Calling Teachers or Wait until PTA?

amother

OP ↓

Thu, Oct 31 2024, 8:41 pm

I’m new to the school system, DD is 5 and in Pre1A. is it appropriate to call the morah /teacher and see how she is doing? or just wait until PTA to discuss?
Today DD came home and said there was a little argument between her and another girl , and she was crying. didn’t get all the details from her because she didn’t want to talk too much but supposedly the teacher resolved the issue. Am I supposed to call the teacher to hear what happened? or just let it go?

dena613 ↓

Thu, Oct 31 2024, 8:42 pm

Let it go for now.

If it happens frequently, like another once or twice next week, then call the morah. She should know because maybe it would help for her to look out for this or make a seating change.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Oct 31 2024, 8:43 pm

thank you! what about calling to see how daughter is doing in general - do I just wait until PTA and assume she’s doing well? or is it appropriate to call before and just “check in”

amother

Ghostwhite ↓

Thu, Oct 31 2024, 8:47 pm

I’d totally call. In my school teachers call every few months. They all called right before sukkos to tell us a quick overview and ask if we had any questions. You can and should be in touch with teachers. PTA is too far off.

↑ dena613

Thu, Oct 31 2024, 8:50 pm

I guess the question is when is PTA. I'm assuming it's in a few weeks.

But you totally can ask morah how your daughter is doing, and as a side point mention that you appreciated that she helped dd, and you didn't fully understand the story, and is there anything you can do to help her

amother

↑ Ghostwhite ↓

Thu, Oct 31 2024, 8:52 pm

amother OP wrote:

PTA is end of november

Call now don’t wait a month to check how your daughter is doing

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Oct 31 2024, 8:52 pm

so I was thinking to call and a friend said - if there’s an issue school will call u no need to call. but I am curious how she is doing , I hope only to hear good things! I guess I will call! Smile

↑ 4geesmom

Thu, Oct 31 2024, 9:08 pm

amother OP wrote:

so I was thinking to call and a friend said - if there’s an issue school will call u no need to call. but I am curious how she is doing , I hope only to hear good things! I guess I will call! Smile

If you are waiting for the school to call thats to late. If there is an issue you want to nip it in the bud and show that you are on top of things.

amother

↑ Ghostwhite

Thu, Oct 31 2024, 9:09 pm

amother OP wrote:

so I was thinking to call and a friend said - if there’s an issue school will call u no need to call. but I am curious how she is doing , I hope only to hear good things! I guess I will call! Smile

You don’t only speak to school about issues. That’s being an absent parent. And at that point the ship has sailed.

amother

NeonYellow

Thu, Oct 31 2024, 11:39 pm

You can call, they just don't like it when you call every couple of weeks just to check in when your kid is doing fine and nothing has changed.

imaima

Fri, Nov 01 2024, 12:59 am

amother OP wrote:

Let it go
These happen every day

amother

Nasturtium

Fri, Nov 01 2024, 4:18 am

My viewpoint as a special Ed teacher and a parent

We literally just came back from sukkos. PTA is in less than a month. At this point I don’t think the teacher should have anything negative to say as the child is first readjusting to being in school. I would wait until PTA.

In regards to speaking to the parent through the year. I would get annoyed if a parent called me repeatedly if at PTA she was told only good things…

amother

Coffee

Fri, Nov 01 2024, 6:02 am

PTA is generally in November, so at this point it seems silly to call unless there's an ongoing issue or something that really can't wait a couple of weeks. For the future, it's fine to reach out and be in touch between actual scheduled conferences, but again, without a known, recurring issue, you should do those check ins when PTA is not fairly imminent. There's usually another one in March, so if you want to check in again, I'd suggest right before or a couple weeks after winter break.

amother

Buttercup

Fri, Nov 01 2024, 6:07 am

I disagree but maybe because I don't have a cookie cutter kid.
I don't wait for PTA to be in contact to find out how my child is doing

amother

Snow

Fri, Nov 01 2024, 6:19 am

Pta is very fast got a quick check-in. There isn’t a lot of time if a lot to discuss or there are bigger issues.

You can always call the school and leave a message you’d like the teacher to call you at her convenience.

amother

Jade

Fri, Nov 01 2024, 6:43 am

amother Nasturtium wrote:

Agree 100%. Don't be that annoying parent who is constantly bothering the teacher. Wait till pta. If the teacher brings up an issue at pta ask how often you can reach out about it and what is the best way. If the report is all good then don't keep calling her every few weeks.

amother

Fern

Fri, Nov 01 2024, 6:55 am

amother Ghostwhite wrote:

You don’t only speak to school about issues. That’s being an absent parent. And at that point the ship has sailed.

Absent parent is someone who doesn’t show up to PTA and who doesn’t answer calls from the school. I don’t see how a teacher would be able to answer calls from many parents each month just checking in about how their child is doing. I think if there is an issue, the school would let you know. If you’re child is telling you about a real issue and you think the school isn’t aware or is not taking care of it, then by all means call. Calling just to check in on a child that’s doing well just because you’re curious is not necessary.