The Make Or Break Teacher
Kyle is entering the 4th grade this year. His resume thus far includes 3 years of pre-school and 4 years of public school. This makes for a total of 7 teachers. We just received the name of his 4th grade teacher this week. The 8th teacher in providing his education.
Every single year I drill people I know about the upcoming teacher. How are they? How much homework do they give? Are they nurturing? How long have they been teaching? How old are they? It’s endless.
But what I am really wanting to know, without sounding like a 9 year old, myself?
ARE THEY MEAN??
Seriously! Are they mean?? I don’t mean “hit with a ruler” mean. ‘Cause really teachers can’t use those to spank anymore, anyway. Thankfully. (Right?) I just don’t want THIS to be the year that my son decides that he doesn’t like school. I don’t want this to be the year that he wakes up with stomach aches and looks to stay home as much as possible. I want him to always look forward to school and learning.
He’s one of the few kids I know that can’t wait to get to school. Always one of the first ones there. (Of course it doesn’t hurt that we live right across the street from it.) I’ve never even once had to say “You’re going to be late.”
So I’m sending out ESP vibes to YOU, Mrs. Older, major homework giving, ready to retire, not the person my son hoped to get, fourth grade teacher…….please don’t kill my son’s passion for school.
I don’t want to have to use the ruler on you…
PS. It’s pretty funny to watch your dog wag it’s tail in his sleep. Would love to know what he’s dreaming about….
I do the same thing and my oldest boy is only entering first grade. Unfortunately I received some not so nice reports on his teacher this year. First I heard she was was older, more experienced but more strict than the other first grade teacher. Then I heard she is tough on boys and tends to call their parents a lot. The last thing I heard was that she had a “bad year” a couple years ago with one of her classes. What the heck does that mean – a bad year? Oh boy – looks like a tough year for me and my boy!
.-= Christine @ Propeller Head Mom´s last blog ..Friday Photo Flashback: August 28, 1999 =-.
[Reply]
Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : August 28th, 2009 at 8:37 AM
That’s pretty much the same thing I heard about this teacher. My fingers are so crossed that she just gets a bad rap. Sounds like it’s going to be a tough year
[Reply]
oh the fears i have ahead of mine – mine are headed for 2nd year of preschool – i want to keep them there for 5 more years! hope he has a great year -and um, please pass on the secrets to a no caffeine morning! i’d sink!
.-= jennifer´s last blog .. =-.
[Reply]
Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : August 28th, 2009 at 5:24 PM
Caffeine for me = major migraine headaches so the choice is pretty simple.
Have you tried weaning off of it? My girlfriend did well by doing the half caf/half decaf thing and doing it that way.
[Reply]
I agree…it is a fear everyone of us mothers live with!
i had to laugh about dog wagging its tail in sleep!!!
.-= shraddha@theselfloveproject´s last blog ..Paayaliya =-.
[Reply]
Is it 4th grade that they get served up the ready to retire teachers? That happened to my son too and it was not a good year. At all. I couldn’t stand her and she did retire but it was 2 years after my son had to deal with her.
It was my son’s first year in that district and she made them write every little thing in class in manuscript. He wasn’t used to that so naturally his penmanship which was lovely when we moved here turned into chicken scratches to try to keep up. She made snarky, rude comments to me the entire year about that.
That’s just one thing…there are so much more.
I wish your son a happy year!
.-= blueviolet´s last blog ..Aloha Friday – Shoes or No Shoes =-.
[Reply]
Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : August 28th, 2009 at 5:29 PM
To me, a teacher like that can really change a childs outlook on school. SOmething like your what your son experienced with his handwriting can really effect him throughout his entire stay in the school system.
I wish that more teachers understood the long term effect they can have on their students. I could ramble on for hours about this.
I’ll shut up now
[Reply]
@trinmom on twitter.
said:
My son’s teacher 2 years ago was mean. But sneaky mean. She wasn’t overtly mean, but man the things that she would say to those kids when she didn’t realize she was being watched – heartbreaking. Just uncalled for mean stuff that broke their spirits. My son had stomach aches every single morning, til I eventually thought it was actually something medical. I’m all for “preserving the relationship” and “non-confrontation” but when I eventually realized what was going on, I had it out with that teacher, and followed up with a meeting with the principal. My son had a fine rest-of-year – but my middle one goes into her class this year.
Waiting to see how this goes.
.-= Mom of Three´s last blog ..Time to laugh =-.
[Reply]
Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : August 28th, 2009 at 5:30 PM
Good for you for confronting her with it. Like I said to blue violet, above, I wish more teachers understood the long term effect they can have on a student.
[Reply]
I’m the same way! Our son’s FIRST teacher in preschool was bad and so I learned my lesson quick on when to speak up!! Good luck this year- I’m sure it will be great!
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Minted =-.
[Reply]
I never thought of it like that, about how important a teacher is to a child’s love of learning. But you make sense. In my experience, fourth grade is a pretty hard year. If all goes wrong, you can use my mantra, “It’ll get better.” Middle school is better than elementry. High school is better than middle school. And college is way better than high school.
Good luck! To both of you!
.-= faemom´s last blog ..Where’s your hand? =-.
[Reply]
Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : August 30th, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Thank you Faemom!Having passions for things is important to me. Education can be such a great passion to have……and it upsets me that there are teachers that don’t get how important their job really is.
Inevitably my son will come across a teacher that doesn’t have a passion for teaching. Someone who sees her/his job as just a way to earn money. Period. When that happens I’m going to give that teacher a copy of this post and these comments. (I’m feeling brave)
[Reply]
I totally agree! The attitude of the teacher can really make a difference in the lives of kids. It makes me crazy when teachers don’t have patience or compassion.
I hope you son has a great year regardless!
.-= Beth´s last blog ..Does this mean I am losing it? =-.
[Reply]
Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : August 30th, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Thank you, Beth! The same to you!
[Reply]
@hrtsmakefamily on twitter.
said:
I’m so glad to read this. I know that I will be doing this as well. Thank you thank you for confirming that I should be doing it.
[Reply]
Nancy
@ifevolution on twitter.
Replied on : September 15th, 2009 at 10:55 PM
You’re welcome and nice to meet you
[Reply]
@hrtsmakefamily on twitter.
said:
Nancy, Its very nice to meet you as well. I am now following you. Tami
[Reply]
I hope to never have that teacher either. Aidan’s only in Kindergarten and I’ve ran into a couple administrators that shouldn’t be in education – mean doesn’t even cover it.
.-= Sissy´s last blog ..You Didn’t Think I Was On It, Did You? =-.
[Reply]
Leave your comment below.
Follow & Subscribe
Direct to Your Mailbox
My Favorite Gift!
GlassesUSA.com is the smartest way to buy glasses!
Take 15% off your next order of eyeglasses with the code: CancerAwareness.
And So They Say....
My Twitter Followers
Communities
Blogs I Enjoy
Apple iPhone 3G Just $99 from AT&T. Click for more information....
Most Commented
Grab (Watch Your Hands!!)