Anonymous
10/12/2022 12:55
Subject: Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
Never seen this. 9th grader.
Anonymous
10/12/2022 12:05
Subject: Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
DS received a very nice postcard in 9th grade, sent by the teacher of a class he had struggled mightily in, and who had worked diligently with him during office hours. It was heart-warming, especially as that was the first year of pandemic.
Anonymous
10/12/2022 11:56
Subject: Re:Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it’s nice if this is happening, and I particularly appreciate they are sent home and not awarded publicly. I’m so tired of the “student of the week” public recognition. It’s literally always the same kids first: the teachers pets and the underdogs. Then the classically popular and the hard workers. They always recognize my kids last (generally do what they’re supposed to do, young-for-the-grade slightly less mature boys). No one realizes that this chips away at self esteem over time but it does. When you recognize one person, all the other people feel passed over. I get not everyone needs a trophy, but teachers pet doesn’t need recognition every time. It won’t inspire others to be something they are not.
I’ve not seen this at our school at all. OP here. Are you talking about middle school? My own kid was recognized once but I’m pretty sure only the kids in the recognition ceremony knew, plus gets the certificates for all As all year but so does most of the school. That’s it. And he’s the youngest in his grade. By a lot.
I also don’t believe in certificates for all As. The reward is you got all As! And any kid who got one B already inherently feels whatever that feels like. Not getting the certificate won’t “motivate” the child with the 88 percent in math. I choose to believe kids are usually trying their best. Grades are to communicate progress and help get a sense of material is learned/understood. They’re not a marker of your intelligence or even how good a student you are.
Anonymous
10/12/2022 11:53
Subject: Re:Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think it’s nice if this is happening, and I particularly appreciate they are sent home and not awarded publicly. I’m so tired of the “student of the week” public recognition. It’s literally always the same kids first: the teachers pets and the underdogs. Then the classically popular and the hard workers. They always recognize my kids last (generally do what they’re supposed to do, young-for-the-grade slightly less mature boys). No one realizes that this chips away at self esteem over time but it does. When you recognize one person, all the other people feel passed over. I get not everyone needs a trophy, but teachers pet doesn’t need recognition every time. It won’t inspire others to be something they are not.
I’ve not seen this at our school at all. OP here. Are you talking about middle school? My own kid was recognized once but I’m pretty sure only the kids in the recognition ceremony knew, plus gets the certificates for all As all year but so does most of the school. That’s it. And he’s the youngest in his grade. By a lot.
Yep. Middle school. They got announced on morning announcements and a food treat.
Anonymous
10/12/2022 09:26
Subject: Re:Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
Anonymous wrote:I think it’s nice if this is happening, and I particularly appreciate they are sent home and not awarded publicly. I’m so tired of the “student of the week” public recognition. It’s literally always the same kids first: the teachers pets and the underdogs. Then the classically popular and the hard workers. They always recognize my kids last (generally do what they’re supposed to do, young-for-the-grade slightly less mature boys). No one realizes that this chips away at self esteem over time but it does. When you recognize one person, all the other people feel passed over. I get not everyone needs a trophy, but teachers pet doesn’t need recognition every time. It won’t inspire others to be something they are not.
I’ve not seen this at our school at all. OP here. Are you talking about middle school? My own kid was recognized once but I’m pretty sure only the kids in the recognition ceremony knew, plus gets the certificates for all As all year but so does most of the school. That’s it. And he’s the youngest in his grade. By a lot.
Anonymous
10/12/2022 09:14
Subject: Re:Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
I think it’s nice if this is happening, and I particularly appreciate they are sent home and not awarded publicly. I’m so tired of the “student of the week” public recognition. It’s literally always the same kids first: the teachers pets and the underdogs. Then the classically popular and the hard workers. They always recognize my kids last (generally do what they’re supposed to do, young-for-the-grade slightly less mature boys). No one realizes that this chips away at self esteem over time but it does. When you recognize one person, all the other people feel passed over. I get not everyone needs a trophy, but teachers pet doesn’t need recognition every time. It won’t inspire others to be something they are not.
Anonymous
10/11/2022 23:02
Subject: Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
Anonymous wrote:My high schooler and middle schooler, who are good students, never have. That would be nice. I’m not sure a teacher has ever reached out to us.
My kid is also a good student - very strong academically but the notes are never about academics. Usually some variation of thanking him for being engaged and enthusiastic in class (during the pandemic there were a few notes thanking him for keeping his camera on) and often a specific observation about how he did something kind in class or supported his classmates.
Anonymous
10/11/2022 22:08
Subject: Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
I do it with students who are struggling, but really putting in effort.
Anonymous
10/11/2022 21:59
Subject: Re:Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
Our MS did this at the prompting of the principal on a recent work day. (It was panned on DCUM of course.)
Anonymous
10/11/2022 20:32
Subject: Re:Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
Anonymous wrote:Only for middle school? And why middle school, especially?
OP here, not seen it in elementary school, personally and my kids aren’t in high school yet. In elementary we have much more contact with teachers so I can see there’s less incentive.
Anonymous
10/11/2022 20:29
Subject: Re:Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
Anonymous wrote:Most schools that I have worked at had post cards that teachers could send out. One school we would be encouraged to send out a few each week. They would have them out for us during meetings and we could write a couple each meeting. Another school would print out grade set of address labels, one for each student. We would try to send a post card to each student over the course of the year. We would just peal off the label of a student and send a note home. This helped us keep track of who still needs a note sent home.
OP here. This is really great. We have so little interaction with teachers as parents that it really makes a difference.
Anonymous
10/11/2022 20:25
Subject: Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
My high schooler and middle schooler, who are good students, never have. That would be nice. I’m not sure a teacher has ever reached out to us.
Anonymous
10/11/2022 20:24
Subject: Re:Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
Only for middle school? And why middle school, especially?
Anonymous
10/11/2022 20:14
Subject: Re:Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
Most schools that I have worked at had post cards that teachers could send out. One school we would be encouraged to send out a few each week. They would have them out for us during meetings and we could write a couple each meeting. Another school would print out grade set of address labels, one for each student. We would try to send a post card to each student over the course of the year. We would just peal off the label of a student and send a note home. This helped us keep track of who still needs a note sent home.
Anonymous
10/11/2022 19:53
Subject: Encouraging notes home from teachers in middle school
A few times a year my middle school kid gets a post card or a note card from a teacher praising him, usually on some aspect of his conduct in class. Do the teachers get told to do this by the principal? Is this a middle school thing? Do all schools do it? Does everyone get them? Just wondering. It’s really touching to be honest and as a parent I appreciate it. It seems like an extra thing for teachers to do on top of their regular tasks so it’s really nice they take the time to share something positive they’ve seen from each kid.