My eldest DD is starting kindergarten this fall. We just met the teacher and she didn't ask us anything about our daughter she just gave us some logistical information about drop off, etc. The more I think about it, the more I'm bothered. I facilitate large meetings professionally and I always learn as much as I can about the participants before I design what we're going to do together so I can tailor our interactions toward them. I realize this might sound crazy if that's not how school is done. But, how hard would it be to have each parent fill out a page at the beginning of the year with some information about their child: his/her strengths, interests, aspirations, needs, habits, etc. Do your kids' teachers ever do that?
DD #1: 2012; MMC: 2014; DD #2: 2015; It's a boy! 3/31/2018
Re: Need to vent - frustrated about kindergarten
As a teacher, I can respect wanting to get to know the kids on their own terms before finding out a lot about them.
I teach in the upper school of a preK-12 independent school. I happen to teach the advanced level of 9th grade English that kids only get placed in by teacher recommendation. I have also taught 8th grade from time to time. In years when I teach 8, I'm heavily involved in the placement of kids into my own 9A class. I have really come to dislike knowing what they were like in 8th. Even at that age, they change a LOT in a few months. I try not to let this process influence me, as every kid deserves a fresh start each year.
I would counsel you to think about what you want your daughter's teacher to know about her. If it's stuff that A) really matters to the daily life of a kindergartner, like a medical issue, or something of that nature, or
George (3)