Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Mums of reception children, do you chat to the teacher when you drop them off?

43 replies

SantasSandyBalls · 05/12/2005 13:55

... and if so, what about? Your children's progress, behaviour, the weather? Just curious because I see all these mum's chatting away to the teachers and the support staff every morning whilst I just bundle mine in and leave. Maybe I should be making more effort to find out how they are getting on, or maybe get to know the teachers better but I just assume they would come to me if all was not well.

I'd be interested in hearing your experiences/views.

OP posts:

mandieb · 06/12/2005 21:14

if you dont work it you dont have a clue whats going on

Blossomgoodwill · 06/12/2005 21:17

I think it is very unfair to do this unless absolutely necessary as teacher has to start the day. In ds's school it says on the classroom door that you must make an appointment if you need to see the teacher as they need to start the day and don't have time to deal with things. You can always write a letter if it's really urgent.

nooka · 06/12/2005 21:35

Ours just come out to lead in the queue after the bell goes. So enough time for a quick "I've forgotten his dinner money, or x will be picking him/her up". Actually now I have two (yr2/Reception), I can't really say anything to either teacher. In the afternoon it is a bit easier, but dd's teacher isn't one for hanging around, and ds usually comes charging out. I got more of a chance to chat when ds was in reception/yr1, but mostly because at least once or twice a term I would be late and have to go into the classroom to pick him up. Now it's the two of them they wait by the office, so I don't get to do that. But then I only do the pick up/drop off once a week, so not a great deal of opportunity there!

PrincessPlumPuddingHead · 06/12/2005 21:55

yes we have an exchange of pleasantries, info about what we were up to on the weekend, anything that needs to be passed on about ds (eg me saying he is really tired at the mo, loving his spellings or whatever and vice versa), comparison of bumps with the teaching assistant (she is due a week before me).

But ds gets dropped off at 8.25, lessons don't start until 8.45 and there is a teacher and assistant for 7 children so frankly they are happy to chat to all of us!

fennel · 07/12/2005 09:04

our teachers are happy to chat, we can drop them between 8.45 and 9 and that time is more or less for parents to chat to staff as well as to play with our children in the classroom. it's quite informal.

clearly that's different in other schools but our reception teachers don't give any impression of not wanting to chat. they like parental interest and support for what they're doing. and it means that parents get involved. DP did some rewiring for something, another father has set up football practice, etc.

Issymum · 07/12/2005 09:19

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request

Feistybird · 07/12/2005 09:22

I've only ever had a word with my DD's teacher as DD was having a bit of trouble with an older girl - and then I just asked how to make an appointment with her - she saw me that very day.

Other than that, I see it as my job to settle her in as quick as poss and get out of there so they can get on with the day.

coppertop · 07/12/2005 10:02

At ds1's school they have an open door policy for the 10 minutes before school officially starts. I usually only spoke to ds1's teacher (apart from hello/good morning as we arrived) if there was something either of us needed to be aware of. Ds1 is autistic so it would usually be about things like IEP meetings, if he was having trouble with the sesnory integration group, if he was unsettled that morning or if there were any specific issues that the teacher was having and wanted ideas about how to deal with them. Even so, I often went for weeks at a time without needing to speak to her.

motherinfurrierfestivehat · 07/12/2005 12:02

Hmm, well today I checked DD's costume for the School Show, requirements of (she's got to be a builder, ffs) and yesterday I admitted I'd been wondering for the past month where she'd got her very nice denim skirt.

ladymuck · 07/12/2005 12:18

We've had a meal out for the mums of the reception class and the teacher and assistant came too, which seemed to help fill any gaps. Obviously she has picked up bits of information about all of us, and at the start of term we had all dutifully filled in books giving details of fmaily members, regular family activities and anything we wanted them to know about. And we know all know a bit more about this "stranger" who spends as much time with our children as we do.

The teacher is happy to have some brief comments at the start of the day, but they're not necessarily "chatty" as such, though as a working mother she tends to sympathise with a lot of the frantic messages that need to be passed on.

Glitterygook · 07/12/2005 12:21

No I don't. Once so far I've spoken to her at the end of the day but I quickly asked if it was OK and then I waited until the last child had gone and I was brief (can't even remember what it's for now). I see a few Mums squeezing into the entrance trying to talk to her first thing and it's bloody ridiculous when 27 kids are bustling in with coats, hats, gloves, lunchboxes, book bags and envelopes with lunch money, trip money blah blah - I think she has enough to cope with!! (There are 2 classroom assistants too but she still can do without it!)

Glitterygook · 07/12/2005 12:25

OH, just read thread now! Have spoken to her in passing and a few times if I've been near the door she's told me something about ds1 that day - something funny he has said or done for example. I've been in to class to help too so that's a way of getting to know her.

gingernutlover · 07/12/2005 18:52

I teach reception (on mat leave at mo) and some days so many parents speak to me I end up standing out after school for up to half an hour. Most schools have apolicy of making an appointment for anything important (obviously not lost cardigans!) but anything other than this great if they just put a note in the book bag or reading journal - the teacher is more likely to remember this way :-)

Please note, it is the beain of techers lives to have nasty comments about library books, reading scheme books in the book bag or in person - I sometimes think they really believe their child is the only one in the class

Ok, moan over, but seriously I would rather parents came and spoke about any concerns or even little problems over behaviour, developemnt settling in etc, but mainly they are more interested in what level johnny is on in reading and "why isn't he on the same level and Jane, beecause he is really much cleverer you know!" and why hasn't his book been changed three times this week in addition to the fifty christmas rehersals, class party and chruch service? Hmmmm, I wonder?

fennel · 08/12/2005 11:10

This morning, after reading this thread, I took dd2 to reception and carefully DIDN'T speak to the teacher. but the teacher then sought me out to ask about my sister's pregnancy (she's 11 days overdue and teacher is interested), my dd2's school play performance, etc.

it's a friendly school. sometimes a bit too friendly, apparently the headmaster is shagging one of the mothers). am surprised really at hearing about all the other schools where people don't chat.

Mog · 09/12/2005 15:03

Gingernut - I get annoyed that teachers get annoyed with parents asking about reading. If we don't know where books and levels come in the grand scheme of things, it makes it very difficult for us at home to help the teacher by being involved with reading. And if the books haven't been changed because of other school activities and this is happening on a regular basis, then it should be questioned. It's the parents who never challenge you that are more of a concern IMO.

Blandmum · 09/12/2005 15:09

I think it must be very difficult to chat to parents in the morning, when they have to sort out materials etc for the first lesson of the day.

I teach in secondary and I know that the first 10 minutes of the day are frantic. Often I have to deal with information that I have just been given in briefing, sorting work for a child who is sick, separating children who have a history of not getting on etc. If you don't teach I don't think you can fully comprhend how busy those first few minutes of the day can be.....I know that I didn't before I became a teacher. And I can't get into work any earlies as I have my own children to thing of, and drop are pre school creche. I have worked in may different jobs and non of them was as frantic as the first 10 minutes of my days as a teacher

I would fully agree that it is most beneficial for parent to have an active dialogue with the teacher. But I don't think that it is very paractical to have a chat in the morning, when the por teacher is trying to sort 30 bits of work, boot up the computer, and sort of notes from parents etc

TherewasnoMOOMattheINn · 09/12/2005 15:25

mog - point taken, but is first thing in the morning really the time to discuss this? i challenge any parent who thinks teachers are being unreasonable about this to remember what its like trying to do something with your dd or ds asking you questions, interrupting and trying to get your attention throughout. now times it by 10 or 15 or 20 and ask yourself if you'd have any hair left at the end of the day! i'm a 2ndary teacher and i thank the lord i don't have this to contend with. i think infant/primary teachers should have sainthoods.

Blandmum · 09/12/2005 15:29

Moomin, totaly agree with you!

I am a Y7 form tutor. Bless them, they are very nice but they all want to tell me something first thing, not realising that I'm about to make an announcement that will answer all their questions anyway!

They drive me mildly frantic. Fully agree that primary teachers can make Mother Thersa look tetechy

Flip

1 2