Anyone read this article yet? Any other tips you might add? http://momshomeroom.msn.com/?topicId=T1§ion=articles&dataId=1200664&source=msn>1=25051
I think that article is very well written. As I was reading each piece of advice, I was picturing which of my parents do what is suggested and which do the opposite. Guess which group I was more able to work with?
I'd add: "I'll not believe everything your child says goes on at home if you'll also consider taking what he says goes on at school with a grain of salt...." haha
Know the law: understand FERPA, understand IEPs, understand attendance requirements Learn educational acronyms and eduspeak. Teachers may well talk over your head without even meaning to using specialized jargon. Respect the teacher's time. Time spent meeting, or talking after-hours, or giving extra help, etc., are demands on the teacher (sometimes on their personal time). Many teachers are happy to give it within reason, but anyone's patience is bound to run out at some point.
Sorry, 3Sons...I don't know what FERPA stands for... ...and parents should ask for clarification when they don't understand what a teacher is talking about- they don't need to know acronyms when not all districts use the same jargon/acronyms.
One of our 5th grade teachers says this every open house, "I'll believe 50 percent of what your kids tell me about you and what goes on at home as long as you'll believe 50 percent of what they say happens at school." :lol:
FERPA = The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. ...
Thanks. I could have looked it up - it's not an acronym that we throw around in my district although everyone does follow confidentiality and privacy guidelines.
Czacza, I think that MATgrad is talking about the comments left by readers on the original article (on the bottom under "Discuss: How to Handle a Problem teacher). I agree with MATgrad about the comments left by the readers. It seem that some parents will hold a grudge and/or not be willing to work things out.
I didn't see comments on the article site. I think the title of the article ('problem' teachers) incites strong feelings. The tips offered in the article are just good plain advice for any relationship, not sure why they needed to preface it with anecdotes about 'difficult teachers'.
I agree, czacza. In my opinion, I think that the author was trying to incite interest in their article which it worked based on the number of comments left. As you mentioned, it's just a new spin on good basic advice.
I won't even read the article, so maybe I shouldn't say anything. I've just never seen how to handle problem police officers, problem nurses, problem pediatricians or problem 'anyone else' who serves the public or children. I doubt many parents are totally clueless as to how to protect their children from the 'big bad teacher.' And the rampant teacher-bashing continues imo.
You should actually read it, it is a pretty good article. It's just poorly titled. It should be more aptly titled something like "How to work with your child's teacher." I missed all the comments at the end. I think I am going to go back and read them, just for the laughs.
Yeah I went ahead and read it after I posted. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The title and the comments (on their page) were the worst parts.
The believe 50% thing comes from the book titled something like "30 Third Graders and a Classroom Bunny". It's a funny read, but honestly not so pedalogically sound.
