Teacher won't email me back. What to do?

[Anonymous]

First off, I come from a family of teachers and highly respect all that they do. I know they are crazy busy and have enough to deal with. This by no means is a bash against teachers. I am just trying to get a different perspective maybe.

The teacher at open house asked for certain supplies to add to her collection. I brought them in ($100) to her this week and haven't heard a word from her. She sent out an email asking for a volunteer that would help out with the whole grades books and this job would take all day long. I volunteered and responded with my first email ever to her telling her I could help. She emailed me back 4-5 times asking specifics etc.

I have finished this job and responded to her initial email that I finished her job. Have not heard a word from her.

I emailed her earlier this week (my 2nd email ever) to ask specifics on a spelling test. I have asked several other moms and they are confused as well. One of the other moms then told me she emailed to ask the teacher and had a response in like 15 minutes. To be clear we both apparently emailed in the same hour. She had a response in 15 minutes, I still haven't heard a thing. It's been two days. The question I asked wasn't answered meaning which set of words does my child study. She asked when the test was.

What do you think is going on? What do I do now. I don't want to piss her off and I don't want to email her again but I can't help to think its a bit rude? My child has a spelling test on Friday I guess.

Also, she has infantically stated that email is the best way to contact her and welcomes all questions by email at the open house.

[Anonymous]

Send it again. It probably got lost, esp if two of you were emailing the same thing at the same time.

[Anonymous]

When parents tell me that I haven't answered their emails, it turns out our system marked them as spam. Certain subject lines seem to trigger it. "Can I have a minute of your time?" And "Great Opportunity!" are two I remember from last year.

Print out the emails. Send them to school with DC along with a note that you aren't sure she has seen them.

[Anonymous]

She was probably just swamped and missed your email. Also there is a possibility she never received it and it went to her 'spam" folder. I would let it go this time and continue to monitor. Just because she said this is the best way to communicate with her doesn't mean that she wants to constantly check and respond to emails.

If she thanked you after you spent the day helping with supplies, she honestly may not see the need to continue to email about this.

[Anonymous]

Resend..just making sure this is still on your list. Thanks!

If you really end up with an issue, you can cc the principal on the email or ask if a meeting would be easier for her. I had a very difficult situation with a teacher one year and the thought of a meeting would generate a reply from her VERY quickly. You are not there though

[Anonymous]

Send it from a different email address. For some reason, none of my emails from my primary email address were getting through to fcps.edu emails a few weeks ago. This issue lasted for about 2 weeks. It was so weird.

[Anonymous]

What grade is this?

You have listed more email correspondence back and forth in one week of school for one kid than I do in a semester with three kids.

If the teacher has several parents who are needing this much customer care, then she might have an inbox full of messages and is losing track of who she responded to.

Is the spelling test issus so pressing that your daughter can't take the test without getting an answer? If so, send it again with "Quick spelling test question" in tue subject line.

Then slow down for a bit with the emails.

If there is at peast one other mom discussing how quickly or not the teacher is responding to emails on the second week of school, she probably has a needy group of parents needing a lot of attention and is having a hard time keeping up with the volume.

[Anonymous]

I think she likely has her hands full with the start of the year. I would be really surprised if having parent volunteers in the classroom is a top priority for her at this point. She needs to get the kids settled in and used to their new routine. Then she will have more time for the parents.

See if you can get more info directly from your child about the spelling test. You could encourage your child to ask the teacher any questions too.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I have never heard of a teacher asking for full time parent volunteer help like that. And with the grade book??? That seems unusual...

[Anonymous]

Pick up the damn phone maybe?
Geezus

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't expect an email in the first two circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Can you imagine her inbox if every parent emailed as much as you have? I can count on one hand the number of emails I send in an entire school year. Add to that the fact that this is the first week if school. I think you need to back off a little. You don't want to be that parent.

[Anonymous]

The OP said she initiated two emails, one in response to a volunteer request. That is not too much communication.

[Anonymous]

You didn't say what grade this is. Maybe the teacher cleared it up in class with your child and expected him/her to be responsible for his/her assignment? Is there another parent you can ask for the spelling words or are they posted online on a homework page?

[Anonymous]

The first issue (supply donation) did not require a response. Sure, she could've said thank you, but in all likelihood your donation joined the pile, and she didn't keep track of who gave what.

The second one (your first email) regarding the volunteering should've resulted in at least a quick, "Thanks!" but oh well.

The third one may have gotten lost in the shuffle. I think you can resend.