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You are here: Experts > Parenting/Family > Special Education > Teaching Advice > question
Expert: Patricia Ireland-Williams
Date: 5/3/2008
Subject: question
Question
Hello,
I have a very shy and timid daughter. She came out of her shell a bit in kindergarten this year because she got lucky and had a very loving and soft spoken teacher. There are some first grade teachers that I feel she would do best with. Some of the other ones yell at the kids constantly and I know she would be fearful and clam back up again. Even though I have heard the principal claims she does not honor teacher requests, I find it funny that a large group of women seem to get the "favorite teacher" ever single year for their children. That is not a coincidence. I know the principal gets a ton of letters from parents each year regarding teacher requests. I feel my concerns are valid and I plan to write a letter as well. But how do I make my letter stand out in the crowd? Just listing the teacher qualities I am looking for may not work because she still may not choose someone I feel is best suited. I do volunteer at the school alot but the principal still does not know me by name. Any ideas?
Secondly, I am the room mom and I collected various gift cards from the parents for a teacher appriciation gift. Have yoou seen any creative and pretty (but inexpensive) ways to assemble the cards to give to the teacher? I thought of a gift card bouquet but flowers are really expensive, too! THANKS!
Answer
Melanie,
I would encourage you to meet the Principal. It is amazing that you are a room mom and a volunteer and still have not come into contact with him/her to the extent that you are not recognized by name. You need to change that a.s.a.p.
I often ignored parent requests simply because I did not make the classlists........my teachers did. I believe that this is common practice so if I were you, I would start my "case" with the current kindergarten teachers and share with them your desire. Teachers take into many things when making these lists: student performance, whether a child is an independent learner, personality and leadership skills, etc. etc. Any requests I did receive, I passed on to the teachers and many times they accommodated them.
I will point out that your child needs to learn to adapt to all styles of teaching and all kinds of different personalities........but I certainly agree that no child should have to be in a classroom with a teacher who yells...........I certainly hope that the Principal knows about this.
In terms of the "large group" who get their child into favorite teachers classrooms, they are obviously talking to someone......I'll bet it is the teachers...........it usually works that way. If indeed the Principal makes the list, you need to talk to him/her and voice your concern.
Best wishes on this........
In terms of a cute way to deal with gift cards, I would go to a thrift store and buy a cute lunch box then put each giftcard in a sandwich bag and tie a ribbon around each one...........you also could buy a small artificial tree and attach the cards with colorful clothes pins. I have also seen a decorated sun hat laid upside down containing all of the cards........
Have fun! What a nice thing to do to wish a teacher a happy vacation!
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