Lafayette K policy

[Anonymous]

Are any other parents not allowed to volunteer until October? Our back to school night was such a let down. How do you deal with a teacher that has no spunk or personality, and walks around like she doesn't want to be there or be bothered! All of the other classes were decorated so beautifully, and then we walked into ours and it was cold and uninviting. I know I'm just griping here, but it is disappointing and not a good sign for the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are any other parents not allowed to volunteer until October? Our back to school night was such a let down. How do you deal with a teacher that has no spunk or personality, and walks around like she doesn't want to be there or be bothered! All of the other classes were decorated so beautifully, and then we walked into ours and it was cold and uninviting. I know I'm just griping here, but it is disappointing and not a good sign for the year.

No classroom visitors for 6 weeks is common.

And, fwiw, research says classrooms withyt a lot of visual noise help kids focus -- that it's better to post relevant things as the year progresses. Maybe the teacher is sharp rather than uninspired?

[Anonymous]

Maybe she left the classroom undecorated so that the kids could do it: one sign of a high quality classroom is that child created display dominates, rather than teacher-made display.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe she left the classroom undecorated so that the kids could do it: one sign of a high quality classroom is that child created display dominates, rather than teacher-made display.

+1. What does your child seem to think of the teacher?

[Anonymous]

Is it just me or is Lafayette the new Janney with regard to complaining and airing dirty laundry? This forum is riddled with grumpy, gossipy threads lately. I'm not picking on you, OP (I'd probably feel the same). I just wonder if all these angsty threads are a sign of a school that has lost its sparkle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or is Lafayette the new Janney with regard to complaining and airing dirty laundry? This forum is riddled with grumpy, gossipy threads lately. I'm not picking on you, OP (I'd probably feel the same). I just wonder if all these angsty threads are a sign of a school that has lost its sparkle.

+1. at least with Janney it is mostly non-Janney parents bashing the school but here it looks like Lafayette parents are doing everything by themselves. some of these Lafayette parents seem outright nuts to me, and with way too much time on their hands. I can certainly think of a reason the teacher in OP's post did not want to be there and I would not want to be there either if I had to deal with people devastated because they cannot volunteer UNTIL OCTOBER!!!!! (btw, even at our school teachers do not want visitors in class in the first few weeks because they want to get to know the kids and establish routines without strangers around).

[Anonymous]

This is common and the same at our NW school. I think it makes sense that the teachers can find their routine for 6 weeks. Why don't you ask the teacher if you can helping with planning of any fall field trips in the meantime? Volunteer to be a room parent? I'm sure they need help in other ways.

[Anonymous]

OMG!!!!!! You are ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG!!!!!! You are ridiculous.

+100. I think if Lafayette had its own listserv, people like OP would be less impulsive about their complaints and think things over before posting inane observations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe she left the classroom undecorated so that the kids could do it: one sign of a high quality classroom is that child created display dominates, rather than teacher-made display.

This is part of responsive classroom.

[Anonymous]

I know a lot of bright cheerful kindergarten classes with spunky, motivated, excited teachers in ward 8. Move your child there.

Oh wait.

[Anonymous]

My kids went through Lafayette and are now in high school. A few things:

*We had a couple of teachers who were terrible at BTS night, who were excellent teachers. Why? Because they are better with kids, than adults, precisely the reason they became teachers in lower elementary. Many of them also *surprisingly* are human and get nervous. We've seen parents berate teachers at these nights - sadly - so please give them a break.

*Parent volunteers are WAY overrated AND a problem. The vast majority of parents have no idea how to engagingly read a picture book to a group of kids. They don't have the proper grammatical skills or writing workshop experience to help students with writing in 3rd grad. And, many of them are nosy, say rude or inaccurate things to other kids, or only focus on their kids.

*Your kid may thrive in a classroom with a teacher you don't like. You cannot know now. I remember an aide that parents were immediately doubtful of because of her countenance. However, she turned out to be the sweetest, most-loving person that kids clamored to. I had a carload of kids one time swear that their favorite teacher was one that parents vocally disliked.

*A 30-min session that you deem poorly is not a "sign," nor does it mean that you really know what's going on in the classroom. If you look for the negative, you will find it. Try to be positive for your child and the sake of that damned community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids went through Lafayette and are now in high school. A few things:

*We had a couple of teachers who were terrible at BTS night, who were excellent teachers. Why? Because they are better with kids, than adults, precisely the reason they became teachers in lower elementary. Many of them also *surprisingly* are human and get nervous. We've seen parents berate teachers at these nights - sadly - so please give them a break.

*Parent volunteers are WAY overrated AND a problem. The vast majority of parents have no idea how to engagingly read a picture book to a group of kids. They don't have the proper grammatical skills or writing workshop experience to help students with writing in 3rd grad. And, many of them are nosy, say rude or inaccurate things to other kids, or only focus on their kids.

*Your kid may thrive in a classroom with a teacher you don't like. You cannot know now. I remember an aide that parents were immediately doubtful of because of her countenance. However, she turned out to be the sweetest, most-loving person that kids clamored to. I had a carload of kids one time swear that their favorite teacher was one that parents vocally disliked.

*A 30-min session that you deem poorly is not a "sign," nor does it mean that you really know what's going on in the classroom. If you look for the negative, you will find it. Try to be positive for your child and the sake of that damned community.

OMG +1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

*We had a couple of teachers who were terrible at BTS night, who were excellent teachers. Why? Because they are better with kids, than adults, precisely the reason they became teachers in lower elementary. Many of them also *surprisingly* are human and get nervous. We've seen parents berate teachers at these nights - sadly - so please give them a break.

YES.

[Anonymous]

Any other Lafayette parents sadly irritated with K red base situation?