A Note to Parents from Teachers

A recent Huffingtonpost.com article (here) stated that U.S. teachers work more than their peers from around the world. According to the article, American elementary school teachers spend 1,131 hours in the classroom. The study’s numbers came out to 6.3 hours per day, which I calculated to be fairly accurate based on a 180-day school year. In some countries, like Hungary and Greece, teachers logged less than 600 hours. Which means they either have really short school years or they only work three hours per day. I think sending my resume to the Athens Unified School District is a no-brainer. I wonder if they have LAUSD’s BIC program there: Baklava in the Classroom. 

Teaching is a rewarding, but challenging career. It calls for the split-second decision making skills of an NFL quarterback and the clock-management techniques of a basketball coach. Teachers must act as referee, psychologist, nurse, and breakfast-server (in my district). We have to know how to fix a copy machine as well as provide our own computer tech support. Teachers must have optimal bladder control in order to survive until recess or lunch while drinking just enough water to avoid getting parched from talking all day long. And then there’s the countless hours of grading, planning, and checking Pinterest for the latest and greatest lesson ideas.

I am honored to work alongside some serious Hall-of-Fame worthy teachers. Additionally, I have several friends who are educators. I polled many of them to find out how parents can best help those of us who have devoted our lives to teaching children. My question excluded spending money. We teachers appreciate AND NEED every donation we receive from our classroom moms and dads. And the monetary support that goes into fundraisers and PTO events is CRUCIAL. But I wanted to see what things my colleagues need from parents that don’t come with price tags.

Before I get to their answers, I would be remiss if didn’t acknowledge and praise the parents who go above and beyond to donate their time to their schools and to their child’s education. Personally, I have some outstanding volunteers this year. And it’s a pleasure to call many “former” parents friends long after their children have moved on.

And I’m sure it goes without saying that many parents feel that their child’s teacher needs to get a clue at times. But we’ll leave that for a later entry. Here’s how the teachers I know asked their classroom parents to help:

Volunteering at School

I can’t put a dollar sign on the importance of helping in the classroom. There is enough paperwork alone in one classroom to keep an administrative assistant busy all day. Helping with the clerical side of things is vital. Let’s say it saves a teacher 15 minutes at the end of the day. Over 180 school days that comes to 45 hours of work.

Volunteers can also help set up art or science projects, make photo copies, grade multiple-choice tests, work with small groups, assist during “centers” time, or give a lesson on something they know a whole lot about. Last year a grandparent, who happened to be a retired teacher, taught art lessons to my students twice a month. I bet there’s a dad out there with a great P.E. lesson to share. Some teachers need help with taking pictures on field trips and on-campus events. One colleague suggested putting together a class website. Other ideas include being a mystery reader and helping in the library or the computer lab. This last one is huge. Try getting three dozen 4^th or 5^th graders to print or save their essays to a flash drive minutes before the bell rings.

Obviously, many parents can’t come to school to volunteer. They’re either at work or at home raising the children who aren’t in school yet. If willing, these parents can take home prep work, especially for a kinder teacher and her endless amount of cutting and gluing projects.

Supporting the Teacher

I expected many teachers to request classroom help, but I never anticipated so many others to put such an emphasis on the need for more support at home.

Said a colleague: “The most helpful thing is when parents speak with respect about school, the teacher, and homework; as well as back up my disciplinary decisions.” One teacher asked parents to embrace the partnership between themselves, the student, and the teacher. Because, she said, a student’s success isn’t solely the teacher’s responsibility. The student plays a role and the parent plays a role. In other words: please teach your children independence; don’t enable them.

Another way to support the teacher is to communicate about your child’s progress or lack thereof. Also asking the teacher what needs to take place to ensure success. We really appreciate knowing what kind of things are going on at home or outside of school that could be affecting classroom performance. Let us know how the child likes class … in a constructive, sensitive way. If issues arise, and they always do, take them to the teacher first before approaching an administrator.

Some teachers requested that parents make themselves more available. A simple wave or smile at drop-off or pickup or asking if we need anything is huge. Even if we don’t need anything right at that moment, the act of asking and checking is so appreciated.

I appreciate the millions of things that parents do. Because instruction is most effective when parents and teachers can work together, communicate clearly, and support one another. I love when parents check and sign homework, send in notes following an absence, let me know in advance when a child is leaving early for an appointment, sign reading logs … and of course provide a sweet treat or two. But please no baklava. Leave that in the office for the principal. He’s Greek.