Teacher Feedback

[Anonymous]

Teachers - if my young elementary aged child (K-3) has made comments about things he/she likes or dislikes about the teacher's style, is that something that you would want to hear from a parent? For example, my child's teacher is a talker, maybe a nervous talker. She asks a question, but then instead of stopping to give the children a chance to think, she keeps talking (words of encouragement, or "Sarah, what do you think about this? Jason, you can write down the answer if you want? Susan, think about x,y,z! Etc...). My child has said "It's hard for me to concentrate and find an answer when she keeps talking."

Is this something you want to hear, or do I just have to tell my kid to either turn the volume down (and potentially miss something) or learn to deal with it? My child doesn't have ADHD, and has never had a problem with paying attention or completing work before, so I don't know what to do here. The teacher my child had in the spring was not this chatty, LOL!

[Anonymous]

I'd wait a week, since nerves may calm down, and only comment if I'd observed it myself, after giving my kids tips to deal with it. Comments would probably be best received about your child and their learning style, not directly about what the teacher is doing.

From the other side, it feels awkward to have silence online, so I understand the teacher's inclination, even if it's not helpful in a learning setting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd wait a week, since nerves may calm down, and only comment if I'd observed it myself, after giving my kids tips to deal with it. Comments would probably be best received about your child and their learning style, not directly about what the teacher is doing.

From the other side, it feels awkward to have silence online, so I understand the teacher's inclination, even if it's not helpful in a learning setting.

OP here - I observed it myself, but didn't say anything about it. It was also something my child brought up on their own.

[Anonymous]

I think that is very good feedback.

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher, and I think you could email the teacher and politely say some nice things about her efforts so far, and then say that your son says she is talking while he is trying to work, because she is encouraging other kids, but he can’t focus. Ask if it is okay if he mutes her while he is doing what was asked. I’m sure she doesn’t realize it. I am sure she’s nervous because she knows adults are watching, and she wants to appear engaged. Many of us are very comfortable with kids, but maybe not so much with adults!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers - if my young elementary aged child (K-3) has made comments about things he/she likes or dislikes about the teacher's style, is that something that you would want to hear from a parent? For example, my child's teacher is a talker, maybe a nervous talker. She asks a question, but then instead of stopping to give the children a chance to think, she keeps talking (words of encouragement, or "Sarah, what do you think about this? Jason, you can write down the answer if you want? Susan, think about x,y,z! Etc...). My child has said "It's hard for me to concentrate and find an answer when she keeps talking."

Is this something you want to hear, or do I just have to tell my kid to either turn the volume down (and potentially miss something) or learn to deal with it? My child doesn't have ADHD, and has never had a problem with paying attention or completing work before, so I don't know what to do here. The teacher my child had in the spring was not this chatty, LOL!

If she's a younger teacher, she is asking questions in order to facilitate discussion or encourage students to come forward.
She is using strategies she's been told to implement. Just let her know about your point of view as a parent.

[Anonymous]

I'm a teacher and one of the newish teachers I work with is like this. I don't have ADHD but I find it hard to concentrate with the near constant talking. If the teacher asks for suggestions, word it kindly and it will be fine. If she doesn't ask for them, leave it alone. Kids have to learn how to deal with all types of people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher and one of the newish teachers I work with is like this. I don't have ADHD but I find it hard to concentrate with the near constant talking. If the teacher asks for suggestions, word it kindly and it will be fine. If she doesn't ask for them, leave it alone. Kids have to learn how to deal with all types of people.

+1 Just like your kid, OP, doesn't like it there are probably kids who really do like it. She can't please everybody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a teacher and one of the newish teachers I work with is like this. I don't have ADHD but I find it hard to concentrate with the near constant talking. If the teacher asks for suggestions, word it kindly and it will be fine. If she doesn't ask for them, leave it alone. Kids have to learn how to deal with all types of people.

+1 Just like your kid, OP, doesn't like it there are probably kids who really do like it. She can't please everybody.

+2

[Anonymous]

I think it is good feedback, but you know there’s someone else out there who will want the opposite. I mr tor a brand new teacher who was dinged by her CT last week for having “dead air” in her Zoom session. She was told to keep talking so kids will not leave the Zoom from boredom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers - if my young elementary aged child (K-3) has made comments about things he/she likes or dislikes about the teacher's style, is that something that you would want to hear from a parent? For example, my child's teacher is a talker, maybe a nervous talker. She asks a question, but then instead of stopping to give the children a chance to think, she keeps talking (words of encouragement, or "Sarah, what do you think about this? Jason, you can write down the answer if you want? Susan, think about x,y,z! Etc...). My child has said "It's hard for me to concentrate and find an answer when she keeps talking."

Is this something you want to hear, or do I just have to tell my kid to either turn the volume down (and potentially miss something) or learn to deal with it? My child doesn't have ADHD, and has never had a problem with paying attention or completing work before, so I don't know what to do here. The teacher my child had in the spring was not this chatty, LOL!

I am a chatty teacher and tend to do the same thing. Silence feels uncomfortable for me, plus I really do need to say something to someone most of the time. I have actually had kids ask me to please stop talking so they can think. Since they said something, I really do try to at least talk quietly or find a way to privately say something to some people but not others, so the majority can think in peace. I think it would be best if your daughter asked the teacher to please give her some think time, or if your daughter could turn the volume down. I found it very useful when my students asked me, but had it come from a parent I might have found it insulting.

[Anonymous]

Always start with the positive: "Little Larla is loving your class, she is so excited about x, y, and z! You are doing an amazing jo! On a side note, little Lara has low processing speed and when asked a question she needs a little extra time to let her process through the question and how to answer without prompting. If you could accommodate that it would be great!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Always start with the positive: "Little Larla is loving your class, she is so excited about x, y, and z! You are doing an amazing jo! On a side note, little Lara has low processing speed and when asked a question she needs a little extra time to let her process through the question and how to answer without prompting. If you could accommodate that it would be great!"

BTW, I am not saying your daughter has low processing speed, but teachers like labels. Plus, what little kid can answer something on the spot without thinking it through (painfully)? Very few.... Most stumble.

[Anonymous]

can't you give us a break? we're teaching online for the very first time and we're all nervous and feeling weird and trying to get used to it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it is good feedback, but you know there’s someone else out there who will want the opposite. I mr tor a brand new teacher who was dinged by her CT last week for having “dead air” in her Zoom session. She was told to keep talking so kids will not leave the Zoom from boredom.

I had my IC drop into a class this week and knock me for the same thing. She came in when students were writing, I had low music playing so students didn’t think they’d been disconnected (in response to feedback that had been given the week before), and the IC told me it sounded like being on hold at the doctor’s office and I should be encouraging students and checking in with them as they wrote. I would find that distracting if I were trying to concentrate, but I guess they’ve gotten feedback from parents that the classes aren’t interactive the whole time we’re on. They were only writing for 3 minutes, and I didn’t want to chatter the whole time.