Re: Middle School...what is your take on this?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/3/02 3:53:29 PM Canada Central Standard Time,

huie@... writes:

> Okay, I'll play the space cadet role. Who is the lunch room monitor? Is it

> someone's assigned duty?

In our school it's one of the aides who does the honors of making the kids

scarf down their food and get outside for recess. One of my biggest gripes

about the lunchroom is how they insist the kids eat and not really discuss

anything because talking takes time and they want them out of there ASAP.

(at least that's the way i see it from eating lunch with them a few times)

Oh and the playground monitor is the principle. There is only one and he's

it, the teachers are eating their lunch in the lounge and sitting back doing

whatever they want to do at that time.

Joy

[Guest guest]

Cheryl,

I think that reminds me of something from history like Parks.

I just dont get it. I just had a show in my school with 2 regular ed classes

and one self contained class. I made the show so that no one could tell the

difference between the students. They all sang, danced, spoke, recited the

poems, and acted. Yes there are still self contained classes at my school

where I work and also at 's school. They are self contained, but not

segregated. The whole school participates in things as a whole.

But, when there are special olympic days or adaptive phys ed trips, only the

kids with special needs and their classes get to attend. Like there is a

field day for adaptive phys ed and amanda's class goes because her and a few

kids in her class have adaptive phys ed. At my job, if there is an event for

special needs kids, the spec needs kids go even if they are in a regualr

class. The entire class doesnt go. The other day, all the special needs

kids went bowling with the adaptive phys ed teacher.

Maybe I still am not getting this because I'm in NY in the city and we dont

notice the differences so much. I dont know.

~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

[Guest guest]

I haven't seen any teachers in the lunch room when I've had lunch with .

There is a cafeteria mom who circulates with the kids. Teachers are entitled

to their own lunch time, away from the kids..that is mho. Yes, to eat with them

every once in awhile would probably be rewarding for the kids and enlightening

for the teacher. In middle school, the teachers have to take turns monitoring

the lunch room...and believe me, that room does need lots of monitoring

[Guest guest]

Bev,

It's not such a tangent. But i did just think of something. Sometimes its

not financal. The library, park some ball games, museums, gardens, etc are

free or very low cost. Its about for me, working in the inner city. Some

parents work very hard and just dont get the kids out much. I know that many

of us try to enrich our kids however we can and try to find out what they do

like and then encourage them to do it.

Sometimes its a lot of work for us, but we try to do our best. Soccer and

baseball season will be upon us soon and I will have 2 kids playing on 2

different fields. But if thats what they want, then they should do it.

AYSO, the national soccer league is only $70 a season including the uniforms.

I think that is very reasonable. Yet there are not many of my students on

the field. They do have the money for trendy sneakers or the newest video

game though and that really bothers me, because where is the enrichment in

that??????

~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

[Guest guest]

Bev,

Hey,

Thanks for being a teacher advocate!!! those are far and few between!

~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

[Guest guest]

And we never go out for lunch!!!!

~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/3/2002 6:34:15 PM Central Standard Time,

linman42@... writes:

> Bev,

> Hey,

> Thanks for being a teacher advocate!!! those are far and few between!

>

> ~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

HI

As a Mom who has put two children through school and has two more still in, I

can say I've seen my share of poor teachers and awesome teachers I was

very proud to watch my sister graduate from college to become a teacher, her

experiences are a life saver for me. I will stand strong though to advocate

for all of my kids when it comes to education. I will praise the teachers

that do their job and be a thorn in the side to the teachers who don't heehee

I just hope when parents come to this list and need to vent they will and

it helps having teachers like yourself here to help us solve our problems

heehee saves me a long distance phone call to my Sis lololol

Please don't take our vents personally I know it might be hard but who

knows you might run into the teacher from he** one day too heehee

Kathy mom to Sara 10...........counting my blessing, Sara's had some great

teachers

[Guest guest]

And we never go out for lunch!!!!

~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

[Guest guest]

Cheryl,

When the kids are at gym or art, or wherever they are, the teachers are on

their prep periods. That is for planning, meeting with other teachers,

parents, etc. Our contract is a duty free lunch that is never " duty free " .

Many of us are in early or staying late and there are staff dev days without

kids, but that is certainly not free time.

I appreciate that amanda's teachers will meet with me early or late since we

are on the same schedule at work. Like this past friday she met with me from

3:30 to 4:00. Thats her time.

There is almost no 'down' time as a teacher. As someone pointed out earlier,

if lunch gives us a break away from kids, then its a benefit because it is so

hard to be with 20, 25, 30 or however many they have constantly. Then we can

go back to the children and be the best or at least try anyway.

~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

[Guest guest]

Cheryl,

When the kids are at gym or art, or wherever they are, the teachers are on

their prep periods. That is for planning, meeting with other teachers,

parents, etc. Our contract is a duty free lunch that is never " duty free " .

Many of us are in early or staying late and there are staff dev days without

kids, but that is certainly not free time.

I appreciate that amanda's teachers will meet with me early or late since we

are on the same schedule at work. Like this past friday she met with me from

3:30 to 4:00. Thats her time.

There is almost no 'down' time as a teacher. As someone pointed out earlier,

if lunch gives us a break away from kids, then its a benefit because it is so

hard to be with 20, 25, 30 or however many they have constantly. Then we can

go back to the children and be the best or at least try anyway.

~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

Thanks for that. its really hard to be on both sides of the fence. its alot

like life, there are good and bad in all groups. And no one has the right to

judge another person. maybe being a teacher and a parent is not always the

best combination because its hard to step back and sometimes to step away.

Hey, I think were really here to help and support each other. And if someone

gets some help or support along the way, then its all ok.

~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

[Guest guest]

hi,

we have aides that work in the cafeteria during the lunch hours. There are

also some one to one paras that stay with the kids during lunch too. At the

school where I work, there is a supervisor of the lunch room, who is an aide,

but took special classes to run the lunchroom.

~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

[Guest guest]

Hey, .....I know you like to add your opinions, but I just got your last

post 6 times!!! LOL! What's up with that?

Jackie

[Guest guest]

I be they did love it! I think that is a great idea.

Sharon

Re: Middle School...what is your take on this?

In a message dated 2/3/2002 1:34:21 PM Eastern Standard Time, Huie@...

writes:

. It is great, and both teachers have told me they wouldn't give it up.

They can kind of relax and talk with their students and get to know them on a

different level, and the students get a glimpse of the teacher's life and learn

that she is more than a teacher, and to 's surprise, that teachers don't

live at the school, they have families, and homes etc..

Kind of reminds you of when we were in school and our teachers did the same,

eh!

One thing Stefanie's 5th grade teacher did that was so neat, for one of their

monthly reading assignments, where all the kids read the stories they have

written to guests and classmates, we had a formal tea, linen, china and all!!

The kids LOVED it!! ;-)

Cheryl in VA

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/3/2002 8:19:43 PM Central Standard Time, thrill@...

writes:

> She said that's okay, if I get a detention my parents will get mad and I " ll

> be grounded. I asked what happens if you get an F, she said nothing happens

> if I get an F. Who's to argue with that logic??? GRRRRR. Enough of my

> grumblings....

>

> Jill

HI Jill

Heehee be careful listening to kids lololol Sara told her teacher once she

was quitting school and " my Mom said it was OK " who knows what else she's

told her teachers, but the last gave them a big laugh

Kathy mom to Sara 10

[Guest guest]

Okay, I'll play the space cadet role. Who is the lunch room monitor? Is it

someone's assigned duty? Both of the elementary schools the girls have

attended, the teachers eat with the students daily. When I was in

elementary school, our teachers ate with us. When I was in middle and high

school, we didn't have a cafeteria, everyone brought from home and ate

outside, or in covered areas. So who is watching the kids?

Sharon

Mom to (10, DS) and (6)

Re: Middle School...what is your take on this?

> In a message dated 2/3/2002 2:30:07 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> cindysue@... writes:

>

>

> > Yes, to eat with them every once in awhile would probably be rewarding

for

> > the kids and enlightening for the teacher.

>

> Yep, my point exactly. And the teacher can keep the lunchroom monitor

off

> their back for one day! ;-)

> Cheryl in VA, who can still remember some of the lectures we got in 7th

> grade as a result of what our teacher heard us talking about at lunch!!

;-)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/3/2002 7:51:31 PM Central Standard Time, blat@...

writes:

> But almost daily, a teacher or guidance counselor talks about a parent

> who calls or comes in and exhibits total disrespect for the teachers and

> school. In a case like that, wouldn't they have taught their children

> by example?

> Bev

HI

As an advocate for Sara Ive never let her hear my harshness in tone to her

teachers or staff, even over the incident last year about the two hour time

out.

Now once I did tell my daughter to walk out of the room if her request to use

the bathroom was denied, the teacher refused classroom bathroom time and she

wet her pants The principal fixed that error in judgment for us

Kathy mom to Sara 10

[Guest guest]

Right Kathy,

YOU dont let sara hear you talking about her teachers, but I think Bev's

point is that some parents do and this leads to a disrespect for authority or

teachers. I know it personally happens in my school where parents are bad-

mouthing teachers in front of their kids and the children are learning not

to have any respect.

Many a teacher has been yelled at by parents at dismissal in front of other

children and other parents and teachers. I think the point there is, the

children learn what they live, as we all would expect they do, but with the

right and appropiate values and not the negative ones.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/3/2002 9:00:49 PM Central Standard Time, thrill@...

writes:

> That Sara is a character, too!! I hope I get to meet her someday!!

Heehee the teachers found out about her police incident before I got to them

lol one of her aides told me she didn't know what to think.... about what

Sara told them but she was very adamant she was in the back-seat of the squad

car lolol The aide also said the kids tell her all sorts of

stuff..............oh my wonder what my daughter adds lol

Kathy mom to Sara 10............she promised Sandy and Ally she'd NEVER sneak

off again too......story teller

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/3/2002 9:04:22 PM Central Standard Time, Linman42 writes:

> Many a teacher has been yelled at by parents at dismissal in front of other

> children and other parents and teachers. I think the point there is, the

> children learn what they live, as we all would expect they do, but with the

> right and appropiate values and not the negative ones.

>

HI

Yes they say the apple doesn't fall, far from the tree (say that real fast 3

times lololol) BUT I am looking at the middle school population. Im betting

you have a small handful of the unruly parents and basketful of disrespectful

kids. Ive heard for years how " attitudy " middle schoolers are (from my

sister) and only a few ugly parents. Im betting the kids get their attitudes

from their peers and not the parents...in most cases....IMHO of course

So what about the absent parents? Do we stop reaching out to the kids, who

don't get taught at home to respect their education? so kids pay the price

for something they were never taught? This is my problem in all of

this........who pays later???? Oh my an education debate heehee

Kathy mom to Sara 10

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/3/02 11:37:12 AM Pacific Standard Time,

wildwards@... writes:

> Our teachers in elementary school have spare time (no kids) when their

> class goes to PE and lunch everyday, goes to music, art, and the library

> once

> a week. They work on site in the building for 6 1/2 hours a day. There

> are

> times when they come for PTA meetings or stay late for IEP meetings, plus

> some staff development ( on days when kids are not in school.)

> Is that different from your schedule?

> Cheryl in VA

>

I know that 's special ed. teacher is not sitting in the teacher's

lounge blowing away her day. She has kids in three grades that she supports.

THey don't all eat lunch at the same time. The kids attend art, PE and ect.

with the reg. ed. classes so when one is gone she is working with another

child in her room or in the reg. ed. classroom. This woman is amazing. The

two aides and the teacher rotate their lunch times so they all get a break.

She has a time for prep and she uses it.

Karyn

[Guest guest]

Wow, I never even thought of this. Our lunchroom I guess would be

considered relatively quiet. Not silent by any means, you can hear kids

talking and laughing, but it is orderly and neat.

Sharon

Re: Middle School...what is your take on this?

> Lunch monitors are a paid position in our school district. Not a fun job,

I

> might add. I was on a sub list and did it twice........NEVER AGAIN!

> Cafeterias are zoos, if you haven't been in one for awhile.

>

> Jackie

>

>

> Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Our school has 800 kids in K-5. Each class gets 25 minutes for lunch. Some

kids buy, some receive free and reduced, and others bring from home. I eat

with my girls every week or so. It is very orderly. The kids talk while

they eat, but not loudly. I guess I had never thought of teachers not

eating with their students since I hadn't experienced it as a child myself,

or with my children.

Sharon

Re: Middle School...what is your take on this?

>

> How big of a school are you talking about? Our school houses K-5 and they

> separate the caf into 2 sections. 1-3rd on one side and 4-5th on the

other.

> They have to shuttle at last count, about 1600 kids through in less than

two

> hours. Teachers must be prompt in dropping them off and picking them up

> because each is allowed 30 minutes for lunch. Like I said

> before.........it's a zoo.

>

> Jackie

[Guest guest]

Tim eats his lunch with his class in his classroom. The paras patrol the

areas and he doesn't have a para with him during lunch. He's just like the

other kids there. The only schools in our area that have cafeterias are the

high schools.

Val

Re: Middle School...what is your take on this?

> In a message dated 2/3/2002 6:15:02 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> jbocci55@... writes:

>

>

> > Cafeterias are zoos, if you haven't been in one for awhile.

> >

> I often wonder if they would be this bad if more adults were there! ;-)

> Tell me, what kind of lunch room behavior mods have your kids undergone?

We

> used to have a new method every year. Sticks in a can, three sticks at

your

> table and the whole class was on silence for the rest of the week!

Colored

> cups, red, green and yellow. Red cup meant silence for the table. And

then

> we got a stoplight that was sensored for sound .... I HATED THAT!!

> Cheryl in VA

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you . Three of our boys have FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

Disorder) and Tim has Down syndrome. Each of them have different learning

styles and none of them is at the age where they can appreciate the value of

education. However, school has been a positive experience for all of them,

and I think that basically sets up the values for later on.

Val in Winnipeg

I really resent the parents

> > who do not teach their children the value of education or respect for

> > those in authority.

>

> Oh, this conerns me. How do you know that the parents haven't taught

their

> children these things? How do you know that there aren't some underlying

> issues that make the child APPEAR to not have respect for authority or

make

> it harder for that child to learn?

> I feel that children all have different ways that they learn and it is up

to

> the teacher to figure out how best to motivate each child. " If a child is

> not learning the way we teach him, then we need to change the way we are

> teaching. " I don't think that is the exact quote, but it's close enough.

> Several of my children have different learning styles. I would love to

have

> had a teacher reach out and really TRY to know my children and what

motivates

> him and make a difference. But, it didn't happen here, and for that

reason

> one child didn't graduate and I am home schooling another.

> I feel that I, as a parent, have taught my children well. What they

choose

> to do with it is theirs. I also feel that teachers choose their

profession

> knowing that it is a " heart " job, not alot of pay, alot of responsibility,

> but wonderful paybacks if the effort is made. And I will be a VERY

> supportive parent if I see the teachers making an effort, and I will be a

> STRONG advocate if the need arises.

>

>

>

>

>