*This month, I am choosing a song as my title for every post and curating a playlist. Some days are easier than others to choose a song!
Parents and teachers have vested interests in children's success. As a teacher and as a parent, I understand that these relationships can sometimes be challenging. In some cases, I have parents messaging me every day, asking many questions. These messages can come through in the late afternoon, at night and on the weekend. As a parent, I try to be respectful of my children's teachers' time and be mindful of when I'm contacting them. Not everyone has this perspective. Other parents I try to reach and find disconnected numbers, unresponsive to emails, papers stuffed in unchecked folders. There doesn't always seem to be the right balance between overcontact and no contact. As a parent, who happens to be a teacher, there are values that are very important to me when it comes to my own children's teachers. Later today, I will meet with my children's principal to talk a bit about those values and what I hope for my daughter as she enters 4th grade. My son will be off to middle school next year, and I know he will have several teachers and they will have many more students than in elementary school. I still hope he has teachers that do many of these things as well: -A teacher who communicates often with parents via newsletters, apps like REMIND, sending tests and work home, or phone calls. -A teacher with a strong love of literacy and writing who will nurture Megan’s love of writing. -A teacher who can help Megan have more confidence and grow in her mathematical skills. -A teacher who prioritizes relationships and is willing to try different approaches to help a child be successful -A teacher who makes learning feel joyful and worthwhile -A teacher who reads aloud often to the class These values I have for a teacher are also the ones I try to live up to in my own classroom. I create weekly newsletters for the parents and have an app where they can message me with questions and concerns. I send home assessments and work on a fairly regular basis. I look for moments of joy and fun in the day. Reading aloud is my favorite and I allow opportunities for free writing, such as blogging. There is definitely room for growth in everything I do as a teacher, but I do strive to meet these expectations. What are your values for yourself as a teacher? What would you want for your own children or children in your life (nieces or nephews, friends, grandchildren)? How do you connect with parents in productive ways?
4 Comments
Melanie C Meehan
3/9/2022 03:21:45 am
Yes, there are many different levels of involvement, and I do love how you boil down to what you really value in a teacher for your child.
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Melanie C Meehan
3/9/2022 03:22:41 am
Scratch that question! It's the title. I just don't know that one!
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It can be so challenging to be a parent and then also a parent who is a teacher. As I read your list, I wished that those points were non-negotiables. But, we all know they aren't. Also, I don't know how I missed your title/song experiment from previous posts! What fun!
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3/9/2022 07:11:25 pm
I think being both a parent and a teacher(and I've taught my own children in my classroom) gives you valuable perspective from both sides of the coin. I have more compassion for my children's teachers and know that for the most part, they are trying their best. I also know that parents, too, are trying their best and at times, struggle with not knowing how to help their child.
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AuthorKathleen Neagle Sokolowski Archives
February 2024
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