Post 166
As we near the end of the school year everyone is starting to look ahead to the next grade. In the classroom, teachers are trying their best to make sure their students are prepared for the next level of academics. Students are starting to realize they won’t be with the same teacher in the Fall (which can be good or bad depending on the situation). But everybody is feeling the end of the school year looming.
That leads to a rather touchy topic…whom will your child have next year? Most schools do not allow families to request a particular teacher for their child. And most schools do their very best to place students in the best learning situation possible based on personality, academics, and class members. But suppose there is a teacher you know your little one would do well with or, even more important, one you know they wouldn’t. What should you do, if anything?
First of all, make sure your preference is based on more than gossip. If you have first hand. or even second hand knowledge about a particular teacher, that’s good. Be aware that sometimes an educator’s reputation is based more on politics than anything else. And I would trust your gut instinct. You know your child best. You know the environment they would thrive in. Case in point…I once had a conversation with a teacher who asked me, “Would you rather he learn to read or be published?” (This particular teacher was well known for publishing a compilation of student work at the end of the year.) Honestly, I knew it would be better for my little one to get a strong phonics foundation so I knew he’d be better placed in a more traditionally taught classroom. This teacher was fine, just not the best fit for my child. Usually, most grade levels work together to plan curriculum so I would personally base any preference on personalities and the atmosphere in the classroom. I would also suggest you get in touch with your child’s current teacher. They will have a very good idea of whom your child would thrive with.
Of course, if you really don’t know anything about next year’s teachers or you know your child will do well with any of them, let the school place your little one. As I mentioned, it is never done haphazardly. Students are assigned classes based on a great deal of thought and consideration. If you do have a preference, make a request. If you are not supposed to name names, describe the educator in way that is clear but is from the point of view of where/with whom your child would learn best. Some examples are..an encouraging atmosphere, a structured classroom, a bubbly (or quieter) personality, etc. Again, talking to your little one’s present teacher would be a good idea. Please, I am not advocating that you need to take over the school’s job. But if there is a teacher you really know your child would do well with, or more importantly, would not do well with, then make a polite, well thought out request. It actually is a help when placement meetings come around.
In the end, we all want the same thing, the best education for your child. And isn’t that what school is all about?
Take Care. ๐