Teachers- How did you break the news to parents?

MrsE05 · November 2011

If you did, what did you say/write to parents to tell them about the pregnancy? I haven't told my students yet, but I plan on doing so in the next week or so. I wanted to send a note home to parents the same day. I find that I'm having a hard time thinking of how to write it.

I know I want to include when my maternity leave is and how I will try to make it a smooth transition for the kids. I'm not sure what else to add in. Any suggestions? TIA

OrganicTeacher · November 2011

I didn't tell the parents. I will send a letter home later when time gets closer - or there is a chance my principal will do that. I told the kids by reading a book to them called "My Teacher is having a Baby" by Eve Bunting - and then I gave them all baby bottle pops and sent them home all sugared up. lol. It worked out well.

MrsE05 · November 2011

OrganicTeacher:
I didn't tell the parents. I will send a letter home later when time gets closer - or there is a chance my principal will do that. I told the kids by reading a book to them called "My Teacher is having a Baby" by Eve Bunting - and then I gave them all baby bottle pops and sent them home all sugared up. lol. It worked out well.

Great idea, thanks! I guess I don't have to send anything home right away, I just felt like I would rather have something written from me go home and not have the kids tell them. With the kids going home and spilling the news I feel like I have no control over the situation. Did you get many notes from parents the next few days about it?

Edit: Wasn't finished typing when I posted!

JandBandB · November 2011

when i was a first grade teacher, i wrote a note to the parent first..explaining my leave , who was going to sub the remaining month of school,etc. and then the next day spoke with the kids. i wrote the letter first in case some kids had questions..i did NOT want to be the one to answer them. a lot of parents were grateful for the letter and the chance to explain it to them.

mamamegan09 · November 2011

I sent home a letter the same day I told my kids. I titled it "fifth grade is growing by two feet". I stated that I hoped they would share in our joy in welcoming a new baby, I told them who my sub would be, reassured them of how good she is, etc. Felt like the right thing for me.

Steffie17 · November 2011

I'm the school psychologist and I told the parents and kids that I see during conferences last week. I think it went over well. Some of the kids were really excited! When I know more about my leave and who will be taking over, I'll send a letter to the parents letting them know.

MrsE05 · November 2011

JandBandB:
when i was a first grade teacher, i wrote a note to the parent first..explaining my leave , who was going to sub the remaining month of school,etc. and then the next day spoke with the kids. i wrote the letter first in case some kids had questions..i did NOT want to be the one to answer them. a lot of parents were grateful for the letter and the chance to explain it to them.

This is something I really wanted to include when I tell the parents. The problem is that I have no idea who is coming in for me and my principal is known for being last minute on those decisions.

MrsE05 · November 2011

mamamegan09:
I sent home a letter the same day I told my kids. I titled it "fifth grade is growing by two feet". I stated that I hoped they would share in our joy in welcoming a new baby, I told them who my sub would be, reassured them of how good she is, etc. Felt like the right thing for me.

This is exactly what I wanted to do. I just don't know if I'll know who my sub is this soon. Maybe I could send home a note telling them and then say that more information about the sub will be coming home soon?

reillyroowho · November 2011

I really haven't put anything in writing. I will explain the transition to our long term sub in a letter later on but I really haven't sent anything out publicly. Being a teacher is a funny job. It really isn't anyone's business what is going on in your body and it really isn't necessary to explain things and it can actually be seen as unprofessional if you share too much. However, we make these bonds with these families and feel like we owe them information. I like to keep the conversations about my pregnancy face-to-face with parents.

vtwd40 · November 2011

Mine's a little different. I'm a teacher's aide in a middle school special ed. classroom, so I'm not the kids' main teacher. But, I work with emotionally disturbed kiddos and the main teacher is new this year, so I'm the consistency the parents and kids have from last year. I'm the one they ask for on the phone, and I'm the one who calls home when there are problems. I'm also the one the kids come to when they have problems. I've started MAKING my new teacher handle more situations because we don't have a whole lot longer before I'll be gone. My kids all know that I'm pregnant, and I'm sure that some of them have mumbled it at their parents at some point. I am going to make sure that I let some of my more high maintenance parents know right after Christmas though so they aren't totally in the dark about it. The end of the year is when our kiddos tend to go balls to the wall, so I'm really nervous about not being there. I'm sure it will be fine though. Tongue Tied

Daisy41459 · November 2011

I didn't say anything to the parents. I told my kids (2nd graders) just before dismissal on Tuesday before Thanksgiving break, so I haven't talked to any of the parents yet.

When maternity leave is approaching, I will send home a letter letting them know of my last day and my intended return date (at this point, I am thinking of going back to work for the month of June). I will also give them more information about my long-term sub.

I did the same when I was put on bed rest during my pregnancy with my son.

OrganicTeacher · November 2011

I didn't have any kinds ask questions... The funniest thing that happened though was we had just learned about sea life and read a story about sea turtles - and they learned about the eggs being buried and the little sea turtles and how they go out to the sea... so I read the book - and I had a few kids ask simple questions like, "Will you come back to show us the baby?" "Who is going to be here with us? (I don't have the answer to that one yet as the principal and I will do interviews together)" but the best comment after reading the book was.... "Mrs. B... You Laid an EGG??" From the 3rd grader that apparently believes we are more related to turtles than we know. lol. It was really cute. I also did it close enough to the end of the day where there wasn't time for them to ask questions. Which is good.

It is cute though - just a week or so ago I had a little girl say, "Mrs. B! You can really see the baby growing now." It was cute - because when I told them, I was around 13 weeks, and wasn't showing - but knew that a coworker may spill the beans in front of the kids, so I had to do it quickly. lol

Good luck to you! And if you are looking for the book, it was at my local library!

Daisy41459 · November 2011

OrganicTeacher:
I didn't have any kinds ask questions... The funniest thing that happened though was we had just learned about sea life and read a story about sea turtles - and they learned about the eggs being buried and the little sea turtles and how they go out to the sea... so I read the book - and I had a few kids ask simple questions like, "Will you come back to show us the baby?" "Who is going to be here with us? (I don't have the answer to that one yet as the principal and I will do interviews together)" but the best comment after reading the book was.... "Mrs. B... You Laid an EGG??" From the 3rd grader that apparently believes we are more related to turtles than we know. lol. It was really cute. I also did it close enough to the end of the day where there wasn't time for them to ask questions. Which is good.
It is cute though - just a week or so ago I had a little girl say, "Mrs. B! You can really see the baby growing now." It was cute - because when I told them, I was around 13 weeks, and wasn't showing - but knew that a coworker may spill the beans in front of the kids, so I had to do it quickly. lol
Good luck to you! And if you are looking for the book, it was at my local library!

Kids are so cute! After I told my kids, one of my boys, was just staring at me with his mouth wide open. He then said, "Uhm, Mrs. S., did you know that it HURTS when the baby comes out of you?" I told him that I've had a baby before and yes I know. And he said again, "But it hurts. A lot." And I said "I know". He just shook his head and said "I don't know why you'd do that to yourself again".

Kaiene · November 2011

I read "My Teacher's Having a Baby" to the kids and we talked about the story. I didn't send home anything to the parents, though I may as the time gets closer to when I will be out. I am taking off the rest of the year once LO is here.

MrsE05 · November 2011

Daisy41459:
OrganicTeacher:
I didn't have any kinds ask questions... The funniest thing that happened though was we had just learned about sea life and read a story about sea turtles - and they learned about the eggs being buried and the little sea turtles and how they go out to the sea... so I read the book - and I had a few kids ask simple questions like, "Will you come back to show us the baby?" "Who is going to be here with us? (I don't have the answer to that one yet as the principal and I will do interviews together)" but the best comment after reading the book was.... "Mrs. B... You Laid an EGG??" From the 3rd grader that apparently believes we are more related to turtles than we know. lol. It was really cute. I also did it close enough to the end of the day where there wasn't time for them to ask questions. Which is good.
It is cute though - just a week or so ago I had a little girl say, "Mrs. B! You can really see the baby growing now." It was cute - because when I told them, I was around 13 weeks, and wasn't showing - but knew that a coworker may spill the beans in front of the kids, so I had to do it quickly. lol
Good luck to you! And if you are looking for the book, it was at my local library!
Kids are so cute! After I told my kids, one of my boys, was just staring at me with his mouth wide open. He then said, "Uhm, Mrs. S., did you know that it HURTS when the baby comes out of you?" I told him that I've had a baby before and yes I know. And he said again, "But it hurts. A lot." And I said "I know". He just shook his head and said "I don't know why you'd do that to yourself again".

hahaha kids are so funny! I can't wait to tell my students and hear their reactions! I know a few of them will have some funny things to say.

ADub09 · November 2011

I don't think you need to write anything to the parents at this point. I told my kids, they told their parents. We had our PTIs last week and all of the parents asked me when I was leaving, if I knew who was taking over and if I was taking the full year. I only had the answer for question 3. When it gets closer to the date I leave a note will be sent home by my principal.

MrsE05 · November 2011

ADub09:
I don't think you need to write anything to the parents at this point. I told my kids, they told their parents. We had our PTIs last week and all of the parents asked me when I was leaving, if I knew who was taking over and if I was taking the full year. I only had the answer for question 3. When it gets closer to the date I leave a note will be sent home by my principal.

I have heard this a few times. Maybe I should talk with my principal more and see what she wants to do. I never thought about her sending a note home.

Cupcake+Mama · November 2011

Most of my parents already knew via my students. I met with all of them during parent conferences 1/2 of them congratulated me on my pregnancy and did ask the questions of maternity leave and who would sub for me. I told them I was planning to go after the next parent conferences (3-4 weeks before my due date) and that depending on my health I would come back (but I probably won't! If all goes on time, my date back to school is the last day of school!). When the time comes I will speak to my principal on how to handle the situation.

laf10 · November 2011

I teach a self contained special ed high school class, and I still haven't told the kids, just for the fact that it's a LONG time for them to wait, even at this point, so I'm waiting until they really start noticing, which not many have yet. I have been telling parents as I see them and meet with them because I feel like it's obvious to most people at this point. I've seen the majority of the parents (I don't have many students), so most know. I basically just say after we've talked about what we need to talk about, "I just wanted to let you know I'm having a baby, so I'll be out at the very end of the school year." Most know the other self contained teacher, and I say that she'll be stepping in to help out whoever subs for me, so things won't change much when I have to be out.

TKx2 · November 2011

I had to tell my parents at 10 weeks because I passed out in class and the kids thought I died. I just sent a letter home. I had been planning on sending a letter at 14 weeks, so it was just a few weeks early. My principal had one saved from another teacher who is due in February and we just adjusted it for me.

TKx2 · November 2011

Honestly, I think if you tell your students you need to send something home to the parents. I would never leave it up to my kids to tell them (maybe because I teach first grade). I just stated that I am due in April and that a sub would be selected closer to my due date. I also said that we would let parents know who it would be as soon as someone was hired and that we would do everything possible to make the transition a smooth one for the students. I would be a little irritated if DD came home and told me her teacher is pregnant and the teacher didn't bother to communicate with me at all for months.

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