and the lunch menu. We were also told to include a personal note in there. So I had to type that first, print it, and go to the copy machine to get 25 copies and then sign each one by hand and put the kids name somewhere on the letter. All of this takes time. They were due to the office by 1 pm. Keep in mind the staff meeting ended around 11 am. I still hadn’t had any time to do any classroom unpacking and my contract says I get to leave for the day at 3:50 pm.

So there I am on Day 1 frantically stuffing 25 envelopes and labeling and stamping and I’m thinking: why tf isn’t the office staff doing this? It’s nearing 1 pm and I’m not done yet and I get a call into my room from the office: “Mrs. Larla, where are your envelopes?” I say I’m almost done. Finally at 1:30 pm I walk to the office to deliver my envelopes. I’ve now wasted almost the entire day on a meeting and an administrative task that I shouldn’t have to be doing in the first place. I haven’t unpacked one box in my classroom. I know tomorrow I am expected to drive to some far off place in the county for some ridiculous professional development which won’t help me set up my classroom or get ready for my students the first week. That usually takes most of the day.

So my choices are: I stay at the school working in my classroom way past my contract time to unpack. Because I can’t get unpacked in just two and a half hours and I know tomorrow I won’t have much time in my room because of the county required meetings outside of the building. Open House is Thursday. We must be done unpacking and decorating by Wednesday end of day. So I do what I always do - I stay way past 3:50 pm. I am there until 6 ish usually.

This is why a lot of teachers actually come in the week before the first week which is off contract time.

But, it’s just 2 hours. Can’t you give a little time of your own off contract time? All this talk about contract time seems like you are nickling and diming every move. Give a little. Come on. To set up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

Plenty of non-teachers say it’s an easy job so come on in and try it out.

I’m a retired teacher. The teaching is the easiest part. It’s all the other stuff that you don’t think about that takes away your time to plan and grade that makes it hard. It’s unbelievable what crap teachers are asked to do other than teaching.

Me again. Let me give you a concrete example that illustrates this. I remember years ago on the first day we went back. It’s always the week before the students come back. Keep in mind that our classrooms were packed up completely in boxes and what not at the end of the previous school year. We need the week to basically unpack and decorate in time for Open Houses, some of which are scheduled on the Thursday before school starts. That literally gives the teacher 3 days to unpack and decorate. But in those 3 days, we are required to attend all sorts of meetings and do things that take us away from the work we need to do in our classrooms.

So first thing Monday we always have a giant staff meeting that takes up most of the morning. We get a rough master schedule but still have to decide within the team which exact schedule we are taking (A, B, C, D, E). We are required to let admin know who is taking what schedule at some point later in the day. At the end of the meeting, we usually expect to get to work in our classrooms unpacking the rest of the day. But not this time. No sir. We were actually tasked with the most ridiculous assignment ever: we were given several different stacks of papers and had to stuff, address, and stamp our own envelopes to mail to our students. We were given the stamps, the address labels, and other labels to add to one of the papers in the envelope. It was a paper with our students’ class assignments (we had to attach a label to the top of that paper first before stuffing it), a sheet with bus info, and the lunch menu. We were also told to include a personal note in there. So I had to type that first, print it, and go to the copy machine to get 25 copies and then sign each one by hand and put the kids name somewhere on the letter. All of this takes time. They were due to the office by 1 pm. Keep in mind the staff meeting ended around 11 am. I still hadn’t had any time to do any classroom unpacking and my contract says I get to leave for the day at 3:50 pm.

So there I am on Day 1 frantically stuffing 25 envelopes and labeling and stamping and I’m thinking: why tf isn’t the office staff doing this? It’s nearing 1 pm and I’m not done yet and I get a call into my room from the office: “Mrs. Larla, where are your envelopes?” I say I’m almost done. Finally at 1:30 pm I walk to the office to deliver my envelopes. I’ve now wasted almost the entire day on a meeting and an administrative task that I shouldn’t have to be doing in the first place. I haven’t unpacked one box in my classroom. I know tomorrow I am expected to drive to some far off place in the county for some ridiculous professional development which won’t help me set up my classroom or get ready for my students the first week. That usually takes most of the day.

So my choices are: I stay at the school working in my classroom way past my contract time to unpack. Because I can’t get unpacked in just two and a half hours and I know tomorrow I won’t have much time in my room because of the county required meetings outside of the building. Open House is Thursday. We must be done unpacking and decorating by Wednesday end of day. So I do what I always do - I stay way past 3:50 pm. I am there until 6 ish usually.

This is why a lot of teachers actually come in the week before the first week which is off contract time.

But, it’s just 2 hours. Can’t you give a little time of your own off contract time? All this talk about contract time seems like you are nickling and diming every move. Give a little. Come on. To set up.

I think you missed the point. It’s unpaid work. Do you work for free? Also our salaries are already low. But of course you do stay to get the room unpacked if you have to. I always did. The point is this happens all the time all year. I also was not a parent then so I could do this to have more time. Many teachers have families and kids to go pick up and can’t stay late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

So parents that have no education and experience with teaching, and are receiving all information secondhand from their students have permission to just come on here and bash teachers?

My student is nearly 17 and a straight A student. So, yes, they are capable of telling me what is happening and I'm able to see it from how the tests are administered and the class is doing. And you should really get a thicker skin.

Criticism is not "bashing teachers." Perhaps use it as a period of self-reflection. A LOT of the criticism teachers receive is unfair, I agree with you. But that doesn't mean none of it is. And in terms of my kids AP class upthread, it is absolutely warranted. She's dreadful. All of the kids hate her. All of the parents hate her.

You are contributing to teacher bashing by “criticizing” teachers on a forums almost solely dedicating to bashing FCPS and teachers. I think you need to self-reflect on why you are contributing to this trend. My skin is already thick, which is why I don’t care about your comments.

I'm criticizing one teacher and that criticism is rightly earned. I don't need to self-reflect on anything b/c I've more than filled the gaps by poor teaching over the years, and through COVID, with no complaints about a single teacher to the schools. So if you think I have no right to criticize, you can kindly Go F Yourself, and your thick skin (which, LBH, you responded so you're not that thick skinned).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

Plenty of non-teachers say it’s an easy job so come on in and try it out.

I’m a retired teacher. The teaching is the easiest part. It’s all the other stuff that you don’t think about that takes away your time to plan and grade that makes it hard. It’s unbelievable what crap teachers are asked to do other than teaching.

Me again. Let me give you a concrete example that illustrates this. I remember years ago on the first day we went back. It’s always the week before the students come back. Keep in mind that our classrooms were packed up completely in boxes and what not at the end of the previous school year. We need the week to basically unpack and decorate in time for Open Houses, some of which are scheduled on the Thursday before school starts. That literally gives the teacher 3 days to unpack and decorate. But in those 3 days, we are required to attend all sorts of meetings and do things that take us away from the work we need to do in our classrooms.

So first thing Monday we always have a giant staff meeting that takes up most of the morning. We get a rough master schedule but still have to decide within the team which exact schedule we are taking (A, B, C, D, E). We are required to let admin know who is taking what schedule at some point later in the day. At the end of the meeting, we usually expect to get to work in our classrooms unpacking the rest of the day. But not this time. No sir. We were actually tasked with the most ridiculous assignment ever: we were given several different stacks of papers and had to stuff, address, and stamp our own envelopes to mail to our students. We were given the stamps, the address labels, and other labels to add to one of the papers in the envelope. It was a paper with our students’ class assignments (we had to attach a label to the top of that paper first before stuffing it), a sheet with bus info, and the lunch menu. We were also told to include a personal note in there. So I had to type that first, print it, and go to the copy machine to get 25 copies and then sign each one by hand and put the kids name somewhere on the letter. All of this takes time. They were due to the office by 1 pm. Keep in mind the staff meeting ended around 11 am. I still hadn’t had any time to do any classroom unpacking and my contract says I get to leave for the day at 3:50 pm.

So there I am on Day 1 frantically stuffing 25 envelopes and labeling and stamping and I’m thinking: why tf isn’t the office staff doing this? It’s nearing 1 pm and I’m not done yet and I get a call into my room from the office: “Mrs. Larla, where are your envelopes?” I say I’m almost done. Finally at 1:30 pm I walk to the office to deliver my envelopes. I’ve now wasted almost the entire day on a meeting and an administrative task that I shouldn’t have to be doing in the first place. I haven’t unpacked one box in my classroom. I know tomorrow I am expected to drive to some far off place in the county for some ridiculous professional development which won’t help me set up my classroom or get ready for my students the first week. That usually takes most of the day.

So my choices are: I stay at the school working in my classroom way past my contract time to unpack. Because I can’t get unpacked in just two and a half hours and I know tomorrow I won’t have much time in my room because of the county required meetings outside of the building. Open House is Thursday. We must be done unpacking and decorating by Wednesday end of day. So I do what I always do - I stay way past 3:50 pm. I am there until 6 ish usually.

This is why a lot of teachers actually come in the week before the first week which is off contract time.

But, it’s just 2 hours. Can’t you give a little time of your own off contract time? All this talk about contract time seems like you are nickling and diming every move. Give a little. Come on. To set up.

Not a teacher (coz really, I can tell what jobs are undervalued in society) but that kind of talk is just garbage. Workers in these types of jobs have to set firm boundaries or they will be bled dry. The need is endless and no one will care if workers are suffering personally.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dear teachers, in case you didn't know, students talk amongst themselves. So when the highest grade in an non-honors class is a B- and majority of the class are Cs and Ds, maybe question if there is anything wrong with the way you teach.

You are the problem for even entertaining this coming from your kid. My daughter complains how everyone in her math class has a low grade and it’s not her fault the teacher isn’t teaching. I shut that down quick because she never asks me for help (I can help with math), I never see her study or complete extra problems, she refuses tutoring by others or to stay after school with the teacher since she doesn't want my help and her asking a couple of friends their grades doesn’t make her an expert on “everyone.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

So parents that have no education and experience with teaching, and are receiving all information secondhand from their students have permission to just come on here and bash teachers?

My student is nearly 17 and a straight A student. So, yes, they are capable of telling me what is happening and I'm able to see it from how the tests are administered and the class is doing. And you should really get a thicker skin.

Criticism is not "bashing teachers." Perhaps use it as a period of self-reflection. A LOT of the criticism teachers receive is unfair, I agree with you. But that doesn't mean none of it is. And in terms of my kids AP class upthread, it is absolutely warranted. She's dreadful. All of the kids hate her. All of the parents hate her.

Posting again, as I tell my teen daughter when she’s sitting there complaining about how everyone hates her teacher. The teacher doesn’t care. You are wasting time and energy on this. Get through the class and move on. There will be people in life that you have to work with who you can’t stand.

[Anonymous]

It is not unheard of to have a below, low, on and above grade periods.

This makes me think there *could* be a prearranged (understood) grade distribution established ahead of time. Not cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

So parents that have no education and experience with teaching, and are receiving all information secondhand from their students have permission to just come on here and bash teachers?

My student is nearly 17 and a straight A student. So, yes, they are capable of telling me what is happening and I'm able to see it from how the tests are administered and the class is doing. And you should really get a thicker skin.

Criticism is not "bashing teachers." Perhaps use it as a period of self-reflection. A LOT of the criticism teachers receive is unfair, I agree with you. But that doesn't mean none of it is. And in terms of my kids AP class upthread, it is absolutely warranted. She's dreadful. All of the kids hate her. All of the parents hate her.

Posting again, as I tell my teen daughter when she’s sitting there complaining about how everyone hates her teacher. The teacher doesn’t care. You are wasting time and energy on this. Get through the class and move on. There will be people in life that you have to work with who you can’t stand.

This is good advice for dealing with bad teachers (as long a the kid also feels supported before you tell them to buck up).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

Plenty of non-teachers say it’s an easy job so come on in and try it out.

I’m a retired teacher. The teaching is the easiest part. It’s all the other stuff that you don’t think about that takes away your time to plan and grade that makes it hard. It’s unbelievable what crap teachers are asked to do other than teaching.

Me again. Let me give you a concrete example that illustrates this. I remember years ago on the first day we went back. It’s always the week before the students come back. Keep in mind that our classrooms were packed up completely in boxes and what not at the end of the previous school year. We need the week to basically unpack and decorate in time for Open Houses, some of which are scheduled on the Thursday before school starts. That literally gives the teacher 3 days to unpack and decorate. But in those 3 days, we are required to attend all sorts of meetings and do things that take us away from the work we need to do in our classrooms.

So first thing Monday we always have a giant staff meeting that takes up most of the morning. We get a rough master schedule but still have to decide within the team which exact schedule we are taking (A, B, C, D, E). We are required to let admin know who is taking what schedule at some point later in the day. At the end of the meeting, we usually expect to get to work in our classrooms unpacking the rest of the day. But not this time. No sir. We were actually tasked with the most ridiculous assignment ever: we were given several different stacks of papers and had to stuff, address, and stamp our own envelopes to mail to our students. We were given the stamps, the address labels, and other labels to add to one of the papers in the envelope. It was a paper with our students’ class assignments (we had to attach a label to the top of that paper first before stuffing it), a sheet with bus info, and the lunch menu. We were also told to include a personal note in there. So I had to type that first, print it, and go to the copy machine to get 25 copies and then sign each one by hand and put the kids name somewhere on the letter. All of this takes time. They were due to the office by 1 pm. Keep in mind the staff meeting ended around 11 am. I still hadn’t had any time to do any classroom unpacking and my contract says I get to leave for the day at 3:50 pm.

So there I am on Day 1 frantically stuffing 25 envelopes and labeling and stamping and I’m thinking: why tf isn’t the office staff doing this? It’s nearing 1 pm and I’m not done yet and I get a call into my room from the office: “Mrs. Larla, where are your envelopes?” I say I’m almost done. Finally at 1:30 pm I walk to the office to deliver my envelopes. I’ve now wasted almost the entire day on a meeting and an administrative task that I shouldn’t have to be doing in the first place. I haven’t unpacked one box in my classroom. I know tomorrow I am expected to drive to some far off place in the county for some ridiculous professional development which won’t help me set up my classroom or get ready for my students the first week. That usually takes most of the day.

So my choices are: I stay at the school working in my classroom way past my contract time to unpack. Because I can’t get unpacked in just two and a half hours and I know tomorrow I won’t have much time in my room because of the county required meetings outside of the building. Open House is Thursday. We must be done unpacking and decorating by Wednesday end of day. So I do what I always do - I stay way past 3:50 pm. I am there until 6 ish usually.

This is why a lot of teachers actually come in the week before the first week which is off contract time.

But, it’s just 2 hours. Can’t you give a little time of your own off contract time? All this talk about contract time seems like you are nickling and diming every move. Give a little. Come on. To set up.

Not a teacher (coz really, I can tell what jobs are undervalued in society) but that kind of talk is just garbage. Workers in these types of jobs have to set firm boundaries or they will be bled dry. The need is endless and no one will care if workers are suffering personally.

This exactly. That is why in fact a lot of teachers will try to work to the rule. They will arrive at contract time and leave right after the kids leave. The work is endless and you can never get it all done so why break your neck staying after every single night? There has to be a cut off time for your sanity and to have family time. They will bring the work home then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

So parents that have no education and experience with teaching, and are receiving all information secondhand from their students have permission to just come on here and bash teachers?

My student is nearly 17 and a straight A student. So, yes, they are capable of telling me what is happening and I'm able to see it from how the tests are administered and the class is doing. And you should really get a thicker skin.

Criticism is not "bashing teachers." Perhaps use it as a period of self-reflection. A LOT of the criticism teachers receive is unfair, I agree with you. But that doesn't mean none of it is. And in terms of my kids AP class upthread, it is absolutely warranted. She's dreadful. All of the kids hate her. All of the parents hate her.

Posting again, as I tell my teen daughter when she’s sitting there complaining about how everyone hates her teacher. The teacher doesn’t care. You are wasting time and energy on this. Get through the class and move on. There will be people in life that you have to work with who you can’t stand.

I didn't say the teacher cared. And I did say that you're not always going to have a good teacher/boss/etc. But, the fact that ALL of them hate her. And all of these normally straight A kids have struggled so much in the class is a reflection on the teacher. And appears to be a valid one, imo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

So parents that have no education and experience with teaching, and are receiving all information secondhand from their students have permission to just come on here and bash teachers?

My student is nearly 17 and a straight A student. So, yes, they are capable of telling me what is happening and I'm able to see it from how the tests are administered and the class is doing. And you should really get a thicker skin.

Criticism is not "bashing teachers." Perhaps use it as a period of self-reflection. A LOT of the criticism teachers receive is unfair, I agree with you. But that doesn't mean none of it is. And in terms of my kids AP class upthread, it is absolutely warranted. She's dreadful. All of the kids hate her. All of the parents hate her.

Posting again, as I tell my teen daughter when she’s sitting there complaining about how everyone hates her teacher. The teacher doesn’t care. You are wasting time and energy on this. Get through the class and move on. There will be people in life that you have to work with who you can’t stand.

I didn't say the teacher cared. And I did say that you're not always going to have a good teacher/boss/etc. But, the fact that ALL of them hate her. And all of these normally straight A kids have struggled so much in the class is a reflection on the teacher. And appears to be a valid one, imo.

Are you bringing this to the admin or just DCUM?

I’d call the teacher and say you understood class grades on ____ were low, any insights as to why.

And LISTEN TO THE ANSWER. And see if it resonates with what you know of your child. And if it really doesn’t, ask for a call with the principal.

But under no circumstances should you tell your daughter you’re doing this. You do not want to think you’re aligned against the teacher because that will ameliorate her responsibility which you cannot do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d loooooove to see parents come in to model lessons.

Well, parents aren't teachers. I don't have your education and experience. So that would be a dumb thing to wish for.

Plenty of non-teachers say it’s an easy job so come on in and try it out.

I’m a retired teacher. The teaching is the easiest part. It’s all the other stuff that you don’t think about that takes away your time to plan and grade that makes it hard. It’s unbelievable what crap teachers are asked to do other than teaching.

Me again. Let me give you a concrete example that illustrates this. I remember years ago on the first day we went back. It’s always the week before the students come back. Keep in mind that our classrooms were packed up completely in boxes and what not at the end of the previous school year. We need the week to basically unpack and decorate in time for Open Houses, some of which are scheduled on the Thursday before school starts. That literally gives the teacher 3 days to unpack and decorate. But in those 3 days, we are required to attend all sorts of meetings and do things that take us away from the work we need to do in our classrooms.

So first thing Monday we always have a giant staff meeting that takes up most of the morning. We get a rough master schedule but still have to decide within the team which exact schedule we are taking (A, B, C, D, E). We are required to let admin know who is taking what schedule at some point later in the day. At the end of the meeting, we usually expect to get to work in our classrooms unpacking the rest of the day. But not this time. No sir. We were actually tasked with the most ridiculous assignment ever: we were given several different stacks of papers and had to stuff, address, and stamp our own envelopes to mail to our students. We were given the stamps, the address labels, and other labels to add to one of the papers in the envelope. It was a paper with our students’ class assignments (we had to attach a label to the top of that paper first before stuffing it), a sheet with bus info, and the lunch menu. We were also told to include a personal note in there. So I had to type that first, print it, and go to the copy machine to get 25 copies and then sign each one by hand and put the kids name somewhere on the letter. All of this takes time. They were due to the office by 1 pm. Keep in mind the staff meeting ended around 11 am. I still hadn’t had any time to do any classroom unpacking and my contract says I get to leave for the day at 3:50 pm.

So there I am on Day 1 frantically stuffing 25 envelopes and labeling and stamping and I’m thinking: why tf isn’t the office staff doing this? It’s nearing 1 pm and I’m not done yet and I get a call into my room from the office: “Mrs. Larla, where are your envelopes?” I say I’m almost done. Finally at 1:30 pm I walk to the office to deliver my envelopes. I’ve now wasted almost the entire day on a meeting and an administrative task that I shouldn’t have to be doing in the first place. I haven’t unpacked one box in my classroom. I know tomorrow I am expected to drive to some far off place in the county for some ridiculous professional development which won’t help me set up my classroom or get ready for my students the first week. That usually takes most of the day.

So my choices are: I stay at the school working in my classroom way past my contract time to unpack. Because I can’t get unpacked in just two and a half hours and I know tomorrow I won’t have much time in my room because of the county required meetings outside of the building. Open House is Thursday. We must be done unpacking and decorating by Wednesday end of day. So I do what I always do - I stay way past 3:50 pm. I am there until 6 ish usually.

This is why a lot of teachers actually come in the week before the first week which is off contract time.

But, it’s just 2 hours. Can’t you give a little time of your own off contract time? All this talk about contract time seems like you are nickling and diming every move. Give a little. Come on. To set up.

We do! But do you honestly think having classroom teachers stuff, address, and stamp envelopes is the best use of time when teachers need to be setting up their room and preparing lessons for Open House and the first week? Why wouldn’t a secretary in the office handle the papers/envelopes for the class assignments? I have a masters in education. If I wanted to stuff and address envelopes, I’d have become an administrative assistant. But I signed up to teach elementary school. No one tells you this stuff.