requesting teachers

[JAK]

Do you request a teacher for the upcoming school year or does your children's school even allow it?

There are only 3 fifth grade teachers at dd's school. She definitely doesn't want one of them and wants me to request one of the other two. I'm thinking about asking her teacher which 5th grade teacher would be the best for dd since she has struggled with school since we moved.

I just don't know any of the teachers so it's hard for me to say what is best for dd and I don't know if her current teacher would even be allowed to tell me who would be best for dd.

[KarlaB]

I have requested teachers for oldest ds. I used to think I shouldn't, but have heard from teachers themselves that you should - you are the best advocate for your children and have that right to play a role in their education.

At our school, the principal sends out a letter asking that any and all teacher requests are received by a certain date and are in writing. The current teachers also make a recommendation to the principal as to who they think would be a good match for each child based on their experience with that student that year - personality, learning style, etc. Some teachers will even tell you at Spring conferences who they are leaning towards. This year ds's teacher named the 2nd grade teacher that we want ds to have, but just to be safe we also put in a written request to have her. He can be so sensitive and some of the teachers are 'yellers' and I just don't think ds would respond to that - think it would make him crawl into a shell, so if I know a teacher is more harsh than another I will try to get the calmer of the 2. (Now youngest ds on the other hand could probably survive any teacher. LOL!)

Hope that helps!

[MaryL]

I think it depends on the child. I am the only Kindergarten teacher at my school...so people are stuck with me. ;) I requested a particular teacher for ds1 when he got to first grade (my school) because I wasn't overly fond of the attitude of one of the 1st grade teachers. He did fine with the teacher I requested. By the time ds2 got to 1st grade, there was only one class of 1st graders, and no option for teacher. The teacher I didn't prefer was the teacher, and ds2 absolutely LOVED her. ?( Every teacher has a different personality...and not all teachers "fit" with each student. At our school, I have a very different personality and teaching style than the 1st grade teacher. For some children, the adjustment in teaching style/personality is difficult.

In your case, Jen, I would definately request (if you have a preference). Ask the teacher for her recommendation.

[AnnW]

It's not allowed at our school. Our principal does allow you to state what you think your child needs and why "x" might be the best or worst match. DD's 3rd grade teacher is now one of the 5th grade teachers..they rotate 3 out of the 4. The teacher was not a good match with dd, and I have written the principal stating why it wasn't.
I would talk to the current teacher about your concerns, but I personally wouldn't let your dd pick her teacher, most of the times it's cause they are "nice or cute" and not really the best teacher for that child.

[littlesista06]

I never thought I'd be one of "those moms" LOL either, but last year I sent the principal a letter requesting one of two teachers. We got our 2nd pick which turned out to be WONDERFUL.
I just wrote my letter 'respectfully requesting consideration' of her placement in a specific 3rd grade teacher today.

I think of it this way, I know the teachers and know my dd and after 3rd, it's a mute point since they are changing classes more, so I'll take these two years and request her teachers.

I could very well be setting her up unfavorably, and we may miss out on a wonderful teacher in other ways, that's just the chance I'm going to take.

I do not talk to dd about requesting teachers, she figures it's just luck of the draw.

[Diane]

With everyone else requesting the good teacher's... I found that if I didn't make my request, my dd would usually end up with the teacher nobody else requested. We had a very bad experience when that happened once and I ended up having to fight tooth and nail to get her out of that classroom. It was only after the principal talked with her previous year's teacher, who agreed that my dd wouldn't do well with that particular teacher... and she was moved. After that I was always sure to be one of the first ones making a request. :) If you can... go for it.

[JAK]

Originally posted by AnnW

I would talk to the current teacher about your concerns, but I personally wouldn't let your dd pick her teacher, most of the times it's cause they are "nice or cute" and not really the best teacher for that child.

Even though I work at the school, I don't interact with the teachers AT ALL. In fact, I couldn't even name them, except for dd's and one 5th grade teacher (the one dd doesn't want). I understand why she thinks she doesn't want him, she has seen him do what I have seen him do... he talks really (and I mean really) slow and yells all the time! My first reaction was that I didn't want dd in his class! I have talked to students in his class and they say he always does that, but that he is a good teacher. I'm afraid that dd will be intimidated by his yelling and not ask for help when she needs it. That is one of the problems we had with her teacher in AK. He yelled all the time. He didn't yell at dd because she was a good student, but she was afraid to approach him and ask for help when needed because of his yelling. She needs to feel comfortable with her teacher, they way she does now so that she can ask for help when she needs it and not be afraid.

[AnnW]

Originally posted by JAK
That is one of the problems we had with her teacher in AK. He yelled all the time. He didn't yell at dd because she was a good student, but she was afraid to approach him and ask for help when needed because of his yelling. She needs to feel comfortable with her teacher, they way she does now so that she can ask for help when she needs it and not be afraid.

Then that's a perfectly legitimate concern for the principal. Say exactly that. That addresses a teaching and learning style. That's the kind of things our principal allows. We just had problems with parents requesting the "good" teacher and it ended up with the cliques running the school.

[JAK]

I talked to dd's teacher and she told me to definitely request one of the two women teachers as she felt that dd wouldn't do well at all with the man that is there currently. She also said another man might be coming back next year and that dd probably wouldn't do well with him either. I put in my request so I hope it works.

I also talked to ds's teacher for the first time since his first day of school here. She said he was the highest student in her class. That made me feel very proud of him. She told me to request a certain teacher for him next year because the teacher is more advanced. She said that the students had already been placed for next year but to try and request him (the teacher) anyway. I sent in a request but I don't know if it's too late.

[KarlaB]

Originally posted by littlesista06
I do not talk to dd about requesting teachers, she figures it's just luck of the draw.

Same with my ds. In fact, he never even talks about upcoming teachers - he probably doesn't even know who teaches 2nd grade. LOL!

[KarlaB]

Originally posted by AnnW
Then that's a perfectly legitimate concern for the principal. Say exactly that. That addresses a teaching and learning style. That's the kind of things our principal allows. We just had problems with parents requesting the "good" teacher and it ended up with the cliques running the school.

:tearhair:

I think requests should only be allowed based on learning/teaching style - that's the only reason I would request, but I am sure that policy is abused and there are probably those who want the "popular" teacher and make up a learning/teaching issue so they get who they want. :rolleyes: