Teachers? Is it too late to request this?

[Anonymous]

I know teachers do a lotto of some sort to divide up students each year. I’m wondering if this sort of thing has happened yet, or if there is still time.

DD6 has a little classmate with whom she was close, but this girl was a distraction, and when the two got together in the classroom, they were often silly together. The teacher told me it was manageable, and while they were silly together, they quickly settled. I still wasn’t happy so I asked they be as separated as possible in the classroom. It did get better after that. But my DD also picked up some odd behaviors from this girl (robotic/goofy talk, mostly) that the teacher also noted the two engaged in constantly. We are now in almost August, and I’ve noticed it’s nearly stopped since being away from this girl. I’d like for them to not be together next year.

Should I contact the old teacher? Email the principal? Or is it possible the old teacher will suggest these two not be together? As a teacher, what do you suggest?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know teachers do a lotto of some sort to divide up students each year. I’m wondering if this sort of thing has happened yet, or if there is still time.

DD6 has a little classmate with whom she was close, but this girl was a distraction, and when the two got together in the classroom, they were often silly together. The teacher told me it was manageable, and while they were silly together, they quickly settled. I still wasn’t happy so I asked they be as separated as possible in the classroom. It did get better after that. But my DD also picked up some odd behaviors from this girl (robotic/goofy talk, mostly) that the teacher also noted the two engaged in constantly. We are now in almost August, and I’ve noticed it’s nearly stopped since being away from this girl. I’d like for them to not be together next year.

Should I contact the old teacher? Email the principal? Or is it possible the old teacher will suggest these two not be together? As a teacher, what do you suggest?

The principal asap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know teachers do a lotto of some sort to divide up students each year. I’m wondering if this sort of thing has happened yet, or if there is still time.

DD6 has a little classmate with whom she was close, but this girl was a distraction, and when the two got together in the classroom, they were often silly together. The teacher told me it was manageable, and while they were silly together, they quickly settled. I still wasn’t happy so I asked they be as separated as possible in the classroom. It did get better after that. But my DD also picked up some odd behaviors from this girl (robotic/goofy talk, mostly) that the teacher also noted the two engaged in constantly. We are now in almost August, and I’ve noticed it’s nearly stopped since being away from this girl. I’d like for them to not be together next year.

Should I contact the old teacher? Email the principal? Or is it possible the old teacher will suggest these two not be together? As a teacher, what do you suggest?

I have heard of this happening, but it is always secondhand. Unless you know this is policy at DD’s school, I would not count on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know teachers do a lotto of some sort to divide up students each year. I’m wondering if this sort of thing has happened yet, or if there is still time.

DD6 has a little classmate with whom she was close, but this girl was a distraction, and when the two got together in the classroom, they were often silly together. The teacher told me it was manageable, and while they were silly together, they quickly settled. I still wasn’t happy so I asked they be as separated as possible in the classroom. It did get better after that. But my DD also picked up some odd behaviors from this girl (robotic/goofy talk, mostly) that the teacher also noted the two engaged in constantly. We are now in almost August, and I’ve noticed it’s nearly stopped since being away from this girl. I’d like for them to not be together next year.

Should I contact the old teacher? Email the principal? Or is it possible the old teacher will suggest these two not be together? As a teacher, what do you suggest?

That's what friends do, OP. If not with this girl, then your DD will do the same thing with another child.

[Anonymous]

At my DCPS we don't do a lotto, we build the class lists very purposely. It's likely the teachers took this into account if they build classes like we do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know teachers do a lotto of some sort to divide up students each year. I’m wondering if this sort of thing has happened yet, or if there is still time.

DD6 has a little classmate with whom she was close, but this girl was a distraction, and when the two got together in the classroom, they were often silly together. The teacher told me it was manageable, and while they were silly together, they quickly settled. I still wasn’t happy so I asked they be as separated as possible in the classroom. It did get better after that. But my DD also picked up some odd behaviors from this girl (robotic/goofy talk, mostly) that the teacher also noted the two engaged in constantly. We are now in almost August, and I’ve noticed it’s nearly stopped since being away from this girl. I’d like for them to not be together next year.

Should I contact the old teacher? Email the principal? Or is it possible the old teacher will suggest these two not be together? As a teacher, what do you suggest?

Teachers put a lot of work into making class lists, they don't "do a lotto".

Being silly together doesn't warrant this. It's what little girls do. If you don't like something your daughter is doing, then ask her to stop, don't put that on the teachers to solve or blame another child.

[Anonymous]

The schools where I've worked have usually made the class lists at the end of the spring before dismissing for summer. That way everything is ready to go when information gets sent out to families before the new school year. That said, it's not too late to get in touch with the principal to communicate your concerns. Understand, however, that not every request can be accommodated, particularly at the last minute. Schools need to attend to gender balance, all types of diversity, separating some personalities, keeping some friends together, etc.

[Anonymous]

There was another thread on this (VA forum) and there were some very STRONG feelings against contacting schools, in particular from one extremely adamant principal.

That said, at my school we appreciate hearing from parents before class lists are finalized and we certainly want parents perceptions if there is bad chemistry between one or two students. That doesn't mean we want everyone cherry picking … but we do try to respond if a parent suggests that his/her child be separated from another. In other words, if your kid was enrolled at my school, then we would want you to let us know asap!

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

After K, the class lists are not random. Call the principal ASAP. But don’t mention the robotic voice thing. Just say they were disruptive together and had to be separated, etc.

[Anonymous]

No harm in asking but we meet with our grade level team in late May to create class lists. There is no “lotto.”

[Anonymous]

Email the school counselor. Believe me, they are changing those class lists up until and sometimes after they give them to parents.

[Anonymous]

OP again, and please forgive my ignorance. I suppose “lotto of sorts” was bad wording on my part.

I appreciate the input. They were a problem for the teacher, so much we had a conference, so it isn’t just “being silly”. I’m still not sure what I’ll do.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher and I think it is fine to call and try and talk to the principal (assuming she's working, some principals have part of the summer off). The worst thing that can happen is she says no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again, and please forgive my ignorance. I suppose “lotto of sorts” was bad wording on my part.

I appreciate the input. They were a problem for the teacher, so much we had a conference, so it isn’t just “being silly”. I’m still not sure what I’ll do.

We separate students who have behavioral issues so the teacher might have already done so.

[Anonymous]

Op if it was a problem for the teacher and you had a conversation formally then rest assured those girls won’t be in the same class this year. Sit tight and if there is a problem again you can address it