Question for teachers about children showing work they did at home (not homework)

[Thisismynewname123]

My daughter loves powerpoint! When she finds a school topic interesting, she spends her time at home making a presentation about the topic, which she then asks me to email to the teacher. From a teacher's point of view, how do you feel about this? Is it annoying to have to review a homework when no homework was set? Do you ignore it? Or do you get satisfaction out of knowing that a child was inspired to do their own research/work at home?

[9toenails]

[Retired school teacher here]

I'd email the teacher telling her not to spend any time looking over the child's work, and that you really, genuinely, expect her not to do so. Then, if she wanted to, she could look at it, but she'd know you weren't expecting her to and would feel less guilty about not finding the time.

Why this? Think of how many children this teacher teaches. Think of the time you spend with your child, and how long it would take you to look over your child's powerpoint presentations and engage with your child about it. Multiply that time by the number of children the teacher teaches and add about sixty hours. Is the result at all a possible working week?

By all means encourage your child to do things like this, and by all means let the teacher know the child is doing it. The teacher will be pleased, of course. But please be realistic about how many hours there are in a day - even a teacher's day.

[user789653241]

Not a teacher. Sometimes my ds makes something on computer and of course he wants to share it at school. I will simply print it out, and let my ds take it school. Sometimes he gets house points. Sometimes his work will be hanged on the wall. Sometimes teacher encourage him to share it with class.
E-mailing the teacher would be too much, imo, since it's difficult for the teacher to just leave it.

[Thisismynewname123]

Thank you. That's my point really. I don't expect the teacher to look at work she didn't ask for when they are so busy. But I don't want to discourage my child from being interested, which she then wants to pass onto the teacher. She would be so disheartened by me saying that I won't send it, or by me sending it and then it not being acknowledged by the teacher, but on the other hand, I really do understand that the teacher doesn't want to waste her time on this kind of thing, and I feel a bit embarrassed as if she will think I expect her to spend her time on my daughter only (when I really don't!)

[ProfessorCat]

I'm a teacher and if I'd inspired a child enough that they went home and did this, I'd ensure I took the time to look at and acknowledge it. I'd probably even show it in class.

[MrsKCastle]

I have often had children do extra at home. It's lovely to see and I do try to do a quick show to the class and give lots of praise. I'll give a sticker, but certainly won't have time to look at or mark it in any depth. I'd always try and encourage it though.

[Iloveanimals]

I'd love it. It's what makes teaching worthwhile.

[Ttbb]

I don't understand why it has to go to the teacher-can't you review the work yourself?

[InfiniteSheldon]

This what Grandparents were invented for

[NoSquirrels]

Ask the teacher?

Tell them what you've said here & ask what's best - could you agree to put it on memory stick for DC to take in at the end of a project, for instance?

[catkind]

YY ask the teacher what they prefer. Maybe they could have some kind of show and tell session? Then your DD could have her turn to show her projects but would be able to understand that it's not necessarily her turn every week.

[JennyBlueWren]

I had a boy do that this week. He just said "when can I show my powerpoint?". I thought it must be something to do with our homework but no it was about his hobby. I said he could show it if I found the time as I was wanting to boost his esteem in the class and I'm glad he did as it was really well done and a fantastic speech too. I was a bit worried it would turn into the P1's "show and tell".

I would recommend your child speak to the teacher and ask if there would be time (perhaps with an expected time frame). Don't expect to be able to do it the same day. If it was on topic then I'd be absolutely thrilled.

I have had children wanting to show me stories they've written at home and I'm always happy to read it (when I can find the time) but make it clear not to expect me to mark it.

[cansu]

I think it depends on how many she is doing tbh. If she is doing several a week or a very long one each week, it is probably a bit too much. I would maybe encourage her to share them with other people - grandparents etc and then every so often choose her favourite to talk about with the teacher. You could print it off for her as mini slides to take in to show her. Like many teachers I am happy to see children's stories etc but I am always clear that I will take it and look at it later and that I won't be marking it as such. Whilst many people would say it doesn't take two minutes, the teacher will have many other children to deal with at break, lunch and even at registrations.

[Schoolgatehorrors2017]

As a teacher I'd say printing it out is preferable, then no reply required and your child has the opportunity to share as and when. Parents emailing teachers can be incredibly time consuming, and in my mind common courtesy dictates that a reply is required.