Sorry! Typos... Cool down, not cook down

Our ES has LLIV, with a very high qualify rate (last year 28 kids before appeals) and which all but one or two kids who qualify attend (so only a small handful of kids are principal placed-- this year, none were.) Since there is only 1 AAP class per grade, and the AAP teacher for each grade is known, our AAP students and parents are spared the late August nuttiness of waiting for class assignments, seeing if they will be with their friends, and praying for a good teacher.

The AAP kids in our school stay together as an entire class 3rd-6th, and they know in June who their teacher will be. For some kids, esp. shy kids and Introverts, it is hard not to know who their teacher will be, and which friends will be in their classes until a few days before school starts.

I don't understand why FCPS don't make more effort to keep continuity in class composition for general ed., and let kids know their class assignment (eg teachers) at the end of school who next year's teacher will be. Of course, there will sometimes be changes in staffing, kids moving, etc. over the summer, so adjustments might have to be made, but it seems like a lot of the info could be knowable. And it gives parents a chance to set up play dates, etc., over the summer so kids can get to know their new classmates better.

It seems like there is a lot of angst this time of year about who will get the "best" teacher, who will be with their "besties" and whose child will end up in the class with the ESOL kids (who are generally clumped together) or the emotionally handicapt kids (also apparently clumped together).

There can bad feelings among the parents who disagree with place,ent that can start the year off on a negative foot. If classes were known in advance, parents whould have time to cook down and think before acting. They could also talk to the school administration when things aren't beginning of the year crazy, and help prepare their kids to have a good year.
Just my 2cents.

Anonymous wrote:And are you also a teacher who can't get into her classroom the week before your back to school meetings and has to set up for school this week or do you get access to the classroom the week before?

PP here.
I had access, but didn't go in. We were out of town anyhow W-F. I know that some people went in, but it's not required.

And are you also a teacher who can't get into her classroom the week before your back to school meetings and has to set up for school this week or do you get access to the classroom the week before?

Anonymous wrote:14:49. For all we know, the person commenting is a decent teacher. Perhaps it's a custodial issue with the budget cuts. I really don't know but it would be nice to know more specifics about the actual issues teachers face to work with them to make it a better teaching environment.

I'm a teacher. As an example, here is what is scheduled (in a nutshell) for me this week:

Monday-
8:00 breakfast
8:30-12:00 Staff Mtg.
Lunch
1:00-2:00 Mtg. 2:00-3:00 Mtg.

Tuesday-
8:00-noon Staff Mtg. 2:00-3:00 CLT Mtg.

Wed.-
8:15-10 Mtg. 10:15-Noon Mtg. 1:00-2:00 TPEP Mtg.

Thurs.- 2:00-3:00 Open House

Friday- Staff Mtg. 8:00-11:30

14:49. For all we know, the person commenting is a decent teacher. Perhaps it's a custodial issue with the budget cuts. I really don't know but it would be nice to know more specifics about the actual issues teachers face to work with them to make it a better teaching environment.

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who just went to a kindergarten meet and greet outside on the school grounds. There was food and some little cooperative circle games for the kids and parents. Seemed like a calm and inviting way to introduce families to each other and to the teacher. And since it was outside the classroom there were no worries on whether the kindergarten rooms were ready or not.

Our PTA has two of these. All the kids who are starting kindergarten are invited to come play at the school playground on a Saturday morning. We went to the first one. The kids all played, the parents made awkward get to know you chit chat with the other parents. The principal was there, but the kindergarten teachers were not. Class assignments haven't been made yet.

Anonymous wrote:So how is it that Kent Gardens apparently does all their reading assessments for all grades before school starts (unlike our school which seems to get to these around October) and this other teacher can't get into the building before August 27th? These are the problems I see which create discrepancy in schools and things you can't really figure out from just the websites. Also, I'm 22:28 and my mom definitely knew how to say no. She just knew the importance of being prepared before the school year starts to make sure things got off to a good start all around. She also was let into the building without an issue and I'm sure at the time didn't have as many meetings to deal with although I particularly remember that there were always a week of meetings before school started which is why she started earlier.

We need more teachers like your mom....

So how is it that Kent Gardens apparently does all their reading assessments for all grades before school starts (unlike our school which seems to get to these around October) and this other teacher can't get into the building before August 27th? These are the problems I see which create discrepancy in schools and things you can't really figure out from just the websites. Also, I'm 22:28 and my mom definitely knew how to say no. She just knew the importance of being prepared before the school year starts to make sure things got off to a good start all around. She also was let into the building without an issue and I'm sure at the time didn't have as many meetings to deal with although I particularly remember that there were always a week of meetings before school started which is why she started earlier.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up helping my mom get her classroom ready weeks before school started. Putting together the bulletin board, organizing books, etc. Is this not the case anymore that teachers get access to the rooms earlier?

Our contract starts August 27th. I don't know about others, but most of that week is spent in meetings.

I'm guessing 22:28s mom was one of the ones who cared more about the kids than the contract. Just sayin....

My DW and I both teach. Our principals don't let us in to the building before that date. I'm not one to "work to the rule" and I do plenty extra, but I'm guessing 22:28s mom was one of the ones who never said "no" to anything.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up helping my mom get her classroom ready weeks before school started. Putting together the bulletin board, organizing books, etc. Is this not the case anymore that teachers get access to the rooms earlier?

Our contract starts August 27th. I don't know about others, but most of that week is spent in meetings.

I'm guessing 22:28s mom was one of the ones who cared more about the kids than the contract. Just sayin....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our school mails them out. They used to post them on the door, but they stopped doing that about 4 years ago. I believe it's for security reasons.

Our school has never posted them for that reason.

What is the security concern?

They were posted on the front doors of the school. Any stranger can walk up to the school read the list of names of the students, know which class the student is in. That person could later use that information to retrieve student from school from an unsuspecting secretary. Could be a case of parent who does not have custody - he finds out more information than is necessary. Overall, I think it probably has to do more with privacy concerns, but security and privacy go hand in hand.

Anonymous wrote:I grew up helping my mom get her classroom ready weeks before school started. Putting together the bulletin board, organizing books, etc. Is this not the case anymore that teachers get access to the rooms earlier?

Our contract starts August 27th. I don't know about others, but most of that week is spent in meetings.

I have a friend who just went to a kindergarten meet and greet outside on the school grounds. There was food and some little cooperative circle games for the kids and parents. Seemed like a calm and inviting way to introduce families to each other and to the teacher. And since it was outside the classroom there were no worries on whether the kindergarten rooms were ready or not.

I grew up helping my mom get her classroom ready weeks before school started. Putting together the bulletin board, organizing books, etc. Is this not the case anymore that teachers get access to the rooms earlier?