As a parent, it is your job to watch over, protect and love your child. That being so, I can only imagine it must be difficult to leave them in the care of a stranger for seven hours a day. Everyone has heard horror stories about mean teachers, teachers who “don’t care,” or a teacher who won’t cooperate with a child’s parents. Unfortunately, not all teachers are perfect, and it’s no secret that not all of them love their job like they should. So on behalf of all of the “good ones,” we’re sorry. Here are a few confessions of an elementary school teacher:
We want to see your child succeed.
It’s very easy to place blame where it doesn’t belong. No one wants to be told their child is struggling, not getting along with another student or misbehaving. However, for the most part, your child’s teacher does want to see them succeed! Every student has good days, and bad days, and we understand that. Your child’s progress and grades reflect how well we are teaching! This means we would love to see them grow and improve to their full potential. Trust us! We want to help!
We are just as stressed out as you are.
Typically, parents have between one and four children. Parenting is a 24/7 job, so naturally, you’re all a little frazzled (especially in the midst of the school year). But please remember, teachers can have between 20-30 children, and we see them as just that, our own! This means lots of late night grading, IEP meetings, conferences, behavioral problems and tears. We are stressed! Keep this in mind when you send us an angry email about your child’s progress report, or about a “bad behavior note” that got sent home. We don’t like these parts of our job any more than you do. But it’s just that, our job. We’re willing to work with you and your child to improve any problem that may arise, just be willing to cooperate with us!
We try to give your child as much personal attention as possible.
It’s easy, in a big class, for a child to “fall through the cracks.” We try as hard as we can to be sure this doesn’t happen. This means working one-on-one with your child and checking in with them (and you!) as much as we can. Teachers create a special bond with each and every student, so trust that they will receive the attention and care that they deserve!
We know about “what’s going on at home.”
This one is can be a doozy! Please, please, please, be very careful what you say and do in front of your children. Kids, especially at the elementary age, are like sponges. They soak up every phrase (good or bad) that comes out of your mouth. Not to mention, they’ll rat you out as soon as they realize they’re in trouble. So when a first grader screams “God dammit!” during class, you better believe it’s followed by “well, my mommy says it at home.” Keep this in mind during arguments or “adult conversations.” These personal matters include: bills, family fights and even affairs. Nothing is off limits in a child’s eyes. So if you wouldn’t tell us in person, don’t repeat it in front of your kid!
We understand your frustration.
Does it feel like your student is falling behind? Are you constantly frustrated about their reading level, math skills or behavior reports? We understand your frustration. It’s clear to us when parents are trying to work on these areas at home (like I said, your student tells us everything!). Your hard work does not go unnoticed. So keep on reading with your student, practice those multiplication facts and model good behavior. It may seem frustrating and repetitive now, but it will help them in the long run.
We love our job!
Unfortunately, this probably can’t be said for all teachers. But for the most part (and definitely in my case), we love to work with children. Their smiling faces, daily hugs and portraits drawn of us make our day! Teachers become teachers for a reason. It is our job to shape and mold your student into a lifelong-learner. Their success is our success, so we thank you for trusting us with them for seven hours a day!
