Teacher's rights and visitation...

Mrs. S,
Best of luck in what hopefully will be a new, rewarding career! I am glad that you do invite parents in on occasion. I have had a child in a sp ed preschool program and it is so important. It is their baby going to school for the first time, and there are many communication issues at this age, even if the youngster does not have speech issues (which most do at this age). This is how it was set up in our case and hopefully it will help. I agree with you that this is excessive! There can be some control if policy is that an advance appt. is made. Call the case manager or director of sp ed services to help in dealing with the parents. You should not be caught in the middle since you need to work with the family for the summer. Let them call and put in writing the policies. There should be some. If it effects the learning of the other children it is plainly wrong. They have already been there for 20-25% of the length of the whole ESY program! Then there is the issue of privacy of the other students (do not know if you want to raise that issue). You can offer to communicate occasionally by meeting with them and the rest of the iep team, you could offer to write to them in a daily communication notebook and let them write to you (just do not make your communication take too much from valuable teaching time-which is the real goal- good time to do this would during the time your teaching assistant can handle the activity alone-ie:snack or circle time-or time that the therapists are working with the class). It is a sensitive area, and the parents are hopefully going after what is best for their child, it is a shame the system is set up so that parents need to go through all of these hoops, but I do believe you need to do what is best for all of your students as well. Another idea is to invite parents to be included if they choose an activity to do with the children (limit it to the last 45 minutes-so they leave :)). It can be bringing in a guitar to teach a song, a snack, art project with all of the supplies, bringing in a clown, etc. Have the parent run the idea for your input first, and let the parent be a part of the program one time if they wish, and that is it.

Thank you soooo much for your kindness and your imput. I really needed to hear those things today. I went to school and had a very nasty gram from the Mom. We only have 4 more days and she wants to visit each one. She never once asked to visit during the regular school year and our program is only 4 weeks. No one at my school or any other in our district wanted to take this class for the summer because of this parent. I thought maybe I could help because, I have two sons both of which were Special Ed children. So, I understand so well their feelings. But at the same time, I know what their final goal is and it is all about money. The poor little boy that all this commotion is about is so normal and is so kind and loving. He trys so hard to do everything so well, but his parents don’t ever want to hear the good, only if and when he does something bad. They even brought him to an iep meeting with 20 adults so that he could ‘tantrum’ (But, good for him, he was very well behaved.) They have even stated this in the communication book. I just hope that as the little boy grows up he will remember the things I have told him about him being such a good boy and how proud I am of him and his work. I’m sorry if I’ve went off on a tanget as I did, but it seems like sometimes there aren’t any ears to hear the teachers….
Thanks again!

I’ve worked for years in an intensive preschool program - consider not worrying about the family visits - make them welcomed - an open door - except, limit your ability to “chat to them” as that would take away from your class, set up a time to chat if they request it - give them a place to sit to observe- remind them to just sign in the office and come when they want, ask them if they would like to participate at times during the week - whatever postive energy you can think of to get them involved, tell them to come whenever they want and not to worry about notice, give them a copy of your daily schedule. WELCOME THEM!

It is my experience the minute you start to limit their access your in trouble, plus by limiting their access will not look good in the eyes of a mediator or hearing officer. Gain their trust, you have nothing to hide (right?)so why exclude them? You’ll get used to it and trust me it will make for a better relationship with them and their visits will slow down I’ve experienced this same kind of energy from parents from time to time, consider rethinking your approach.
Good luck

Mrs. S.,

I am a mom of a wonderful 9 yr. old boy with delayed speech in sped since K. I like to visit school a couple times a year and always ask the teacher if a certain day, time etc. is O.K. I try and schedule just before lunch, have lunch with him maybe stay another 1/2 hr. and go away.

I feel sorry for you. You deserve to be treated with respect and not have your class disrupted.

I know when I go to school even though I try and be invisible it is a distraction to the kids. They all want to talk to me because I am company.

I am sure your positive attitude toward the child will be remembered.

Hi JO JO!

Sure did like your welcoming reply about having parents visiting the classroom. I have always found, like you, that warmly accepting them in the room works well! I usually tell the parents that I am happy for them to come in and observe/participate as long as their child seems comfortable with them there. I encourage the child to verbalize their feeling to the parent about having the parents in the room (if the child is old enough or able to do so)! The biggest issue is how the child will feel about this.

Mrs. S,
Best of luck in what hopefully will be a new, rewarding career! I am glad that you do invite parents in on occasion. I have had a child in a sp ed preschool program and it is so important. It is their baby going to school for the first time, and there are many communication issues at this age, even if the youngster does not have speech issues (which most do at this age). This is how it was set up in our case and hopefully it will help. I agree with you that this is excessive! There can be some control if policy is that an advance appt. is made. Call the case manager or director of sp ed services to help in dealing with the parents. You should not be caught in the middle since you need to work with the family for the summer. Let them call and put in writing the policies. There should be some. If it effects the learning of the other children it is plainly wrong. They have already been there for 20-25% of the length of the whole ESY program! Then there is the issue of privacy of the other students (do not know if you want to raise that issue). You can offer to communicate occasionally by meeting with them and the rest of the iep team, you could offer to write to them in a daily communication notebook and let them write to you (just do not make your communication take too much from valuable teaching time-which is the real goal- good time to do this would during the time your teaching assistant can handle the activity alone-ie:snack or circle time-or time that the therapists are working with the class). It is a sensitive area, and the parents are hopefully going after what is best for their child, it is a shame the system is set up so that parents need to go through all of these hoops, but I do believe you need to do what is best for all of your students as well. Another idea is to invite parents to be included if they choose an activity to do with the children (limit it to the last 45 minutes-so they leave :)). It can be bringing in a guitar to teach a song, a snack, art project with all of the supplies, bringing in a clown, etc. Have the parent run the idea for your input first, and let the parent be a part of the program one time if they wish, and that is it.

Thank you soooo much for your kindness and your imput. I really needed to hear those things today. I went to school and had a very nasty gram from the Mom. We only have 4 more days and she wants to visit each one. She never once asked to visit during the regular school year and our program is only 4 weeks. No one at my school or any other in our district wanted to take this class for the summer because of this parent. I thought maybe I could help because, I have two sons both of which were Special Ed children. So, I understand so well their feelings. But at the same time, I know what their final goal is and it is all about money. The poor little boy that all this commotion is about is so normal and is so kind and loving. He trys so hard to do everything so well, but his parents don’t ever want to hear the good, only if and when he does something bad. They even brought him to an iep meeting with 20 adults so that he could ‘tantrum’ (But, good for him, he was very well behaved.) They have even stated this in the communication book. I just hope that as the little boy grows up he will remember the things I have told him about him being such a good boy and how proud I am of him and his work. I’m sorry if I’ve went off on a tanget as I did, but it seems like sometimes there aren’t any ears to hear the teachers….
Thanks again!

I’ve worked for years in an intensive preschool program - consider not worrying about the family visits - make them welcomed - an open door - except, limit your ability to “chat to them” as that would take away from your class, set up a time to chat if they request it - give them a place to sit to observe- remind them to just sign in the office and come when they want, ask them if they would like to participate at times during the week - whatever postive energy you can think of to get them involved, tell them to come whenever they want and not to worry about notice, give them a copy of your daily schedule. WELCOME THEM!

It is my experience the minute you start to limit their access your in trouble, plus by limiting their access will not look good in the eyes of a mediator or hearing officer. Gain their trust, you have nothing to hide (right?)so why exclude them? You’ll get used to it and trust me it will make for a better relationship with them and their visits will slow down I’ve experienced this same kind of energy from parents from time to time, consider rethinking your approach.
Good luck

Mrs. S.,

I am a mom of a wonderful 9 yr. old boy with delayed speech in sped since K. I like to visit school a couple times a year and always ask the teacher if a certain day, time etc. is O.K. I try and schedule just before lunch, have lunch with him maybe stay another 1/2 hr. and go away.

I feel sorry for you. You deserve to be treated with respect and not have your class disrupted.

I know when I go to school even though I try and be invisible it is a distraction to the kids. They all want to talk to me because I am company.

I am sure your positive attitude toward the child will be remembered.

Hi JO JO!

Sure did like your welcoming reply about having parents visiting the classroom. I have always found, like you, that warmly accepting them in the room works well! I usually tell the parents that I am happy for them to come in and observe/participate as long as their child seems comfortable with them there. I encourage the child to verbalize their feeling to the parent about having the parents in the room (if the child is old enough or able to do so)! The biggest issue is how the child will feel about this.