What do you find is an effective way to communicate with teachers. My daughter’s teacher never looks in her journal. Telephone calls don’t work because of telephone tag and lost messages, sometimes she does not even return them. It is not as though I call alot either, maybe three times this since Sept. I get the impression too that every time I try to talk with her teachers about her diability, they have attitude that they know better then me.
Has any one had any success in overcoming these attitudes and what did you do?
Re: Teachers
When you do this, and I do agree with Ohio, do it as personably and as pleasant as possible. Send the letter and request the meeting. At the meeting, do not go alone, simply ask honestly what is the best form of communicating that will work for the teacher. Possibly e mail will be the way. Let the teacher know you are asking for communication because you value his/her input regarding your daughter’s education and welfare while at school. It will be very easy for the teacher to become defensive, and you need to do your utmost to disarm this. Or at the very least, be on your best behavior and if the teacher turns out to be a creep, let the true colors show as they will, not because you have acted in such a way as to draw out the negative behaviors. Most important at this stage is to not get sidetracked into fighting with the teacher or the administrations; but to focus on your child and what you perceive to be at issue. Your input is of equal importance, your tactfulness will be of great value here. If there is/will be a problem, let it surface by how they respond, not by how you come across. In a nut shell, be as diplomatic as possible. Bring a friend/spouse/concerned fellow adult, so you will not either be blind sided, or imagining things if there are other issues to cloud the meeting. Be as non-adversarial as possible.
Maintain your sense of humor.
Andy
Re: Teachers
I don’t now if I would call it overcoming the attitude but when I have had this problem at our junior high, I send a letter to the teacher with a copy to the administration, detailing how many times I have called or sent a note and how long it has been since I have had a response. I have only had to do this once actually- folks became very good at remembering to respond. I made sure I mentioned how difficult it was to support the work they were doing with my child without good information and communication and how that was really my primary interest. It was a nice letter and not at all obnoxious…:) The copy to the adminsitration was because it is my belief that administrators cannot address issues if they do not know what the issues are- and ignoring parent attempts to communicate is frustrating and unprofessional - to say the least. Anyway- you are welcome to try it.
Re: Teachers
I’ve found that when I need to get something to my “problem” teacher fast….I fax the note, with a note on the cover page saying please make sure Mrs.So and So, sees this fax before 3 rd period. By doing this I have a copy of what I wrote, so it can’t be turned around and I also get confirmation that the note went through. Now this doesn’t really solve the problem of her responding to me, but at least I know she received it. My son won’t take notee to this teacher, because he’s afraid of the comments she’ll have. So, at least this way, I keep the child out of it.
Re: Teachers
Some teachers are easier to communicate with than others. Does this teacher have an e-mail? Many teachers have e-mail at their school now which should be given out. E-mails at work shouldn’t be private. Call the school secretary and ask for the teacher’s e-mail at school.
send a letter certified mail to the teacher and a copy to the district saying you want a conference with your childs teacher because you have no other way to communicate with her since she dosnt return phone calls, or respond in the (communication?) journal.