How often do you reach out to teachers?

[cjcouple]

Do you reach out before parent conferences, or email to check in after the start of the year? 

With all of Brayden SM issues over the past, I sometimes feel like I am a first time mom with my youngest.  With B I am in touch with his teacher immediately and in constant contact throughout the year. And he has needed a lot of parent support. in 3rd that included extra homework with writing prompts, fluency, spelling and times tables. He has just always struggled more to stay afloat.    

With Lucas, (8 and in 3rd now) he is so independent.  His homework is done before I even get home. I literally do nothing except, clean out his folder every day and glance at his homework to make sure it is complete, and sign his agenda.  Last night his agenda said study for math test.  I asked what the test was. "I dont know, just what we learned. Multiplication and division."  So I started quizzing him on lower numbers.  He knew them all. I was just like "Ok, good job" and signed his agenda.   I actually feel like I am neglecting him at times because I really don't do anything.

I did email (this is 4th week of school) just to see how he is because I feel less connected and guilty for not being as involved. His work has been fine coming home and no notes have been in his agenda.

[lexus]

Checking in with the teacher sounds reasonable. If nothing else, it will help her match a name and a face and parent teacher conferences and back to school night. As long as you aren't emailing daily (or heck even weekly) I think you are fine. I have already emailed a few times- once regarding something my dd thought she heard the teacher say about God's feelings and once about a bus issue I mentioned before.

[cjcouple]

lexus - thanks. Definitely not weekly...lol.

I am thrilled Luke is doing so well but if he has an issue I want the teacher to feel comfortable reaching out. I also don't want to be portrayed as an uninvolved parent. It's just different.

[lexus]

I definitely can see how you need two different approaches but it doesn't sound like his needs are being neglected. Does he seem bothered or notice the difference? If not, I think you are doing are great job meeting their needs.

[abs]

I am in touch with DD's teacher weekly BUT I am room mom. All of our emails are about what she needs in regards to the class (parent reader, help folding/tearing pages/stapling pages/etc.).

I have not sent any emails regarding DD yet this year. Thus far there has been no need to. Last year when she was in Kinder I think sent maybe 5 emails not related to room parent duties.

[cjcouple]

(pdq) I just got a great reply.

Good morning!
Lucas is off to a really good start this year. He is a VERY likeable student, and clearly wants to do well in school. I’ve noticed that his biggest challenge is organization (so I’ve been helping him with that). At the end of each day, the entire class is responsible for making sure their desk is clean and ready for learning the next day. I had students “apply” for the desk checker job and currently have a student who has taken over my role to inspect desks. It pays one star student each day and the children can cash them in for classroom rewards. Lucas currently has earned 16 star student tickets thus far for his individual class performance. He’s also been keeping the boys restroom clean (all on his own doing) and has picked up paper towels off the floor that didn’t make their into the trash can. Lucas was one of 4 students who applied for a class job; telling me why he would be a good choice for desk checker or agenda checker. I love his growth mindset, as this was an optional task.

Lucas is keeping up with classroom tasks and works to the best of his ability. He participates regularly.

I appreciate your checking in and saw that you connected to (their clasroom APP)! The students are taking their first math test today, so you should see that come home later in the week. Have a great day.

[cjcouple]

Luke hasnt told me any of this stuff. Little stinker. I ask all the time about what he did in school and what he learned. If any kids said anything funny, if anything good happened.

::::crickets:::::

[court26]

I for sure go through this with my kids! Owen has life-threatening food allergies, environmental allergies and asthma. I will always be in touch with his teachers and the school before school starts or as soon as it starts if the nurse has it under control. This year he has a teacher who lives in my neighborhood and we were fb friends before I quit, etc. She contacted me the week before school to get info and reminders of how things went last year. Sending him to school in kindergarten (and preschool) was one of the hardest/scariest things I have done and I worried for years. Mia is a piece of cake in comparison! I was trying to come up with a reason to email her teacher (who Owen had, so she does know me a little) and I am at a loss for something! I think I will be like you and check in next week! What a great reply you got!

[court26]

As a teacher, I am happy when parents touch base here and there. I use the ClassDojo app and spent an hour Friday when I got home just giving parents some feedback....I was bummed that only a few replied to me. I also have some who message me nightly with things that either don't make sense or don't really need to be discussed. All types of parents out there! LOL

[Deleted]

Sounds like both boys are doing well!

This year is so bizarre to me...them being in K...and getting very little communication. I mean, we get the weekly class update/newsletter email..but nothing specific to my kids which i guess means things are going ok??? Its weird to get used to having them gone all day and not really hearing anything from the teaches!