What to do when kindergarten teacher won't take any help?? - Page 2

littlelizard · 09-29-2006, 10:45 PM

It does sound like the teacher is disorganized; a class letter about behavior sounds a quite bizarre too. I can tell you, though, there are a few reasons why a teacher may be hesitant to have a parent in the room often:
1) A chatty parent who wants to either converse with/ or have a mini-conference about their child during "volunteer" time.
2) A parent whose child will be all over them during "volunteer" time, without the parent telling the child to get back to work, etc. The teacher doesn't want to do this and seem like a meanie, overstepping the parent's authority. This can be really disruptive.
3)

WORST of all: the parent who, during "volunteer" time, makes observations of every other child in the class, and proceeds to spread gossip among othere parents about whose child is smart, stupid, dirty, poor, snobby, or badly behaved. Then, in the following year, uses these observations to tell the next teacher that his/her child can not sit by ____ for reason _____ .

I am not at all suggesting that you fall in these categories, just giving some defense as to why some teachers are hesitant to even have parents in the room.

Also, many schools have a rule regarding parents not grading/checking student work. I would not feel comfortable having a parent volunteer do any of my paperwork of any kind. You never know what information they might come across regarding another child's personal information.

Things that I love to have parent volunteers for (perhaps you can offer these up as suggestions to your child's teacher):
-read to a small group of children
-cut out things that have been laminated

-cut out shapes, etc for a craft project
-tear out, sort, or collate upcoming workbook pages
-laminate things, make die cut letters, etc in the work room
-work on letters, numbers, sight words, etc with struggling students and record their progress (This is not for the gossipy parents, though.)

I hope this teacher makes you feel more welcome in getting involved with your child's school.

desertmom · **Bad Teacher**

My son's preschool teacher kept saying how kindergarten would need him to do this or that, and when I brought this up in his transition meetings, I found out how far off base she was. Would you consider moving Riley to another teacher's class? This one may be burned out. A meeting w/ the principal may give both you and him/her some insight.

blessed_with_6 · 10-01-2006, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlelizard

It does sound like the teacher is disorganized; a class letter about behavior sounds a quite bizarre too. I can tell you, though, there are a few reasons why a teacher may be hesitant to have a parent in the room often:
1) A chatty parent who wants to either converse with/ or have a mini-conference about their child during "volunteer" time.
2) A parent whose child will be all over them during "volunteer" time, without the parent telling the child to get back to work, etc. The teacher doesn't want to do this and seem like a meanie, overstepping the parent's authority. This can be really disruptive.
3)

WORST of all: the parent who, during "volunteer" time, makes observations of every other child in the class, and proceeds to spread gossip among othere parents about whose child is smart, stupid, dirty, poor, snobby, or badly behaved. Then, in the following year, uses these observations to tell the next teacher that his/her child can not sit by ____ for reason _____ .

I am not at all suggesting that you fall in these categories, just giving some defense as to why some teachers are hesitant to even have parents in the room.

Also, many schools have a rule regarding parents not grading/checking student work. I would not feel comfortable having a parent volunteer do any of my paperwork of any kind. You never know what information they might come across regarding another child's personal information.

Things that I love to have parent volunteers for (perhaps you can offer these up as suggestions to your child's teacher):
-read to a small group of children
-cut out things that have been laminated

-cut out shapes, etc for a craft project
-tear out, sort, or collate upcoming workbook pages
-laminate things, make die cut letters, etc in the work room
-work on letters, numbers, sight words, etc with struggling students and record their progress (This is not for the gossipy parents, though.)

I hope this teacher makes you feel more welcome in getting involved with your child's school.

Special Education was my college degree (quit to have one baby and ended up with five more!!), so I do understand all your points. However, I have also offered, in writing and in person, to do every one of those other suggestions you listed. She flat doesn't want a parent in the room. At all. Ever. As a matter of fact, she doesn't want us doing it outside the room, either...because we all know there are a ton of things that I could do here and send back to her.

We had a kindergarten picnic on Friday, so I tried to talk to her some. Quite honestly, I was blown off. I don't know what else to do. Riley is secure in her class...he has gotten through his tears and adjusted. He has friends, and he is happy. So, I guess, for now, I just keep a close eye on everything, volunteer for anything that I can remotely think of, and hope for the best (and a better 1st grade teacher!).

blessed_with_6 · 10-01-2006, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momof2boys

My sons kindergarten teacher told us at orientation that she would bring in volunteer helpers in October as to her Sept is a time to get the know the kids herself. Maybe she will ease up??

Our kids started the first week of August....he has been in there two full months already..plenty of time for adjustment on both sides. I understood this for the first month, but now, entering the third month (out of only 10!!), I am at a loss.