How to DELICATELY address some potential issues with teacher in the upcoming school year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Holy moly. So many misconceptions.
1. Title 1 parents DO care. I teach in a title 1 school. Many parents work multiple jobs, don't have a car, and don't understand the school system--but when I get a translator and call home, they 100% want to hear what I have to say. In conferences, I've had aunts/uncles/cousins come with mom and dad to help translate. I've had parents take taxis to/from their minimum wage job for IEP meetings. Not being on the PTA =/= not caring.

2. Teachers at title 1 schools aren't slackers. My colleagues have delivered food to families after school, purchased supplies for those who can't, and regularly feed students who come hungry. We stay late with those who have no supervision, come up with lesson plans to meet those who have never been in school (when they are currently in 7th or 8th grade), and work tirelessly to try to give those kids a fighting chance at success.

Do not bring up candy or movies to anyone until it is a major issue this year. If the worst thing you can say about he teacher is she gave out too many lollipops, that's a fabulous 1st year teacher. The principal has bigger fish to fry than micromanaging individual classroom sugar policies.

Staff at Title I schools are compassionate and really go the extra mile for students in need. Unfortunately my experience was that students who were not considered in need were not getting educational basics. I spent a lot of time volunteering in the classrooms, and noticed the efforts to help those who were struggling while the others were largely ignored during writing centers, etc. I saw how it happens, I'm not blaming anyone because it's human nature to help those in need. Even now in middle school there is so much catering to the weakest links in the class, even cancelling assignments or giving special roles that would normally go to a high performer just so the other kid could "feel what it's like". There is only so much attention to go around, just like in parenting- you can love all your kids but the ones who need more get more. Every kid deserves a chance to grow regardless of whether they're meeting benchmarks or not. We only had a couple of teachers in 8 years who really made this work well. It wasn't just about academic differentiation, it was about how much a teacher focused on certain kids and barely acknowledged others. I'm sure this happens at non-title I schools too. Just my observations.

[Anonymous]

Are you white, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Holy moly. So many misconceptions.
1. Title 1 parents DO care. I teach in a title 1 school. Many parents work multiple jobs, don't have a car, and don't understand the school system--but when I get a translator and call home, they 100% want to hear what I have to say. In conferences, I've had aunts/uncles/cousins come with mom and dad to help translate. I've had parents take taxis to/from their minimum wage job for IEP meetings. Not being on the PTA =/= not caring.

2. Teachers at title 1 schools aren't slackers. My colleagues have delivered food to families after school, purchased supplies for those who can't, and regularly feed students who come hungry. We stay late with those who have no supervision, come up with lesson plans to meet those who have never been in school (when they are currently in 7th or 8th grade), and work tirelessly to try to give those kids a fighting chance at success.

Do not bring up candy or movies to anyone until it is a major issue this year. If the worst thing you can say about he teacher is she gave out too many lollipops, that's a fabulous 1st year teacher. The principal has bigger fish to fry than micromanaging individual classroom sugar policies.

Staff at Title I schools are compassionate and really go the extra mile for students in need. Unfortunately my experience was that students who were not considered in need were not getting educational basics. I spent a lot of time volunteering in the classrooms, and noticed the efforts to help those who were struggling while the others were largely ignored during writing centers, etc. I saw how it happens, I'm not blaming anyone because it's human nature to help those in need. Even now in middle school there is so much catering to the weakest links in the class, even cancelling assignments or giving special roles that would normally go to a high performer just so the other kid could "feel what it's like". There is only so much attention to go around, just like in parenting- you can love all your kids but the ones who need more get more. Every kid deserves a chance to grow regardless of whether they're meeting benchmarks or not. We only had a couple of teachers in 8 years who really made this work well. It wasn't just about academic differentiation, it was about how much a teacher focused on certain kids and barely acknowledged others. I'm sure this happens at non-title I schools too. Just my observations.

This is OP.
YES I noticed this, too! If you don't give anyone trouble you are ignored. I couldn't really formulate that vague feeling, you just nailed it.
Even though my kid needed quite a lot of help, he wasn't getting much. The two "troublemakers" in class managed to divert so much attention. It's not their fault but still.
I am now thinking I may need to switch schools altogether if this is a tendency. I thought maybe it was a combination of teacher and class composition that was to blame.

I wonder if there is a way to help secure a bit more teacher attention for my generally non problematic kid?

[Anonymous]

I wonder if there is a way to help secure a bit more teacher attention for my generally non problematic kid?

sure: homeschool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'd have a conversation with the principal about how your kindergartner had too much noneducational screen time.

How does OP know this? Was she in the classroom? Or, is she relying on what her child tells her?

Yes, OP was in the classroom "volunteering." She might not have seen everything, but she is an Education expert who saw enough to have a complete picture of what is going on. She is one of those moms with little to do, who knows nothing about Education, but who "volunteers" in her child's classroom so that she can keep an eye on what is happening and supervise the teacher. The fact that she knows nothing about Education matters not a whit to her: teachers are stupid, weak losers who need to be watched to ensure they don't "slack off", and OP doesn't need an Education degree or experience teaching to know better than the loser in charge of the class.

OP, I absolutely understand what is going on when moms like you "volunteer" in classrooms. Guess what? You DON'T understand what the teacher is doing, and she is not going to break confidentiality to explain the paperwork or evaluation or time she is spending with students you deem to be "troublemakers." There ARE some parents who "don't care", and I hope she will try to close the gap that is the result of no time spent with the child at home so that those children have a prayer of a chance of succeeding. I guess that means she is "slacking."

I assure you that you are not being "useful" in the classroom. You are "that mom" and the teacher knows that she has to accommodate you when you decide to "volunteer" or you will make a fuss. What's more, as you continue to do this each year, you will acquire a reputation as "that mom" among the teachers, and people will groan inwardly when they learn that you--bearing your payoff gifts and a fake smile--have decided to "volunteer" again. The result is that teachers will learn that they need to "sandwich" all reports of areas in which your child struggles/needs to improve between whopping chunks of praise and hyperbole, and you will not get a clear picture of what IS going on. Ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'd have a conversation with the principal about how your kindergartner had too much noneducational screen time.

How does OP know this? Was she in the classroom? Or, is she relying on what her child tells her?

Yes, OP was in the classroom "volunteering." She might not have seen everything, but she is an Education expert who saw enough to have a complete picture of what is going on. She is one of those moms with little to do, who knows nothing about Education, but who "volunteers" in her child's classroom so that she can keep an eye on what is happening and supervise the teacher. The fact that she knows nothing about Education matters not a whit to her: teachers are stupid, weak losers who need to be watched to ensure they don't "slack off", and OP doesn't need an Education degree or experience teaching to know better than the loser in charge of the class.

OP, I absolutely understand what is going on when moms like you "volunteer" in classrooms. Guess what? You DON'T understand what the teacher is doing, and she is not going to break confidentiality to explain the paperwork or evaluation or time she is spending with students you deem to be "troublemakers." There ARE some parents who "don't care", and I hope she will try to close the gap that is the result of no time spent with the child at home so that those children have a prayer of a chance of succeeding. I guess that means she is "slacking."

I assure you that you are not being "useful" in the classroom. You are "that mom" and the teacher knows that she has to accommodate you when you decide to "volunteer" or you will make a fuss. What's more, as you continue to do this each year, you will acquire a reputation as "that mom" among the teachers, and people will groan inwardly when they learn that you--bearing your payoff gifts and a fake smile--have decided to "volunteer" again. The result is that teachers will learn that they need to "sandwich" all reports of areas in which your child struggles/needs to improve between whopping chunks of praise and hyperbole, and you will not get a clear picture of what IS going on. Ever.

You have such a great imagination, you should write a book or something.

[Anonymous]

So what am I supposed to know about Education (capital E, no less), which will help me understand the deep and sacred meaning of having kids play games like Subway surfer (not that one but a similar one) at their free choice time? When they are supposed to relax and move around and engage in unstructured play? Please enlighten me.
OP.