Teachers—How do you like parents to handle missed days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honest question: Why don't teachers put their slides, work, and/or home work on a portal and let kids catch up within a few days and learn the material? If they don't then they can come to office hours or whatever? I just don't understand why this is such a big deal? This is what is going to happen in college if they miss a day. Heck, some of those profs even video the lectures (this obv wouldn't work for all classes).

I know I'll get a million reasons why this isn't possible. IMO it's kind of BS. We had teachers in ES who did this. And so does some of our MS teachers. It makes their life easier. It makes our life easier.

High school teacher here.

We have online classrooms where we post all of our work, materials, and class discussions. The problem comes with the second part of your question regarding office hours. We don't have those. We have planning periods, but nine times out of ten I'm either in a meeting or covering classes. On the off chance I'm not, I use that time to make copies, call parents, or actually plan my lessons. Assuming I had the whole 90 minutes free, a student still couldn't come to me without missing the lesson in whatever class they have during third period.

Missing one day won't kill a student's chances, but missing multiple days will. Every day builds on the skills learned the previous day. You'd be surprised how many parents pull their kids for one or two week vacations out of the country and expect us to become personal tutors when they return.

I second this. I’m a MS teacher. The other aspect that makes early or extended vacations bad for your child is that they miss the informal discussions that extend understanding. It is the difference between having attended an event and having your friends tell you about it later. There’s quite a bit that is missed. It might be a peer restating something in kid-speak that makes it click for some learners. It might be a clarifying question asked by a classmate. I can’t replicate that for your child. And then, there are the labs, simulations, and other hands on experiences that can’t be done at your kitchen table on Sunday afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can I show this thread to my MIL? She is annoyed that we won't pull out of school for a couple days before break so that she can visit before the holidays and avoid traffic. I was raised that unless you are ill, you are in school, so it seems offensive to consider.

The only reason that I'm considering it is that sometimes the classes do end up just watching movies a day or two before winter and spring breaks (a whole other issue). But there's no way I can ask the elementary teachers if they plan to do anything substantive, right?

I think you would know if you had the relationship with them to do this, and it's probably harder to do in public than in private school. My son had just missed a ton of school for medical reasons and is going for a half day today. I emailed the teacher to ask if they had any "special programming" or activities planned as I was trying to figure out what part of the day would be best for him to attend. She totally read between the lines and let me know which academic times had been replaced with crafts and other activities.

And this was for medical stuff but I would be totally comfortable saying to her we have an opportunity to begin a family trip early and ask what he would miss in school that day. We've had other teachers who would have been offended by the question. I always leave "make up work" up to them. Sometimes they send stuff before or after, or not at all.

Why expect the teacher to read between the lines. Just say “When are you doing things that my child can miss with no consequences?”

[Anonymous]

We have a lot of families in my school that pull their kids for extended vacations. It hurts our rating in our state when we have chronic absenteeism like that. She's started telling parents their kids are at risk of failure and calling each family for every absence every day when they miss more than 5 or 6 days per year. She even called the truancy officer, who I didn't know still existed, on one family where the kid missed more than 10 days so far this year without medical documentation. She's a rock star and we all love her.

[Anonymous]

If your child is intelligent, missing a couple of days in elementary school, or even a couple of weeks, is no great loss in the scheme of things. Family and learning about the world through travel is more important. My parents regularly pulled me out of school all through elementary to travel the world. In 8th grade, they pulled me out for six months to go live in another country, with absolutely no ill effect on my ability to work at grade level when I came back. High school is perhaps slightly different, but even there, the school of life is a better teacher than the average high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child is intelligent, missing a couple of days in elementary school, or even a couple of weeks, is no great loss in the scheme of things. Family and learning about the world through travel is more important. My parents regularly pulled me out of school all through elementary to travel the world. In 8th grade, they pulled me out for six months to go live in another country, with absolutely no ill effect on my ability to work at grade level when I came back. High school is perhaps slightly different, but even there, the school of life is a better teacher than the average high school.

The teacher's reaction is one thing. The school system's reaction to this is another. I would assume that you were taken out of the class officially--not just taken on vacation. So, upon returning, you should have been treated as a new student.

Did you know that public schools receive funds based on attendance--not enrollment?

[Anonymous]

Our teachers all require students to make it up when they return. No one exceptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our teachers all require students to make it up when they return. No one exceptions.

So weird. If the family didn’t care they were missing stuff why should I!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honest question: Why don't teachers put their slides, work, and/or home work on a portal and let kids catch up within a few days and learn the material? If they don't then they can come to office hours or whatever? I just don't understand why this is such a big deal? This is what is going to happen in college if they miss a day. Heck, some of those profs even video the lectures (this obv wouldn't work for all classes).

I know I'll get a million reasons why this isn't possible. IMO it's kind of BS. We had teachers in ES who did this. And so does some of our MS teachers. It makes their life easier. It makes our life easier.

All of my stuff IS in google classroom but kids can’t learn it just by looking at it. That’s where... the teaching... comes in.

Thank you! When I have tried it, they often say, "I looked at it, but didn't understand."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honest question: Why don't teachers put their slides, work, and/or home work on a portal and let kids catch up within a few days and learn the material? If they don't then they can come to office hours or whatever? I just don't understand why this is such a big deal? This is what is going to happen in college if they miss a day. Heck, some of those profs even video the lectures (this obv wouldn't work for all classes).

I know I'll get a million reasons why this isn't possible. IMO it's kind of BS. We had teachers in ES who did this. And so does some of our MS teachers. It makes their life easier. It makes our life easier.

All of my stuff IS in google classroom but kids can’t learn it just by looking at it. That’s where... the teaching... comes in.

Thank you! When I have tried it, they often say, "I looked at it, but didn't understand."

So record the lesson? As I said, we had an ES teacher that did this when she was out. The sub just hit "play" and the short lesson played. The sub then took over for the lesson. We aren't talking a 90 min. lecture. But, a few min. explaining even the highlights? This is not insurmountable. I get that some teachers may not *want* to do so. But I'm not sure that's a good enough reason.

I understand that won't work for hands on things like labs. And will not be ideal for extended periods of missed days. But it will help for sick days and short absences. Let's not let the perfect get in the way of the good, here. And it does help b/c some teachers do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honest question: Why don't teachers put their slides, work, and/or home work on a portal and let kids catch up within a few days and learn the material? If they don't then they can come to office hours or whatever? I just don't understand why this is such a big deal? This is what is going to happen in college if they miss a day. Heck, some of those profs even video the lectures (this obv wouldn't work for all classes).

I know I'll get a million reasons why this isn't possible. IMO it's kind of BS. We had teachers in ES who did this. And so does some of our MS teachers. It makes their life easier. It makes our life easier.

All of my stuff IS in google classroom but kids can’t learn it just by looking at it. That’s where... the teaching... comes in.

Thank you! When I have tried it, they often say, "I looked at it, but didn't understand."

So record the lesson? As I said, we had an ES teacher that did this when she was out. The sub just hit "play" and the short lesson played. The sub then took over for the lesson. We aren't talking a 90 min. lecture. But, a few min. explaining even the highlights? This is not insurmountable. I get that some teachers may not *want* to do so. But I'm not sure that's a good enough reason.

I understand that won't work for hands on things like labs. And will not be ideal for extended periods of missed days. But it will help for sick days and short absences. Let's not let the perfect get in the way of the good, here. And it does help b/c some teachers do it.

No. This is in fact WAY too much to ask of a teacher. It’s above and beyond. It’s not incumbent upon me to record my classroom *with other kids in it which is a violation of FERPA* to post for your kid along with HIGHLIGHTS elucidating the finer points of my teaching because you wanted to ski for 3 extra days.

[Anonymous]

Whoa, seriously? I should have to record a 15 minute lesson and then spend time uploading it every time a student tells me they are going to be out? I teach multiple courses—the day before breaks that could be 2 hours worth of extra work between recording and uploading and disseminating. I DO record my lessons when I’m going to be out, and it takes an hour to get a solid 15 minute segment.

Or did you mean I should just record class everyday and post it online? That’s illegal, without permission from every parent. Also impractical, because lessons are generally 10 minutes of instruction, 20 minutes of practice, repeat. I’d be stop/starting constantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whoa, seriously? I should have to record a 15 minute lesson and then spend time uploading it every time a student tells me they are going to be out? I teach multiple courses—the day before breaks that could be 2 hours worth of extra work between recording and uploading and disseminating. I DO record my lessons when I’m going to be out, and it takes an hour to get a solid 15 minute segment.

Or did you mean I should just record class everyday and post it online? That’s illegal, without permission from every parent. Also impractical, because lessons are generally 10 minutes of instruction, 20 minutes of practice, repeat. I’d be stop/starting constantly.

Yeah I record stuff when *I* will be out. It takes probably 2 hours to do so as well and is a huge PITA but I have to do it. When every kid is out? LOL NO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whoa, seriously? I should have to record a 15 minute lesson and then spend time uploading it every time a student tells me they are going to be out? I teach multiple courses—the day before breaks that could be 2 hours worth of extra work between recording and uploading and disseminating. I DO record my lessons when I’m going to be out, and it takes an hour to get a solid 15 minute segment.

Or did you mean I should just record class everyday and post it online? That’s illegal, without permission from every parent. Also impractical, because lessons are generally 10 minutes of instruction, 20 minutes of practice, repeat. I’d be stop/starting constantly.

Yeah I record stuff when *I* will be out. It takes probably 2 hours to do so as well and is a huge PITA but I have to do it. When every kid is out? LOL NO

Lazy and unimaginative. No wonder our kids are falling behind.

Also, I did not say "every kid."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whoa, seriously? I should have to record a 15 minute lesson and then spend time uploading it every time a student tells me they are going to be out? I teach multiple courses—the day before breaks that could be 2 hours worth of extra work between recording and uploading and disseminating. I DO record my lessons when I’m going to be out, and it takes an hour to get a solid 15 minute segment.

Or did you mean I should just record class everyday and post it online? That’s illegal, without permission from every parent. Also impractical, because lessons are generally 10 minutes of instruction, 20 minutes of practice, repeat. I’d be stop/starting constantly.

Yeah I record stuff when *I* will be out. It takes probably 2 hours to do so as well and is a huge PITA but I have to do it. When every kid is out? LOL NO

Lazy and unimaginative. No wonder our kids are falling behind.

Also, I did not say "every kid."

So if not every kid, which kids?

I’m not the PP, but it seems way off base to call someone lazy or unimaginative over this. I bet the teacher has quite a workload and is not being lazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whoa, seriously? I should have to record a 15 minute lesson and then spend time uploading it every time a student tells me they are going to be out? I teach multiple courses—the day before breaks that could be 2 hours worth of extra work between recording and uploading and disseminating. I DO record my lessons when I’m going to be out, and it takes an hour to get a solid 15 minute segment.

Or did you mean I should just record class everyday and post it online? That’s illegal, without permission from every parent. Also impractical, because lessons are generally 10 minutes of instruction, 20 minutes of practice, repeat. I’d be stop/starting constantly.

Yeah I record stuff when *I* will be out. It takes probably 2 hours to do so as well and is a huge PITA but I have to do it. When every kid is out? LOL NO

Lazy and unimaginative. No wonder our kids are falling behind.

Also, I did not say "every kid."

So if not every kid, which kids?

I’m not the PP, but it seems way off base to call someone lazy or unimaginative over this. I bet the teacher has quite a workload and is not being lazy.

She mean just HER kid. The only kid that matters.