Need Opinions ASAP....teacher A or B

[abcteacher]

Which teacher would you request for your own K-3 child and why? I'm really struggling and need to make a decision asap. My child is smart and likes school but can be ornery at times. I'm asking for opinions as both a mom and teacher.

Teacher A
-Great teacher academically, grandmotherly & sweet, patience like no other, structured
-Will have 1-2 students with major behavior problems in the class

Or
Teacher B
-Good teacher, laid back, less structured, fun
-Will have no major behavior students in class

 

[Starr]

They both sound great, but based on your child's personality, I think Teacher B's class sounds like the best place for your child.

 

[DiamondGirl]

Teacher Request

Since you have no real concerns about either teacher, how about you let whatever class your child ends up in happen to him/her just like the most parents do.

 

[bookgeek59]

I vote for teacher A because your child's ornery behavior may turn into defiance and disrespect over time if it's not nipped in the bud. I don't think the fun, unstructured teacher will serve your child well.
Though teacher A may have a couple challenging behaviors in her class, my gut tells me she'll take care of it in short order. Teacher B may just celebrate that your child is smart and allow his smarts to overshadow his behavior.

 

[Sbkangas5]

If you're struggling and they are both good options in their own way then I'd just leave it to fate. I only made requests if I had really strong opinions one way or the other (I never wanted to be THAT parent - not saying you are, but I know too many of them).

 

[tia]

I'm with DiamondGirl---IF staff members come together like ours do and form the classes based on student need and which kids shouldn't be with each other, etc.

 

[TeaPro]

It sounds like either teacher will be fine, but I say teacher A because she is "a great teacher academically" and also structured. An experienced teacher will have strategies to deal with the kids with behavior problems and will really appreciate a good scholar in the class.

 

[Summerwillcom]

I'd be fine with either teacher.

I tend to like structured and academically focused rooms best. (Especially if your child likes to test boundaries. ) However, it would depend on how severe the behavior problems were.
If it is a situation where the teacher is going to have to clear the classroom, it will become a disruption to the students.
If the behavior problems are loud, violent, or causing constant disruptions, I'd go with the class without the behavior problems.
Good luck! Either way it sounds like you'll get a good teacher.

 

[Gogogo]

Let last year’s teacher decide

They both sound good. My daughter went to the same school where I taught. I only made a request one year when I wanted her to have a certain teacher. I like my staff and trusted them so other than that one year, I never got involved with her classroom placement.

 

[Linda/OH]

Teacher A

I think it's a perk if you get to choose your child's teacher. And teacher's need some perks! I lean towards Teacher A for the patience she has. If your child can be ornery, patience may be needed

Plus, just because the Teacher B has no behavior problems on the list now, doesn't mean that can't change through the year.

 

[twinmom95]

I agree to let last year's teachers decide, though as last year's teacher I might be inclined to go with teacher A.

Also remember that kids move in ( and out) during the year and for some reason, Murphy's Law seems to lean towards the ones who move in usually come with some pretty big needs in my experience. Teacher B could get one or two eventually.

 

[Tori58]

Since you have no real concerns about either teacher, how about you let whatever class your child ends up in happen to him/her just like the most parents do.

This. Is there some kind of rule that parents have to complicate matters for schools by requesting certain teachers? It sounds as though both teachers are perfectly competent.

 

[Lottalove]

I also think both teachers

have major merit and would not interfere.

I taught in my DD's elementary school. I never interfered in my class selection--EVEN in 5th when she got a teacher I didn't agree with in any manner-- I thought I should not share my personal dislike with my DD because 5th grade was departmentalized. Even if she wasn't in that teacher's homeroom, she would have her for classes regardless.

Turns out that she and that teacher got along like peas and carrots... They both adored each other. I thought the teacher was kinda harsh in her words and volume (and behaviors) with the students from what I could see. DD liked that she ruled like that because the kids were quiet and all nonsense was nipped early.

 

[Teacherbee_4]

Teacher requests

I personally am not a huge fan of requests. I think it's good to experience all types.

However, based on what you said, I'd go with teacher A!

 

[GreyhoundGirl]

So I’d just leave it and not make a request. Save the request for the future when you really need to play that card.

 

[Violets2]

I agree to just let the chips fall where they may for now. Ornery can mean different attitudes and actions and what 1 teacher likes another might not. Is this placement totally up to you? Is there a reason you're requestng?

 

[Hifiman]

I like diamondgirl’s response.

That’s the way it should be done. Besides, the roster of the class today is not necessarily the roster of the class next week.

 

[abcteacher]

Thanks for all the opinions. Just to be clear, our principal asks every teacher who they would like their child to have. He feels like we should be allowed that perk. I never approached him with the purpose of requesting.

I honestly have no problem with either teacher. They are both great and have their own special talents. He will do fine with either one. As I reflect, my decision was more of classroom environment with the behavior students being in one.

I guess I should have just let it be. I will keep that in mind for next year.

 

[GraceKrispy]

Just to be clear, our principal asks every teacher who they would like their child to have. He feels like we should be allowed that perk.

That seems like a recipe for disaster (or at least discontent). So, if you don't get a teacher's child in your class and your grade-mate does, you know that teacher didn't request you. Has it ever caused issues?

I didn't weigh in earlier, because it's hard to predict which one might be a better fit. There are intangibles sometimes that make a big difference. My kids have sometimes done really well with teachers I would not have picked for them.

 

[abcteacher]

It never has that I'm aware of. There are many sections of each grade and we're all spread out. I'm not sure there has been a time that one teacher has gotten all the teacher's kids. It doesn't necessarily mean a teacher didn't request you...the teacher could be smarter than me and say to put their child wherever.

 

[Haley23]

My P also lets staff choose where their kids go. It's interesting to me, because she does NOT take requests otherwise, and in fact is adamantly against it. She also doesn't allow previous teachers to specifically place students with next year's teacher (they make the class lists, evenly distributed, and then P assigns a teacher to each list) because "we should be confident that every teacher in the building is a good teacher."

Most teacher parents who bring their own children to our school don't live in district, and I think P considers it a huge compliment that they bring the kids to our school, rather than attending the higher SES schools in their own neighborhoods. So I wonder if it's sort of a ploy to keep those kids around.

A previous P did take requests (from anyone) because she reasoned that parents who made requests were often high maintenance (I'm in a low SES school, so this wasn't the norm/it wasn't like there were 50 such parents). When they complained later about the teacher they requested, she could say, "Remember, you requested Ms. X" as opposed to the parent railing all year that xyz issues could have been avoided if their child had been placed with the teacher they requested.

If our current policy has caused any issues, I'm not aware of them. I personally would be nervous about having another teacher's child/wouldn't prefer that extra stress. So it's sort of a double edged sword- it's a compliment, but could bring extra stress as well. Our most beloved para has a daughter on my caseload. Thankfully she's always been really happy with everything that I've done, but I was definitely more nervous doing our initial referral meetings/initial IEP etc. with a coworker.

I also think choosing a teacher based on a specific style isn't necessarily an insult to the other teacher. That's why I partly disagree with our practices- sure, everyone is a good teacher, but there are different personalities and it makes sense to me to try to match those up. We have a very veteran 4th grade teacher who is famous for including a TON of drama/arts/acting stuff into her class- she even has a stage in her room! Some kids LOVE that type of stuff. Other kids would rather die. Matching personalities would help.

 

[Summerwillcom]

Teacher choice..

I actually believe in teacher choice. It may depend on how big the school is.
For years, I taught in a school that had 10-12 teachers per grade level.
Each teacher had their unique style and personality. Teachers were always asked their preference for their children's teacher. I liked having the input.
Parents who asked were usually given their preferences too. (3/4 probably did not ask.) This really helped avoid problems.
If a parent was difficult or a pain, they chose a teacher they felt comfortable with and problems were avoided.
I think parents should have some say. Teachers did not put together class lists there. Instead, at the end of the year, we made a list of VIP kids who needed extra help or took a lot more patience/ work on the teacher's part. Then if we thought two kids needed to be separated, we noted that too.
In a smaller school though, I can see where it might lead to a problem.
The 1 bad part about it was new teachers usually got some tough classes their 1st year. My first year there felt like a game of Survival! After that, it got much better.