Posted by teacher on
December 19, 2009
Commenting on the recent killing of Ujjain-based professor Harbhajan Singh Sabharwal, Dr. Singh said he was pained when he heard of his death. “I am also pained by incidents of disrespectful behaviour by students and some anti-social elements who pretend to be students. I urge every parent in our country to teach their children the value of the idea of `Acharya Devo Bhava.’ This year, on Teachers Day, I want every child, every student, every parent, every citizen to chant those ancient words of wisdom and pledge that we will never show disrespect to our teachers.”
Of the view that India needs good, hard-working, honest and caring teachers, Dr. Singh said teachers should be given a status that recognises their great contribution to society and to the processes of nation-building. Describing education as a major instrument for economic and social mobility, he said, “It is also important that we prevent alienation of our youth belonging to the disadvantaged groups.”
Posted by teacher on
December 4, 2009
1. Don’t be a stranger!
Talk to your child’s teacher early and often. Back-to-school night shouldn’t be the only time you connect, but it’s a great time to introduce yourself and find out the best way to contact her in the future. Then stay in touch with updates on how things are going at home, questions about your child and his work, or to schedule conferences to head off trouble (should you worry about that string of C’s?). Most teachers have e-mail at school, which is a great way to check in.
2. Learning doesn’t stop at 3:15.
You can help the teacher do a better job by encouraging your child to show you something he’s working on at school, suggests Ron Martucci, who teaches fourth grade in Pelham, New York. It doesn’t have to be a big deal: “Ask him to demonstrate how he does long division or to read his book report out loud,” says Martucci. “Every time your child gets a chance to show off what he knows, it builds confidence.”
3. Keep your child organized.
That means helping teachers with the paper chase. “I spend way too much time tracking down tests or forms I’ve sent home for a parent’s signature,” says Judy Powell, a fifth-grade teacher from Richmond, Virginia. Usually, the missing items are crumpled up in the bottom of the kid’s backpack, along with lunch leftovers and other clutter. Powell’s solution: Have your child empty his backpack every day as part of a regular after-school routine. Set up a special place, such as a box in the kitchen, where he can put the day’s papers, and provide another spot, such as a desk drawer, for old assignments that you want to save. A bright-colored folder is a good idea, too, for toting homework — and signed papers — to and from school. And about those supplies: Keep plenty on hand. “Kids run out of pencils and paper, and it’ll be three weeks before they’ll remember to tell you,” says Powell.
4. Let your child make mistakes.
Don’t forget, he’s learning. Teachers don’t want perfect students, they want students who try hard. “Sometimes parents get caught up in thinking every assignment has to be done exactly right, and they put too much pressure on their child,” says Brian Freeman, a second-grade teacher from Red Spring, North Carolina. “But it’s OK for kids to get some problems wrong. It’s important for us to see what students don’t know, so we can go over the material again.”
Is your child struggling with an assignment? Help him brainstorm possible solutions. If he’s still stuck, resist the temptation to write a note. Instead, encourage your child to take charge by asking the teacher for help the next day.
Hands off bigger assignments, too, says Marty Kaminsky, a fourth-grade teacher in Ithaca, New York. “I assigned a project on inventors, and several kids brought in amazingly detailed reports with slide-shows. They looked great, but they clearly weren’t the work of a nine-year-old,” he says. “I was much happier with the posters with the pictures glued on crooked, because I knew those children did the work themselves. What matters isn’t the final result; it’s letting a child have ownership of the project.”
5. If the teacher deserves a good grade, give her one.
Teaching isn’t easy, and there are days when a kid has a tantrum, or a teacher feels like crying because a parent speaks to her harshly. So why not e-mail or call when your child enjoys a class event or says something nice about the instructor? And if you feel the teacher is doing a good job, let the principal know. Volunteering is another way to demonstrate your enthusiasm and support, even if you only have time to help out once a year. It shows your child — and his teacher — that you really care about his education.
6. Stay involved — even when you don’t know the material.
You can provide moral support and be your child’s cheerleader no matter how well (or poorly) you did in a certain subject. “Parents tell me they didn’t take trigonometry or flunked chemistry, so how can they check the homework?” says Tim Devine, a high school social science teacher in Chicago. “But we don’t expect you to be an expert on every subject.” Just knowing a parent is paying attention can be very motivating for a student.
7. The teacher’s on your side — give her the benefit of the doubt.
Rachel James, a third-grade teacher in Reson, Florida, was having a terrible time with one of her students. For days, the boy had been disruptive, rolling his eyes and sighing dramatically whenever anyone spoke to him. Naturally, she had to reprimand him. “His mom called and accused me of picking on her son,” says James. “When I told her what was going on, she was shocked.” After the mom had calmed down, they worked out some ways to change the boy’s behavior. “A lot of parents go into attack mode when their child complains about a teacher,” says James. “Or they take the problem to the principal, so the teacher feels blindsided. But parents need to get all the facts before they react.”
Posted by teacher on
December 3, 2009
First of all, she is not a monster. She is simply a “bad fit” with your child. This is the acceptable jargon at most schools, where your avenues for conflict resolution are few: the teacher and the principal. However, there are several strategies that can help you improve an unhappy situation. One cardinal rule is that the sooner you voice your concern, the more likely it is that your child can be moved to a different classroom. The first two weeks of the school year are usually considered to be flexible; after that, the principal will be less willing to accommodate you. If your child seems extremely distressed from the get-go (and doesn’t make a habit of complaining about her new teacher every year), it may be shrewd to ask for a change right away.
If the problems don’t bubble to the surface until later in the semester, try your best to work things out with the teacher and your child before speaking to the principal. Says Marna Biederman, “When [parents] go to the head of the school without talking to you, you just feel like killing them.” There isn’t much the principal can do anyway, aside from moving your child to another class. She certainly can’t change whatever it is that’s not working between your child and the teacher; only the teacher (and your child) can do that. Before you meet with the teacher, talk with other parents whose children had her in previous years. They might be able to shed some light on her personality and give you suggestions about how best to deal with her. If your attempts fail, you can always insist that your child be moved after the winter break. Taking a child out of a class in the middle of the semester should be a last resort.
Posted by teacher on
December 3, 2009
Most teachers advise parents to write down the questions they want to ask at the conference. The following list covers most of the basics you will need to know about your child’s development.
* Is my child performing at grade level?
* Does she pay attention in class?
* What part of the curriculum does my child like most? Least?
* Does my child participate in class discussions?
* Does she attend to task? (”Attend to task” means to work on class assignments steadily without getting distracted or giving up.)
* Have you noticed any special behavior problems?
* How does my child get along with the other children in class?
* Does my child express herself artistically? Does she enjoy drawing, painting, dance, or music?
* Is there anything I can do to help my child do better?
