I see the same parents talking to the reception teacher (TAs) after the lessons regularly

[Octavia09]

I do not know what is the reason they talk to the teachers but judging by the kids I would not say this is because of their behaviour. I think they talk about the child's progress. I think this is pretty normal but I see them doing it quite often, at least once a week. Is it normal? May be I should start doing it as well or shall I just wait for the teachers to call me?

WHy are some people calling it pushy or anxious? I speak to DDs teacher regularly...she's teachng my child! I have questions...it's fine!

I also write in the book stoat....I don't need the attention of the teacher...but I sometimes have things to discuss.

I'm not saying that sometimes there aren't things to discuss , but it is noticeable that it is always the same parents who accost you in the playground.

It is good to use HRD for easily answered questions though.

(Sorry - still reeeling from the other thread!)

There are the parents who have genuine cause to talk to the teacher.

But there are those too who are a)pushy and/or b) have some sort of strange idea that they are the teacher's friend . I know a mum like this. Every teacher the dcs have, this woman is desperately trying to get to know her, trying to have little jokes, find something in common - one teacher she even invited to her dd's birthday party - and she came!! (Left after 5 minutes, though.)

This year's teacher ain't having it, however. The mum in question was practically shooed out of the classroom and has been told that if she wants to talk to the teacher she must make an appointment. She took the hint because everyone else can just buttonhole the teacher after school. I think the teacher had to take extreme action to fend her off.

Take it from me the less a teacher speaks to you after school the better your dc is doing .

I used to be a 'stop and drop' mum with ds1- by the time ds2 was in year 3 id become a 'hide round the side' mum for fear I would be hearing all the 'episodes' that day had brought .

As I was working in that school part time I couldnt avoid the staff room though so it always caught up with me.

gramercy, such people lick teacher's bottom and their kids learn how to do it as well. I have seen kids who get almost glued to the teacher which is quite insulting to other pupils. Clever teachers as this one show these kids and parents that this sort of behaviour is not acceptable.

Good you get those in every year. feel sorry for the teacher really.
Some will be tittering about why Joe did not eat all his sandwich, how many times had he had a wee.......
Ignore them, go and see teacher about wanting more reading etc

Ive noticed this too and have found it isnt generally "problems" being discussed but the parent discussing their intellectual ambitions for their child at great length and not with much interest in the teachers input (unless they are agreeing)

It has made it extremely hard to talk to a teacher on the very rare occasions I have needed to - in fact after loitering for 10 minutes last time I gave up completely and went home

Wimple - because sometimes it is. And sometimes it's at the expense of other people who have more important things to discuss with the teacher

nickschick - yes, I use to be a heart-sink mother for a while there. Teacher beckons you over - Oh God what has he done now. Thankfully short-lived, and it has made me a little bit biased towards a "no news is good news" philosphy

I understand that it is better not bother the teachers with anything that could not wait till the parents evening. I do, however, sometimes want to ask a teacher how is he doing but they look so busy as well as tired. Then there are other parents in the queue ahead of me. All these talks would finish by 4pm. I hope they tell me if my DS needs help with anything. I think it is also in their own interestes if the child is doing well, so I trust they will tell me if anything.

Unless you are an irritating eavesdropper, you aren't going to know what the other parents are talking about. To assume the conversations relate to academic achievement is to reflect your own anxieties onto other people. And you can't make an accurate personal assessment of the likelihood of another child having behavioural issues, emotional, social or physical issues, just by watching them being picked up by their parents every day!!!

If you want and feel the need to talk to the teacher, then do it, and pick up any subtle messages from the teacher him or herself as to whether your questions are being posed at an appropriate time, in an appropriate way - don't do it because you think you ought to in order to prove you are a good parent, or not do it because you are worried about sanctimonious old bags of other mothers being judgmental when they don't even know you.

pushy, hang-around-the-teacher mum in my DSs class is also an eavesdropper

My ds and some of his classmates couldn't get out the door the other day for pushymotherno1, the children are not allowed out unless they spot whoever is there to pick them up and the teacher has seen they are there. They ended up getting out about 10 mins late because she had decided to speak to the teacher and had all her attention and was blocking the doorway.

I sometimes talk to the parents of children in my class about things other than their children