So, as all 10 of you reading this probably already know, I used to be a teacher. In the - how to say this in the least offensive way? - kind of neighborhoods where you can buy crack more easily than you can buy fresh vegetables. As a teacher, I'm the veteran of many Back-to-School nights. As a parent, not so much. So I'm still entertained by comparing the Back-to-School nights at my old school versus the ones at my kids' school, which is in the kind of neighborhood where it's easier to buy organic vegetables than crack. Or meth. Or Twinkies.
Because I occasionally miss teaching, I tried to make a comparison chart, but html hates me. So instead I made lists:
My Kids' School
1. Teacher Attire: Tastefully sexy dresses, high heels.
2. Crowd: Large, attentive, more fake smiles than a dental convention.
3. Decorations: Student work taped to walls.
4. In class presentations: On the Smartboard, aided by videos and/or photos of the kids. Describing a typical day in the classroom and a detailed description of the curriculum. Parents sit on student chairs.
5. Sign-Ups: Parent-teacher conferences in 6 weeks. Full.
6. General presentations: Principal, PTO vice-president, Educational Foundation president, arts association president, after-school program director. Snacks.
7. Handouts: Student work, large homework projects due the following month.
8. What I did after: chatted with other parents, summarized the evening for husband.
My Old School:
1. Teacher Attire: Conservative dresses to prevent leering, flat shoes for speed in the parking lot.
2. Crowd: Small, not overtly hostile.
3. Decorations: Student work stapled carefully to butcher paper that has color-coordinated borders.
4. In class presentations: Detailed description of class rules, summary of curriculum. Parents sit on folding chairs because teachers were told it was insulting to expect adults to sit on student chairs.
5. Sign-Ups: For volunteering in the classroom. Empty.
6. General presentations: Principal and PTO president talked briefly. Except for the years when there was no PTO.
7. Handouts: Class rule review and description of homework expectations.
8. What I did after: Got drunk with my co-workers.
Showing posts with label teachers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teachers. Show all posts
9/29/2011
9/16/2011
Crisis Management
The thing you do not want to see when you arrive at school to pick up your child is an ambulance parked outside the back entrance. Especially if it's accompanied by 2 police cars. Hot Guy voiced my fears, "I hope nothing happened to a kid." We decided he would walk around to get Ironflower while I stood with the boys. A woman I'd never seen before was screaming at everyone to hurry up and go home, to leave school property.
Since the bell had just rung and the announcement to get off school property had just been made, I thought the woman was being a little harsh. I was about to take the boys back to the car when I noticed some of Ironflower's former kindergarten classmates standing next to the playground, looking stunned. Their moms tend to just meet them on the playground, often a few minutes after the bell. But of course the police had recently blocked the driveway into the school, so their moms weren't there.
Frankly, it appalled me that these just begun first graders had been dismissed without a parent when obviously SOMETHING was going on. The screaming woman screamed at them to get going and they looked at me. I led them to the principal who had them stand by the driveway. I returned to find Hot Guy and Ironflower, but I was not ready to leave.
Obviously, the inner city school where I taught had a lot more opportunities to handle crises. There were lockdowns from the occasional shoot out and dismissals that had to be handled a certain way to avoid this or that scene. But OMG, my kids' school really needs to update their crisis management handbooks.
After Hot Guy took our kids to the car, I shepherded more and more bewildered kids to an area at the side of the building so they could wait for their parents. I tried to let the principal know each time I found more, as no other staff member (except the screaming woman, who I would not have delivered child to under any circumstances) was present. During that time, several of them got to see the beloved janitor wheeled out on a gurney and loaded into the ambulance.
An email we got later assured us that he would be fine. Obviously they were trying to get rid of everyone before he had to leave in the ambulance but they had NO IDEA what they were doing. Either everyone could have stayed in their classrooms for a few extra minutes so NO kids saw him, OR teachers could have taken all students who didn't have parents at their classroom door to the office. Whoever thought letting bewildered first graders just wait by themselves for their parents (while staring at cop cars and an ambulance) was a good idea definitely needs a crisis management course.
I have no idea who the screaming woman was, but I can't believe that's what they choose to have her do. I can't believe that no one was sent to look for/watch/care about the parent-less kids, that they thought it would be better to have her terrify them.
I really want to be emailing this - more politely worded, of course - to the principal. The email we received said how well everyone handled the crisis, which was total bullshit. Now, again, I know there are probably not going to be shoot-outs, wanted fugitives, drunk parents or even more medical issues at the school this year. They probably won't have a crisis for years, if ever. But what if they do? I mean, we have had an earthquake, a hurricane and flooding in the past couple of weeks.
Since the bell had just rung and the announcement to get off school property had just been made, I thought the woman was being a little harsh. I was about to take the boys back to the car when I noticed some of Ironflower's former kindergarten classmates standing next to the playground, looking stunned. Their moms tend to just meet them on the playground, often a few minutes after the bell. But of course the police had recently blocked the driveway into the school, so their moms weren't there.
Frankly, it appalled me that these just begun first graders had been dismissed without a parent when obviously SOMETHING was going on. The screaming woman screamed at them to get going and they looked at me. I led them to the principal who had them stand by the driveway. I returned to find Hot Guy and Ironflower, but I was not ready to leave.
Obviously, the inner city school where I taught had a lot more opportunities to handle crises. There were lockdowns from the occasional shoot out and dismissals that had to be handled a certain way to avoid this or that scene. But OMG, my kids' school really needs to update their crisis management handbooks.
After Hot Guy took our kids to the car, I shepherded more and more bewildered kids to an area at the side of the building so they could wait for their parents. I tried to let the principal know each time I found more, as no other staff member (except the screaming woman, who I would not have delivered child to under any circumstances) was present. During that time, several of them got to see the beloved janitor wheeled out on a gurney and loaded into the ambulance.
An email we got later assured us that he would be fine. Obviously they were trying to get rid of everyone before he had to leave in the ambulance but they had NO IDEA what they were doing. Either everyone could have stayed in their classrooms for a few extra minutes so NO kids saw him, OR teachers could have taken all students who didn't have parents at their classroom door to the office. Whoever thought letting bewildered first graders just wait by themselves for their parents (while staring at cop cars and an ambulance) was a good idea definitely needs a crisis management course.
I have no idea who the screaming woman was, but I can't believe that's what they choose to have her do. I can't believe that no one was sent to look for/watch/care about the parent-less kids, that they thought it would be better to have her terrify them.
I really want to be emailing this - more politely worded, of course - to the principal. The email we received said how well everyone handled the crisis, which was total bullshit. Now, again, I know there are probably not going to be shoot-outs, wanted fugitives, drunk parents or even more medical issues at the school this year. They probably won't have a crisis for years, if ever. But what if they do? I mean, we have had an earthquake, a hurricane and flooding in the past couple of weeks.
7/05/2011
Hugmonkey Flummoxes Me Again
Last Wednesday I had all but decided to red-shirt my 2 year old so that he could have the amazing teacher. Almost everyone who kindly commented or emailed suggested holding him back. It's not like I was worried about him being academically behind by going to preschool only one morning a week*, so I was all but decided.
And then I picked Hugmonkey up from camp on Thursday and he was all smiles. Same thing Friday. On Sunday, he asked if he could go to camp. I signed him up for another week, sure that this was a fluke brought on by especially good snacks or something.
*Some people in my area would, in fact, say I was depriving my child of the early academic experiences that he needed to get ahead. Those people scare me a little.
And then I picked Hugmonkey up from camp on Thursday and he was all smiles. Same thing Friday. On Sunday, he asked if he could go to camp. I signed him up for another week, sure that this was a fluke brought on by especially good snacks or something.
So we proceeded with Week 2. And he loved it again. He wants to go back next week. Clearly he's enjoying the whole experience and clearly he can handle the teacher's non-amazingness. He's singing songs he learned at camp - I've never been able to get him to sing anything, ever - and telling us about the "cwafs" he's made. I'm pretty sure he's going to freak out when his camp is over and the older two are still going to theirs.
As a result, I've made a decision. I'm not pushing him back to the 2 year old program. I'm leaving him where he's supposed to be age-wise and letting him have a less amazing teacher. Because apparently he doesn't care so much if his teacher is amazing, as long as she helps him make crafts and sing songs and get along with the other kids. She may not care so much what happens to him after he leaves her classroom and she may not give me detailed reports of his activities each day, but I can tell that he's happy there. That's the point, isn't it?
And I swear this has nothing to do with the fact that putting him in the 2.5 year old class gives me two mornings a week WITHOUT KIDS. Although that's a nice bonus, isn't it?
*Some people in my area would, in fact, say I was depriving my child of the early academic experiences that he needed to get ahead. Those people scare me a little.
6/21/2011
I May Red Shirt My 2 Year Old
I need your advice, internets.
My beloved Hugmonkey is going to camp at our preschool this week. He will be going there in the fall and he's been dying to join his brother there for months. Now, Hugmonkey is more immature than Lovebug and Ironflower were at his age - he's the baby and it shows. However, he is perfectly happy to go to the childcare room at the Y and he loves to go to story time at the library. He's been dying to go to "skoo" for months. He should be fine for 2.5 hours a day.
And I think he would be, if he had the right teacher. Ironflower and Lovebug had an AMAZING teacher for their first 2 years of preschool and I had hoped Hugmonkey would have her too. But they have added an independent 2 year old class (in addition to the 2.5 year old class that Hugmonkey is signed up for) and the amazing teacher will be teaching that. So next year Hugmonkey could have an okay teacher or the not so great teacher he has for camp this week. He's really NOT enjoying camp.
Right now, he's scheduled for the 2.5 year old program, which consists of 2 mornings a week. He'll be 3 in November, but he's nowhere near potty trained and he has moments where he bites instead of talks. So pushing him ahead into the 3 year old class, where he could have the AMAZING teacher, doesn't seem like a good idea. The only other way for him to have the AMAZING teacher if for him to join the one morning a week 2 year old class. He'd be among the oldest in that class. Which I'm not sure is a bad thing. Or I keep him in the 2.5 year old program and request the okay teacher.
Thoughts?
I think that if he wasn't having such a hard time with camp, I wouldn't be so worried. I think that if I didn't know about how AMAZING this other teacher is and the wonders she did for Lovebug, I wouldn't be so worried. I think if it wasn't his very first school experience, I wouldn't be so worried. But I do know all of that stuff, so. . .I'm thinking about putting him in the 2 year old program.
Holding him back, in other words.
I suppose I could find another school, but I love the director of this school. I love the AMAZING teacher and the 4 year old teachers and the music teacher and the curriculum. I love the prices. I love that we already know other families at this school.
So, internets, what should I do? Hold him back? Let him have the not so great/kinda sucky teacher? Try another school? Help.
My beloved Hugmonkey is going to camp at our preschool this week. He will be going there in the fall and he's been dying to join his brother there for months. Now, Hugmonkey is more immature than Lovebug and Ironflower were at his age - he's the baby and it shows. However, he is perfectly happy to go to the childcare room at the Y and he loves to go to story time at the library. He's been dying to go to "skoo" for months. He should be fine for 2.5 hours a day.
And I think he would be, if he had the right teacher. Ironflower and Lovebug had an AMAZING teacher for their first 2 years of preschool and I had hoped Hugmonkey would have her too. But they have added an independent 2 year old class (in addition to the 2.5 year old class that Hugmonkey is signed up for) and the amazing teacher will be teaching that. So next year Hugmonkey could have an okay teacher or the not so great teacher he has for camp this week. He's really NOT enjoying camp.
Right now, he's scheduled for the 2.5 year old program, which consists of 2 mornings a week. He'll be 3 in November, but he's nowhere near potty trained and he has moments where he bites instead of talks. So pushing him ahead into the 3 year old class, where he could have the AMAZING teacher, doesn't seem like a good idea. The only other way for him to have the AMAZING teacher if for him to join the one morning a week 2 year old class. He'd be among the oldest in that class. Which I'm not sure is a bad thing. Or I keep him in the 2.5 year old program and request the okay teacher.
Thoughts?
I think that if he wasn't having such a hard time with camp, I wouldn't be so worried. I think that if I didn't know about how AMAZING this other teacher is and the wonders she did for Lovebug, I wouldn't be so worried. I think if it wasn't his very first school experience, I wouldn't be so worried. But I do know all of that stuff, so. . .I'm thinking about putting him in the 2 year old program.
Holding him back, in other words.
I suppose I could find another school, but I love the director of this school. I love the AMAZING teacher and the 4 year old teachers and the music teacher and the curriculum. I love the prices. I love that we already know other families at this school.
So, internets, what should I do? Hold him back? Let him have the not so great/kinda sucky teacher? Try another school? Help.
7/21/2007
It's All Down Hill From Here
We enrolled Ironflower in preschool yesterday. I did not even tear up. She has been telling random strangers that she's going to school soon and her joy is infectious. I may feel differently when I actually have to leave her there, of course, but for right now I can't wait for her to go. She will thrive and I will only have to manage Lovebug at the park on those days. It's fun for everybody.
The paperwork involved was not as much fun. I did not mind writing our address, phone numbers and emergency contacts over and over again. Goddess knows I made enough parents do it when I was a teacher. But the personal questionnaire was harder. Having been a teacher, I was terribly afraid of writing anything that could prejudice the teachers in any way.
When it asked if I had any concerns, I did not mention that I worry that Ironflower will throw temper tantrums that shake the school. When it asked how much TV she watches, I did not mention the days she watches 3 shows, I only mentioned the days she watches 1. When it asked if she would need help in the bathroom, I did not explain how she will first have to be convinced that she needs help.
In short, I lied. On her preschool forms. I keep telling myself that this does not mean I will become one of those parents who fakes the reading logs or does the homework, but I'm not convinced. This is a slippery slope and I'm not wearing hiking boots.
The paperwork involved was not as much fun. I did not mind writing our address, phone numbers and emergency contacts over and over again. Goddess knows I made enough parents do it when I was a teacher. But the personal questionnaire was harder. Having been a teacher, I was terribly afraid of writing anything that could prejudice the teachers in any way.
When it asked if I had any concerns, I did not mention that I worry that Ironflower will throw temper tantrums that shake the school. When it asked how much TV she watches, I did not mention the days she watches 3 shows, I only mentioned the days she watches 1. When it asked if she would need help in the bathroom, I did not explain how she will first have to be convinced that she needs help.
In short, I lied. On her preschool forms. I keep telling myself that this does not mean I will become one of those parents who fakes the reading logs or does the homework, but I'm not convinced. This is a slippery slope and I'm not wearing hiking boots.
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