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Original poster

Do your kids' teachers have individual email addresses?

130 replies

zajzaj · 11/10/2013 13:13

Are you able to contact your kids' teachers by email?

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vikinglights · 13/10/2013 09:36

Yes, and her mobile number, and she said she's more than happy to send a text to say dd1 has arrived at school when she starts walking to school alone. The joys of only six kids in a class!

NewNameforNewTerm · 13/10/2013 09:37

I must say I am amazed at either how different PSBD's school must be or how she sees it, and how parents perceive the school day is.

ParkerTheThief · 13/10/2013 09:38

NewName, on your IWB remote there will be a button called freeze.
Press this and it will freeze the display so you can use the laptop for other things.
I don't use it for email, but it's useful to set up a new screen in a lesson without removing something the pupils are currently using.

NewNameforNewTerm · 13/10/2013 09:43

Yes, I know that. I use it every day so the children can continue the problem solving activity I have on the board while I do the register.

What I was saying is what bad practice it is to be checking emails while I should be teaching.

BucketArse · 13/10/2013 09:46

It's difficult for people who haven't taught to understand just how bloody circumscribed your time is in school. Your every minute is spoken for. And if you're in class, you're on stage - would you expect an actor to sit down in the middle of a performance and check her emails? Or in between scenes? Teachers aren't just whinging when they say they literally cannot sit down, go to the loo, get a drink during the working day. Office workers, no matter how busy, can generally do all three without too much difficulty. I remember the horror of teaching with my legs crossed because I hadn't had time to change my tampon in between lessons. That's the reality of teaching and parents who bitch and moan about their DC's teachers not being available enough would do well to remember it.

Arisbottle · 13/10/2013 09:47

Yet another thread which makes me sigh with relief at not becoming a primary school teacher.

I teach secondary and email is but far the easiest and most common way to communicate with us. I can be doing something else and reading emails, much easier than a phonecall.

I can understand why primary teachers can't answer emails during contact time, but surely they could at the end of the school day.

ParkerTheThief · 13/10/2013 09:50

Sorry newname, I misread your quote from mummytime

NewNameforNewTerm · 13/10/2013 09:50

Monday I have staff meeting until 5.30pm
Tuesday I run an after school club until 4.45pm, so by the time I return from the gym it is about 5.30pm
Wednesday I have SLT meeting until sometimes 7pm
Thursday I meet and mentor an NQT
Friday ....

NewNameforNewTerm · 13/10/2013 09:51

That's OK Parker, did wonder! Smile

spanieleyes · 13/10/2013 09:52

I suppose I could but straight after school I have clubs 2 times a week, staff meeting a third, NQT meeting on a fourth ( I'm a mentor for our NQT) and usually a PE fixture on the last!

Arisbottle · 13/10/2013 09:56

I am not criticizing, I am always saying that primary teaching sounds like utter hell on earth and much harder than secondary.

Could meetings not start 15 mins after the end of the school day to give quick email check time?

Is there an equal share of responsibility at your school, it sounds like one person taking on am awful lot.

ParkerTheThief · 13/10/2013 10:02

Our meetings start fifteen minutes after the end if the school day. Unfortunately very often some pupils are collected fourteen minutes after the end of the school day!

I often manage to check my email atbbreaktimes when I am not on duty because I can do it on my iPad so it's quick and easy. Prior to being issued an. Ipad I didn't because it was too time consuming.

spanieleyes · 13/10/2013 10:04

There are 4 teachers in my school ( one of whom is an NQT) so there is a lot to share out!

Arisbottle · 13/10/2013 10:06

I do think primary teachers deserve to be paid more than secondary, although no money could tempt me to do your job . It really worries me how weary, stressed and overworked most primary teachers tend to be.

NewNameforNewTerm · 13/10/2013 10:07

We do schedule meetings to start half an hour after school, but when I take children into the playground at the end of the day it always takes at least 20 mins as parents want to speak to you, children are late being collected, you have to then take the group that are in our after school club across to that building. I then return to my room to clear up it up or the cleaners refuse to clean! We are training our children to do it but I can put things into their hand as we go out the door and still come back into the classroom to find pictures done at wet play, several bookbags, a couple of lunchbox and numerous water bottles left behind! PE bags are often on the floor all over the place as the children have knocked it off to find their coat and not picked it up and it has been accidentally kicked under a table by another child. (Children so seem far worse at organising themselves, taking responsibility for their belongings and expecting me to carry their things in recent years!). Before you ask, yes I am working on it, but then I can't afford the time to stop lessons at least half an hour before end of school every day to make time for the children to leave the classroom immaculate. I then stack the chairs and make sure every surface is clear or they don't get washed. (Cleaning contract has very limited hours to do whole school and stipulates they haven't time to clear and tidy as well)

spanieleyes · 13/10/2013 10:12

And I think NewName must work in my school as we have similar problems!

Ihatespiders · 13/10/2013 10:30

Second - e-mails can be read on (and indeed pings) teachers phones - so in fact it is = to a tweet.

My phone is a) ancient. It cannot receive e-mails! It does calls and texts only.
b) off during school hours. Non-negotiable.
c) MINE ... not school property, so why should anyone presume that they can use it for my profession?

Love newname's description of the end of the day. Spot on.

And bucket ... I have SO been there with the tampon issue. Break duty day is hell when you're 'on' and have no-one to cover your class for even 2 mins.

NewNameforNewTerm · 13/10/2013 10:34

I agree spanieleyes maybe we are colleagues. I won't probe further just in case we are ...

bucket that is one of the advantages of menopause!

mrz · 13/10/2013 10:36

and maybe put up a new display ... trim and stick work into books ... mark ...enter data onto school tracking ... photocopy ... find resources for first lesson ... maybe squeeze in a visit to the loo

ParkerTheThief · 13/10/2013 10:41

mrz, a visit to the loo, how decadent.

One day last week a colleague and I were talking after school and I excused myself saying I had to go to the loo and thinking about it I'd needed to go since about 2pm. She laughed and said she was the same, cue a very childish race down the corridor because we have one staff toilet. During the day there can be up to twenty adults on site so actually accessing our toilet can be a challenge in itself.

Ihatespiders · 13/10/2013 10:45

... and discuss with colleagues how the lessons went and do we need to revise planning for tomorrow...

... and catch the SENCO to talk about suspecting that little Freddy is dyslexic but mum has no idea ...

... and brief the Head on how Albert got on today because his behaviour is currently a concern ...

... and talk to Alice's previous teacher about how they handled it when she goes off on one and hides under the table ...

... and catch the EAL lead to chase up the support we requested for the Bulgarian family who arrived 2 weeks ago ...

spanieleyes · 13/10/2013 10:52

... and mark the 99 books that have to be marked before morning
... and try to find out when the TA might be coming back as she has been off sick for 2 weeks
... and write up the lesson evaluations before the next day
... and amend the following day's planning to take account of the fact that half the class couldn't remember their left from their right, let alone which quadrant was whichSad
....and so on and so on!

Wellthen · 13/10/2013 12:38

I dont disagree that emails are a good way to contact and I dont think teachers dont have time. I reply to my fellow teachers, why wouldnt I reply to parents?

What I object to is PSBD people saying we dont do it because we're lazy, don't get technology or dont understand other people's jobs.

Every school has a different way of doing it. At mine it is deemed inappropriate as parents would be able to basically say whatever they want to you. PSB not all emails go through moodle, I'm not sure why you think they do. Just because something is recorded for all to see does not stop people sending abuse, as all social media ever has proven.

I wouldn't mind having an email actually, they just dont seem to be 'in fashion' at primary schools.

PSBD every time you comment on how things work in schools, as if you are speaking fact, a stream of teachers comment back to say you are wrong. Stop making innocent parent posters who don't know any better, believe that your drivel is true. YOU ARE NOT A TEACHER. Please stop speaking as if you are.

mrz · 13/10/2013 12:43

Wellthen I don't even reply to the head during the school day! I REALLY don't have time to check mail at school

sturdyoak · 13/10/2013 12:55

mrz Have you thought technology might be able to help you? You could have web-seminars instead of trying to get all those professionals in the right place at the right time for multi-agency meetings? A diary page available on-line for them and you to be able to check at a glance when everybody is free. E-mail is better than waiting on the phone and you could mail relevant documents over ahead of time. IT is your friend, if you let it be.

Cuts out the travelling time for them....waiting time for you.