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ncmomof3: blog

ncmomof3's blog


we are teachers!

Published Jul. 18, 2008

What are some things that we as parents can do to support our children's teachers?  Outside of the obvious things such as making sure our children have the supplies they need for class, making sure our children come to school fed and well rested, and making sure they have their assignments. 

As a parent, I'm interested in hearing some of the things that teachers feel are important that parents may not even think about.

As a home daycare provider, I don't often see myself as a teacher.  But from my standpoint, communication and mutual respect is key.  I work long hours and I don't mind going that extra mile when I feel like my parents need it, such as illlnesses and deployment and even just a mental health day.  But it sure makes it easier when I feel like parents have respect for the job I do.  For example, if your child is normally here at 6:30 am and you aren't working that day and decide to sleep in and not show up until 10.  Your child might have been the only one I had for that day and I could have used the extra time to sleep in or run a personal errand.  I don't mind keeping your child after my closing time for a true emergency but my time is as important as yours so if it's close to my closing time, please don't stop off for milk because it's more convienent to do it without your child and then show up 20-30 minutes after my closing time with apologies.  I have been working all day, also, and I have things I need to do.   If you are too sick to go to work and take care of one child, then please keep that in mind if I catch the same thing a week later.  I rarely close due to illness because I realize that when I close I put 5-7 families out of work.  But this same illness that the parent couldn't work with nor take care of one child with, I am working with and taking care of 5-7 children, not just one.  So please finish your work as soon as possible, do not stop on the way home, but come as quickly as you can to pick up your child so I can rest.

Communication and mutual respect.  Those 2 things keep me going long after my energy has left the building

 



33 Comments


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1Mom,,those are great suggestions. When I have parents agonizing over what school is the best one to send their child, I tell them while some schools are better than others (we all know this is true), every school can be a successful experience for your child. YOU, the parent, have to be involved. I work very long hours with the job I do, I'm in school part time, and I'm required to take ongoing trainings yearly to maintain my certifications. However, I make the time to be involved. I email, sent notes, call, attend conferences, and active in the PTA. Sure, that takes time, sometimes time I don't really want to give but it's time well spent. My question to my child's teacher is always "how can I help YOU (the teacher) help my child succeed? What do YOU need from ME?" My job is to support my child's teacher so the teacher can do their job so MY child will benefit. In 14 years (& 3 kids) of dealing with teachers, I've only run across 2 teachers that truly didn't care.

continued... The whole team working with a child at school is responsible for the child's education, not just the teacher. The parent is the primary one who should be teaching from birth. It doesn't start with K. Don't always assume your child is right and the teacher is a. telling lies b. an idiot. Listen to all and take part in the discussions with an open mind. Don't allow the child to play school vs home to manipulate. Check the child's homework to see if it's completed. Follow up if you don't hear from the school. The teacher is probably sending progress reports, newsletters etc. you're not receiving (based on both teacher and parent experience!)

Visit your child's school. I have some children whose parents never darken the school door and others who only show up if the child gets in trouble. Let your child know you are involved in his education and will be visibly present when he least expects it. Discuss what they're doing in school. General response.

First off, please rethink your statement. "As a home daycare provider, I don't often see myself as a teacher.". You ARE a teacher to those preschool aged children. You are preparing them (especially since many parents don't) and in a position to encourage cognitive development during those tender years. What they learn or don't learn during those years will have a tremendous impact on their future education. While it is the parents' responsibility, not yours, you have them the majority of the day, so please take advantage of that to encourage a love of learning this early.

For the parent question, to me the main criteria is BE INVOLVED in a constructive manner. Stay in contact throughout the year. Attend conferences. Ask questions instead of letting issues fester until they're major complaints. Listen to what the teacher is saying about your child..don't blow it off if it's not what you want to hear. Consider that the whole team (teacher, parent, child) is responsible for

Pooh-I did the same thing with my son last year in 2nd grade. It worked like a charm. Experience is the best teacher of all I think.

I'm glad that wasn't your intent, Pike. The life of a home daycare provider is difficult to predict. One day is VERY busy and the next can be quiet. One day I may have 8 children (my limit) and the next day only 1. The school year is when it is the most predictable and the summer is when families go on vacations, etc. That's why I run the actual preschool program from Labor Day to Memorial Day. I found it was an exercise in frustration to try and do it during the summer months.

Also, my computer is where I can walk by, post a comment, and continue what I am doing. I don't have to sit here all day for hours to participate in GOLO conversations. Some days, the adult conversations on here save my sanity!

But it did help, I'm sure, to clarify it in the minds of a number of people. So I do thank you for thta.

Really, NC Mom? We have had a few who have come into middle school full of themselves, but most 6th graders are sweet, little, and scared to death of middle school. 7th graders are usually comfortable by now, and are trying really hard to impress you (one way or the other unfortunately), but by 8th grade they don't think they should be expected to do any work, nor listen to the rules. Also, they know everything there is to know about anything so there really is no point in even being in school any longer. :-) Of course this is over all and there are those who never get this way, and those who got there a lot earlier. I kind of see what decades ago, many students only finished 8th grade.:-)

We have been fortunate and have had great teachers. My 3rd grader does his homework and I tell him which ones he should look over again. He use to argue they were right, until I started agreeing with him that they were. Not my homework, right? He caught on to that quickly and fixes them. If we had allot of problems with the homework it is not always evident, because I make him do it until it is correct, so I send a note to the teacher letting them know he struggled and needed help.

But I do thank you for pointing out that I might be neglecting my children

That certainly wasn't my intent,but,I was curious as you seem to have quiet a house full at all times by the way you mention your daily activities on golo.But now I actually see you don't, so I understand better now.

oh my, IteachforJesus. I help mine, sure, but do it for them? Where would I find the time? I guess I knew that was out there but ,,,oh my.

And rebellious 8th grade? my boys hit the rebellious stage in the 5th grade,,,by 8th grade they were fine! Well, my last is going into the 6th but he started the end of his 4th grade year...I'm hoping he follow the pattern and by the middle of his 7th grade year,,we are home free once again

Oh, and then deal with the sweet children's rotten parents, like you, who expect you to teach their children manners, not discipline them, not tell them that 4 letter words are unacceptable, see them only as adorably sweet and worthy of status above every other child in your class, and if anything goes wrong it must have been the other child's fault because, "my child would never do that!"

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