Anonymous wrote:I'd be horrified! Teachers should not begin teaching until after (1) the age of 30, and (2) they've accumulated at least 10 years of teaching experience. And those people who can't figure out how to fulfill (1) and (2) should not be allowed to teach - ever - since, clearly, they're not sufficiently creative or driven.

Hope it's your sarcasm being displayed here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Newly minted, just out of undergrad. Would you request another classroom?

Jesus. Get a life or homeschool your precious snowflake.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:Don't dread what you don't know. Maybe this person will be full of new ideas, very enthusiastic and very in-tune with the kids since s/he is very close in age to them. And possibly a top student from a top school (hey, not saying that teachers weren't good students or from good schools) because the profession is very competitive.

This is the attitude I took with DC's first year teacher this past school year. Needless to say, the year was a disaster. She couldn't control the class - even the good kids were getting on the crazy train because the environment was so chaotic. Her great ideas resulted in a lot of busy work and math was basically ignored. The students were sent home with math homework on concepts they hadn't learned in class. When questioned, my DC always said they ran out of time because X, Y, or Z took so long (usually some sort of crafty project that took forever because 4th grade boys don't do a good job sitting in their desks and gluing fabric together). If I knew then what I know now, I would've moved DC from the school at the beginning of the year, rather than waiting until this summer to do it.

To all the snarky posters out there, yes, I'm extremely worried and you'd be too. Some kids with developmental delays catch up. Some don't. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure my kid is one of the ones who catches up. And for the record I asked opinions. I did not state my own. It does seem like lots of people have been happy with new teachers, which is what I wanted to know. But this is DCUM, I should have been prepared.

Anonymous wrote:Would your kid want a mom who never had a kid before?
Newly minted -- fresh out of the delivery room mom?

Ha! My dad gave a speech in this vein at my wedding about how well i turned out despite having rookie parents. I was the oldest, and he was like, your mom and I didn't know what the hell we were doing!

My sister worked incredibly hard as a new teacher, in a low-performing school without much support. By her second year she was mentoring the new teachers!

And good grief, you're worried about this for preK?

Would your kid want a mom who never had a kid before?
Newly minted -- fresh out of the delivery room mom?

Don't be a PITA that early in your child's academic career.

You are raising an issue with the school administration when there's none.

Anonymous wrote:Another teacher here. Yes, the first year is hard, and she'll make some mistakes. But- most first year teachers are dedicated and work more hours (at least at school) then veteran teachers, and are observed a crazy amount, so if they are struggling somewhere, support is in place almost immediately. I'd be more concerned about having the teacher who just got married...what if she gets pregnant during the school year? Her level of dedication will definitely change! Or the teacher who just had a baby, which will affect how much she invests into school. Or a million other situations. Good teachers are going to be good their first year, and get better.

Ha! OP here. This is to replace a teacher that had a baby who is moving to another position. We had multiple teacher transitions during this past year because of the maternity leave and now are likely to get the brand new hire. And I repeat, this is not for middle school where a kid has lots of instructors, this is for special education pre-k. For the teachers who responded, how much classroom time/externships had you done when you started teaching? With a bachelors degree that's typically only really two years of specialized instruction since the first two years of college are all about getting your pre-reqs/gen ed out of the way.

I'd much rather have a new teacher than the phoning it in experienced teacher DS had last year.

Another teacher here. Yes, the first year is hard, and she'll make some mistakes. But- most first year teachers are dedicated and work more hours (at least at school) then veteran teachers, and are observed a crazy amount, so if they are struggling somewhere, support is in place almost immediately. I'd be more concerned about having the teacher who just got married...what if she gets pregnant during the school year? Her level of dedication will definitely change! Or the teacher who just had a baby, which will affect how much she invests into school. Or a million other situations. Good teachers are going to be good their first year, and get better.

It was a first year teacher that (finally) convinced my son he wasn't stupid and that he was a "science genius". Her words. It was exactly what DC needed in 5th grade. He went to one of the school where "everykid" seems to be extremely smart and DC has a severe LD. It didn't hurt that she looked like a Disney princess.

You would request a change before having any idea what the teacher is like?

Perhaps you should do the new teacher a favor. Home school your kid.

Anonymous wrote:Fine, as long as DC wasn't a 17 year old single male.

Lol!

Don't dread what you don't know. Maybe this person will be full of new ideas, very enthusiastic and very in-tune with the kids since s/he is very close in age to them. And possibly a top student from a top school (hey, not saying that teachers weren't good students or from good schools) because the profession is very competitive.

Well, is HE hot?