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From: "Ted Rohling" <tedr@instructors.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov>
Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1006] Re: Virginia
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I work in a classroom where I receive an evalution from each student at
least once a week, if not twice. These are adults and not children so I
have learned to get a "thick skin" and not worry a lot about the
evaluations. My performance speaks for itself in the outcomes.
As a parent who has visited school with my children, I know only too well
the disruptive nature for the students and the "evaluation" effect on the
teacher. If more parents could visit school, the disruption effect would go
away. The parents would become a welcome part of the day. In a low
literacy setting, the parents may not be able to visit school, assist or
participate because of work or family obligations. In other settings, more
participation might be possible. During my visits, the teacher was very
uneasy and did go into "performance mode". We had a follow-up discussion of
why I was there, to see my child, and I explained I didn't care how the
class went, I wanted to see how my child was interacting in class. After a
couple of days, I was just part of the class. On Friday, I even got to read
a story!
This thread started because of a comment about military parents
participation. After 10 years of military service, I can tell you all that
the military is different. They can allow free time for school
participation because they are employed 24 hours a day/365 days of the year.
An hour or two a week to go to school is a good investment when the military
member is obliged to be away from family sometimes for a year or two at a
time. It is morale issue as well as an investment issue. Military children
do well because of the family discipline and expectations. I.E., if your
kid messes up in school, you get to explain it to the "boss". Not as bad
today as it was in the past but...
Hope this too helps.
Ted
-----Original Message-----
From: nifl-family@nifl.gov [mailto:nifl-family@nifl.gov]On Behalf Of
Colleen Angaiak
Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 3:59 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1005] Re: Virginia
Ideally, that is what having someone else watch you
would be. But realistically, it often feels more like
an "intrusion," as bad as that sounds. I think the
other factor is that if you are a teacher, you know
that kids, of any age, can be so unpredictable! I
have a teacher friend who was observed by a principal
immediately after a sink in the room made a noise like
a bodily function. This, of course, set the kids
(third graders) off, and they continued to giggle and
be silly for a long time afterward. Of course, the
teacher was able to explain later, but at the time it
was really uncomfortable for her.
And finally, I think any time you are being observed,
you do go into a "performance mode," because you have
an audience. With a superior, you are being judged
and evaluated, and you want to do your best. With a
parent, you are under they eye of the most important
person in one of your students' lives, and you want to
show that you are doing a good job.
Sorry to ramble on again! It's just that I understand
this feeling all too well!
Colleen
--- Virginia Tardaewether
<tarv@exchange.chemeketa.edu> wrote:
> Gosh I guess I was thinking that having someone
> watch would be like having a
> team mate, someone to help you see what you missed
> and to catch you doing
> things well.
> Va
>
> Virginia Tardaewether
>
> Chemeketa {Place of Peace}
> Outreach Instructor
> Dallas, OR 97338
>
> tarv@chemeketa.edu
> 503-316-3242
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Colleen Angaiak [mailto:c_angaiak@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2002 12:40 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list
> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1002] Re: Parents as first
> teachers (long)
>
>
> Virginia,
> While I haven't had tons of teaching experience, I
> am
> a teacher, as is my husband. I think that when you
> have a permanent classroom situation, you can get
> very
> territorial, and having someone come in just feels
> somewhat uncomfortable. You come up with ways that
> work for you and the students you have at that time,
> and you fear someone may come in and tell you you're
> doing it "wrong." Plus there's always the fear of
> public failure, either real or perceived. I know
> that
> just as a parent, I always modify a little bit when
> my
> mom or other family members are around, and I
> remember
> feeling that need when being observed as a teacher.
> It's just not a comfortable feeling.
>
> Finally, there is so much pressure on teachers that
> I
> think having someone watch how you do things,
> particularly if you are aware of what can go wrong,
> is
> just stressful.
>
> Just my insights!
>
>
>
> =====
> Colleen Angaiak
> Even Start Coordinator
> Literacy Council of Alaska
> 1949 Gillam Way
> Fairbanks, AK 99709
> Phone: 907/456-5013
> Fax: 907/456-1657
>
> __________________________________________________
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