We are told that we can't request the teacher we want for our elementary kids but it's amazing what a tall Vanilla Frap from Starbucks will get ya !! Okay, I too have been at our school for quite a few years and there was oe year I called the office to check on a few things in regards to PTO biz and conversation turned to who was my daughter's teacher for 6th grade. Good thing I had called because not only couldn't they find her file but she had not been placed in anyone's class! School started in three weeks! Change in office staff was to blame but I later regret that year even more because the teacher she was placed with was such a terrible fit, so now I make sure Registar Office know I am just being a polite pain in the [img]smile.gif[/img] making sure everyone has a teacher and I know who they will have. Otherwise if you are a "normal" parent you find out about two weeks before school starts during registration.
SHEW, anxiety is gone, we LOVE our new teacher and we got to go to the new room on the last day of school. Their new teachers came to each class and called out their new students and took them to the new rooms. We are very pleased! It would have been fine no matter who it was, but i'm relieved that it's one that we have experience with. Now, moving on to next years' PTO plans........my husband teasingly said,"school's over, let it go." YEAH RIGHT!
Our elementary schools have an unwritten policy allowing parents (usually only those in the know) to request specific teachers. Because my son is special needs; his current teacher, special ed teacher, principal and I usually decide at his IEP who his next teacher will be. I have no problems specifying any particular teacher I don't want him to have.
We have a new principal this year and she is all about parental involvement. She would never turn down any requests made, if within her power. Class lists are already done for this year but parents aren't notified until a general mailing goes out from our school district around the first week of August. Due to retirements, teachers leaving, or reassignments, it wouldn't be possible to let parents know until all positions are filled.
I do love the idea of current teachers taking the students to their new classes before the end of the current school year. But it wouldn't be feasible here because we never know year to year who will be teaching what.
Like so many of you I have been in the school almost daily for years so I feel I have been given preferential treatment regarding class assignments. Even though that will slack off I think it will still be done- I was very adamant about not getting a certain teacher this past year and we didnt!! (I even told my daughter we needed to see how much we needed to pay the teacher we did want- then she asked her!! LOL)
We usually find out abouta few days to a week before school starts. I so wanted to do a back to school social where we could eat, mingle and introduce the kids to their teacher/classroom- the principal said no way as they dont know until the last minute. We do have to add a teacher this year to the 4th grade and I'm a little apprehensive as I dont know what/who to expect. Hopefully it will work out fine.
Sorry to hijack but: I can say that after looking at my daughters papers recently and finding mistakes the teacher did not mark- is she being too easy on her or all the kids in her class? I just pray that she is ready for the next grade. Most of it was incorrect spelling or use of a word. (it could be me being anal or OCD but still...) I'm going to try to work on this myself over the summer just in case. She's been tested for gifted but still I have to wonder. Guess I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I'm not sure about our request policy, but at my last teacher conference I asked my childs teacher who she thinks would be the best teacher next year? I figured she knew my child, and she knew the other teachers and maybe some of their styles.
She said who she recommended and why, and that she will recommend that my child have that teacher.
My daugther is quite head strong, smart, and if given an inch, will trade it for a mile, a coloring book and a snack. She wouldn't do good with a lovey, softy kinda teacher, she needs someone stern with rules.
