Anonymous wrote:My son got the yeller/mean teacher for 1st grade and ended up having an awesome year. He learned a ton that year because she kept the class quiet. My other son, they are twins, got the great/fun teacher and while he had a wonderful year, he barely learned anything, including how to sit still in class.

A yelling teacher not always keep students quiet. The yeller inspires more yellers instead of learners.

My son got the yeller/mean teacher for 1st grade and ended up having an awesome year. He learned a ton that year because she kept the class quiet. My other son, they are twins, got the great/fun teacher and while he had a wonderful year, he barely learned anything, including how to sit still in class.

I feel for you and have no good advice. We have the bad teacher this year and it is horrible. I am tempted to email the principal and say, 'we suffered this year and I would appreciate having teacher X for second grade.' I just want to see the response.

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you ask for a specific teacher? It's just an ask, not a demand? What is the harm?

Because everyone would request the same 1-2 teachers per grade and not everyone can have those teachers. Its a fairness thing. How would you decide whose wish was granted?

When my child was in first grade there were opportunities for parents to volunteer to assist in class. Do this, so you can see for yourself what goes on in class. If something concerns you, then you can go to the principal with first-hand information.

My child was placed with a "known" horrible teacher. Even to this day when I tell people what class she is in people say they feel sorry for me. I prayed my oldest didn't get her and when she did not, I was so happy. But my youngest got this "horrible" teacher. My youngest LOVES her. I love her. She's amazing. I will say, we are not the norm. Parents of other students in the class complain to me all the time about her, but for some reason she clicked with my youngest. My youngest says prayers at night and includes her. Tells me she doesn't want to leave her. Who would have thought it? Not me. So you never know.

In that same vein, my oldest got a teacher who was known to be beloved by her students. My oldest liked her and she was beloved but DH and I couldn't stand her as a teacher. Nice lady but weak teacher, IMO. At the end of the year, I told the principal if she was still around when my youngest came though that I did not want my youngest placed in her class. Of course, my youngest also loves her (sees her at recess) and tells me she hopes she gets this beloved teacher. Little does she know . .. So again you never know.

What's difficult is this is first grade and your family has no reputation - they don't know if you'll be difficult to deal with every year from now on. In higher grades, with kids that have gone through the school, the Principal knows you aren't a complainer and will take your concerns seriously. If you believe this first grade teacher is the worst of all teachers to come, make a fuss. The parents who are the push-overs get the worst teachers - but what's good is not everyone always agrees on favorites.

Why can't you ask for a specific teacher? It's just an ask, not a demand? What is the harm?

At our elementary school, one of the teachers has a bad reputation and I was worried when DC was assigned to that class. I didn't say anything because I figured it was a good life lesson. Sometimes you work for a boss you don't like, etc. The teacher isn't friendly to the parents and has been quite distant. however, she's been good with DC and DC likes her so this has been pretty smooth and she's a good teacher.

Anonymous wrote:So glad I'm out of Fairfax County....

Do other school districts let you pick a specific teacher?

Anonymous wrote:Write to the principal telling her what kind of teacher your child best responds to.

If the bad teacher gives your kid a hard time, don't wait to ask for a change. If a change is needed, insist that it happen, immediately. I regret not moving my child when the 2nd grade teacher behaved badly (school admitted it). They asked to give the teacher the chance to apologize and correct. I should have insisted on a new teacher.

School administration admitting bad teacher behavior? Really? Consider yourself lucky. At my child's school they never admit something like that.

Anonymous wrote:So glad I'm out of Fairfax County....

Are you out of FC schools or completely out of FC? If you live in FC but your DC attends an out of county school, please tell me about your experience.

We had one principal who would honor teacher requests (years ago--she's long retired). Caveat: she would tell the parents that they were losing their right to complain to her. I think it was pretty effective.

I have a teacher friend who has been on the placement committee. She says they laugh when parents list specific teachers and purposely don't put the kid in that class. Our form clearly says "Do not list name of teacher!" They do pay attention to the "Kids, my kid should NOT be with..." section but specific teacher requests get ignored.

Anonymous wrote:Just tell them your child will not be in her class. Done. That's it. And yes you can do that...

How exactly did you do that?

I was under the impression once the class lists came out right before the start of school, there is NO changing the teacher. And just from other stories I've heard, it sounds like this principal does not move students around easily.