school situation would love input esp from teachers
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**disneyknut** · 05-16-2006, 08:59 PM

Long background story.. please bear with me.....

It pays to work at the school your child attends!.. I get to hear the gossip first hand [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] One of the 3rd grade teachers retired this year, after taking a sabattical in mid year due to health reasons .. I ADORED this woman & my boys loved her to pieces & I would have loved Shelby to have her [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]
Anyway...
last week, our principal asked me & my co worker if we had a preference as to who Shelby & her grandaughter gets for 3rd grade teacher ( he labeled it as a 'perk' for working there) I told him I didn't have a preference . We asked him if the new 3rd grade position was filled & he told me that there was a major change as the now 2nd grade teacher Mrs B who Shelby has right now was moving to 3rd grade. I immediately changed my mind & told him I was 95% sure that I wanted Mrs B again but would talk this over with DH & let him know the next day..

Now, Mrs B is considered the 'mean' teacher in our school for her gruff voice & no nonsense attitude.. When Jamie was assigned to her class in 2nd grade he cried for days & begged me to get his room assignment changed.. I refused! Jim was PTA president at the time & we were there in mid August before school started to decorate the lobby & Mrs B sees Jamie & asks him to come into her room to help her set up & Jamie got to know the real Mrs B ( she's actually an old softie) from that day on Jamie loved her... she would go out of her way to help any kid that had a problem,she is there over 10 hours almost EVERY day.. yes, she was tough & didn't allow fooling around in her class ( she made 3 kids miss fun day, a big carnival type event because they threw rocks at cars on the road) but the kids learned from her.. Shelby was appx 2-3YO when Jamie was in Mrs B's class & due to us being so involved in PTA we were there a lot & Shelby was a wildcat & all of the teachers knew her & used to joke with me that she was going to be in the principals office daily.. Well, Shelby used to run into Mrs B's room at the end of the school day saying "Mrs B is MY teacher" she adored her & Mrs B got a kick out of a kid actually wanting her (she knows about the mean reputation)

Once Shelby got into our school she was a perfect angel & every teacher she has ever had has adored her.. This year when she got her 2nd grade room assignment she was overjoyed to be getting Mrs B & ran into her room & gave her a hug... Mrs B has had nothing but praise for Shelby & she is the room helper & Mrs B gives her lots of extra jobs ( going to the office etc)

Well, I spoke to Jim & he concurred that he too wanted Mrs B again.. & we asked Shelby when she got home & she was super excited..

I decided before I talked to the principal I would talk to Mrs B.. I told her that Jim & I & Shelby would all like for Shelby to have her for 3rd grade next year.. Mrs B got a huge grin & told me that she would LOVE to have Shelby another year.. I told our principal & I was happy..

meantime, my co-worker's grandaughter has had a totally different experience with Mrs B this year.. My co-workers daughter & GD live with co-worker & she's the only grandchild.. Shelby has gone to school with her since pre-school & they seem to have a problem with every teacher GD has had except one who coddled GD.. all of the other teachers have told her that GD has a learning disability & needs special help & co worker & daughter have taken offense.. Mrs B has been instrumental in getting GD tested etc.. but is very blunt in telling her they need to do this or that for GD..

Well, my co-worker decided she doesn't want Mrs B for a second time & the reason she gave is that her daughter thinks it's not good for a child to get 'used' to the same teacher for so long...(IMHO, I think it's because Mrs B doesn't "baby" GD) she also mentioned that the special teachers felt that wasn't good either..,.

Now, I'm wondering if it is a good idea for Shelby to have Mrs B again... After being in that school system for over 7 years I know all of the teachers pretty good & the other 3rd grade teacher is simply too much of a push over ( she's an older a grandma type.. Jim had her in 3rd grade many moons ago at the same school) she's a wonderfully nice lady but I think Shelby will get sooo much more from Mrs B.. learning wise..
Figured I'd get your opinion... do you think it's a smart idea having the same teacher 2 years in a row? I'd love to hear your opinions on this.. especially from you teachers out there!

TIA for reading this long(boring) diatribe...

piratelady · 05-16-2006, 09:13 PM

Ok, I am a teacher and have a child in the system. It is a hard call when you pick your child's teacher. I would go with my gut on this one. I say let her have Mrs. B. It sounds like she would be the best choice. Just as every teacher is different, each student is different. If Shelby has a good fit with this one, I wouldn't let someone else influence my decision. You are second guessing yourself. Hope it all works out well for you.
[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img]

Necie

Teresa · 05-16-2006, 11:10 PM

Our town schools have a "looping" system. Some teachers choose to teach one class 2 years in a row. They are assigned a class in say, 3rd grade. they get the exact same class (minus whichever kids moved, or parents did not want the child to "loop") the next year.
They seem to have some success. the kids already know the rules, the teacher knows the kids, and it doesn't take as much time to get settled into a routine.
Shelby won't be the only child to get "Mrs B." a second year in a row, and may have gotten her in the draw, anyway. Since you didn't go asking for this (something I HATE in parents!), I think you should go for it.

KrisLuvsDisney · 05-16-2006, 09:21 PM

I don't think there is anything wrong with it at all. I am a techer and taught in 6th last year and moved up to 7th this year. Therefore, some kids have had been in my class twice! I wouldn't worry about what your co-worker says at all. She has an opinion just like you do, but I wouldn't let her influence mine.

As long as your DD is successful and learns what she needs, I don't see a problem with it!

Best of luck in your decision! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/luck.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img]

Jennifer2003 · 05-16-2006, 09:34 PM

I'm not a teacher and I don't have kids, but based on what you wrote, I'd stick with Mrs. B

Good luck!
Jennifer

mestitch · 05-16-2006, 09:40 PM

There are a lot of schools out there where the teachers loop which means that they teach one grade one year and the next grade the next year. So like for me, I would teach 1st this year and 2nd next year...then go back to 1st and so on and so forth. I can see the benefit for the students b/c they are used to the routines, procedures, and expectations of their teacher. These things take the first half of the year to really establish [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/roflmao.gif[/img] I always feel like right as I get my kids in shape I have to give them to someone else. However, teachers might not feel this is a great thing [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] I know of a couple of mine if I had to have again I'd pull my hair out of my head one strand at a time!! But I do see how it can be beneficial and I would have no problem with a student doing that. I see so many parents who think that a teacher is inexperienced (even though she's been teaching for years and years and years) simply b/c the teacher wants the child retained or feels that there is a problem. We have parents that pull their child out and take them to another school, only to hear the exact same thing there. As a matter of fact they tried to put one in my class today that the mom pulled out of a class down the hall for this reason. She took him to another school, was told the same thing, and now she's back. She accused the experienced teacher at our school of being inexperienced and said that the teacher let her son eat lead [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img] Geez [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/foreheadslap.gif[/img] Luckily I have too many students so I couldn't have him. Darn [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/rofl2.gif[/img]

I think you'll be making a good decision on your child's behalf to choose the same teacher.

pparm · 05-16-2006, 09:54 PM

From what I've read about the situation, I'd stay with Mrs. B. They've got a good relationship already, and I'm sure it will stay that way. This is my 19th year teaching and from what you've said about your co-workers GD--I've seen things like that happen too often! The teachers who actually are bold enough to suggest a disability/problem are suddenly no good and don't know what they're talking about! There are also personality conflicts and all teachers and all students just don't always get along! Good luck with it!

Paula

boosmom96 · 05-16-2006, 10:01 PM

I would stay with Mrs. B. She sounds like a fabulous teacher. Shelby is lucky to have the chance to have such a great teacher 2 years in a row!

**WDWfan** · 05-17-2006, 12:11 AM

I'm not a teacher, but I do have experience with kids having the same teacher 2 years in a row. The school my kids went to has a very large multi-age program. They both were in multi-age 123 classes and had the same teacher for 3 years. Then they went on to a multiage 45. In the 12 combined years they were at the school I only worked with 4 different teachers (they had the same kindergarten teacher, the same 45 teacher and different 123 teachers).

I loved the continuity and felt they had excellent educational experiences. The teachers already knew them when the school year started. They knew their strengths, their weaknesses, what motivated them and how to get the most out of them. The kids knew the routines at the beginning of the year and there was very little adjustment time. It was also nice that as parents we built strong relationships with the teachers. At conferences we picked up right where we left off at the previous one. I had absolutely no complaints. I do have to say that all of their teachers were excellent and perfect for each of them.

It sounds like your child's teacher is also excellent and a good fit for her and your family. I say go for it. I think it will be a great experience.

graygables · 05-17-2006, 12:32 AM

I agree that keeping her with the same teacher is a good idea. I had the same teacher for 1st and 3rd grades (although in different schools) and it was nice b/c I already knew her and her expectations, she had a relationship w/ my parents, etc. It was also nice for HER b/c I was one less student she had to worry about since she knew what she was getting.

Stripes · 05-17-2006, 03:11 AM

I'm not a teacher but....you, DH, Shelby and the teacher all agree that this would be a good situation. A co-worker and her daughter, who won't listen to reason, are the last people that you should be listening to. Follow your instinct and do what you feel is best for Shelby.

**HiddenMickey** · 05-17-2006, 08:30 AM

My beloved 4th grade teacher moved up to the fifth grade with our class. I was SO happy. There is no reason not to have the same teacher twice in my opinion. Let Shelby have Mrs B again. It will be great!

GATechGal · 05-17-2006, 08:43 AM

Since you and Shelby have a good relationship with this teacher, I say stick with what works. Mrs. B already knows Shelby's strengths and weaknesses. The only time I think this wouldn't be beneficial is if somehow the kid and teacher had some sort of personality conflict.

MickeyMAC · 05-17-2006, 08:47 AM

Since I've taught a multiage first and second and love the concept of one teacher for two years I would definitely let my child loop. The amount of "down" time will be less since the students will already know the teacher and the teacher will know exactly what the students know it speeds up the learning. Mrs. B will know all your daughters strengths and weaknesses. You daughter will know exactly what Mrs. B expects of her students and you already have a great relationship with the teacher. I think you made the correct decision.

**disneyknut** · 05-17-2006, 09:18 AM

Thanks guys! As I said before I really do like Mrs B's style of teaching & know I made the right decision.. she is a strict discipliniarian ( which I love) but also makes learning fun.. Jamie still talks about feeling whale blubber when he was in her class ( it was actually crisco but 2nd grade thought it was cool) He also remembers the hand washing experiment she did with ultra violet rays... Jamie broke out in hives sooo bad.. turns out he's allergic to anti-bacterial ingredients ( my kid's allergic to clean!)He would break out in hives EVERY day for over a month at the sxact same time ( right after lunch) until we pinpointed the anti bacterial soap in the classroom .. To this day I tease Mrs B that he was really allergic to her!

As for my co-worker, you hit the nail on the head.. if GD isn't being coddled, the teacher is no good... I remember her saying the exact same thing she's saying about Mrs B about the kdg teacher.. because both have told them all of GD's faults..