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Jacksmommy
My love muffin!
Member since 1/07 5819 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Parent/Teacher Communication
How many of you have email contact information for your child's teacher? I emailed my son's teacher (she never gave us her email address but it is on the school's website) about an incident that happened on Friday and when I called her today about it, she said that the union does not allow her to respond to parents by email. I am a teacher and often contact parents by email (and encourage them to do so as well). I have heard many of my friends say that they have contact with their child's teacher by email. I am just curious how many others are not able to contact their child's teacher by email!
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Posted 1/13/14 8:15 PM  |
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SHOPAHOLIC
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 1712 total posts
Name:
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
We are strongly encouraged to email the teachers via the school's website. They always get back to me within 24 hours.
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| Posted 1/13/14 9:00 PM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
Name:
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
I am a teacher and a parent, and I communicate via email in both cases!
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| Posted 1/13/14 10:39 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
I contact my DD's teacher by email whenever I need to. She responds very quickly and encourages it. Last year we were encouraged to email as well. Sounds like maybe your teacher doesn't want to be bothered or perhaps doesn't want a paper trail for some reason. Try putting a note in your child's backpack maybe instead?
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| Posted 1/14/14 2:38 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
Every year, during open house or parent-teacher conferences, I ask if the teacher has an email address, and they always respond that they don't.... 
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| Posted 1/14/14 8:29 AM |
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
DS's teacher last year used email. It was great.
This year I'm not sure but I don't think she does. The packet from open house said if you have an issue send a note or call. She did put her email at the bottom of a form she sent home about parent conferences, so I guess we could email her. Luckily things have been going well so I haven't had to speak to her often.
Your teacher probably doesn't like to use email for whatever reason, and the union probably says they aren't required to. Is she older? I notice some older people don't like email.
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| Posted 1/14/14 9:19 AM |
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Sheena
LIF Infant
Member since 3/07 264 total posts
Name:
queen of the jungle
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Parent/Teacher Communication
I'm a teacher, and I wouldn't email parents. Sorry, I don't trust that a parent wouldn't misinterpret something I may say by email and then use it against me for whatever reason.
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| Posted 1/14/14 10:49 AM |
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EricaAlt
LIF Adult
Member since 7/08 22665 total posts
Name:
Erica
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
DS is in PreK and I communicate with his teachers via phone, email and by notebook. Teachers ask to send in a notebook where we send some notes, concerns or stories back and forth. Nothing too crazy, but enough that I know how DS is doing.
When they email they are not allowed to use names so I get a first initial.
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| Posted 1/14/14 12:13 PM |
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Parent/Teacher Communication
As a former teacher I preferred to communicate via email, I feel it's easier to avoid miscommunication and a parent can't claim you said something you didn't (which had happened to me). I have also emailed DD's teacher, her address is on the school website.
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| Posted 1/14/14 12:24 PM |
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Bluechristmas
LIF Adolescent
Member since 12/09 595 total posts
Name:
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
My union will not allow us, or at least strongly told us not, to use email for parent communication.
I honestly see both sides. It would certainly be more convenient than playing phone tag during prep periods, but sometimes the tone can be misconstrued.
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| Posted 1/14/14 4:37 PM |
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PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
Name:
Ms. Brat
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
Posted by InShock
I am a teacher and a parent, and I communicate via email in both cases!
Ditto!
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| Posted 1/14/14 7:14 PM |
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
DS is in Pre-K and I do not have an email for his teacher.
There's a general email that I've sent inquiries to before but even that they don't really respond much to.
I'm a social worker so I am used to communicating by email and am always careful what I put into writing.
I've also seen how it can get out of hand, but believe it or not, it's often with other providers and not actual clients.
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| Posted 1/14/14 7:15 PM |
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Jacksmommy
My love muffin!
Member since 1/07 5819 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
Posted by Bluechristmas
My union will not allow us, or at least strongly told us not, to use email for parent communication.
I honestly see both sides. It would certainly be more convenient than playing phone tag during prep periods, but sometimes the tone can be misconstrued.
I wonder if you work in the school district my son attends. Can't tone be misconstrued over the phone? Also, what is the difference between writing a note and an email (since the teacher said she was going to write me a note but "forgot").
Can't a phone conversation turn into a he said/she said? Wouldn't you want to have more proof of what you relayed to parents?
Not a criticism, just questions. I was really taken aback since my district encourages us to contact parents (obviously in a most professional manner).
I kinda feel that telling an entire union that they can't contact/discourage contact sets up a CYA kinda situation and it makes it look like teachers have something to hide!
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| Posted 1/14/14 7:47 PM |
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Jacksmommy
My love muffin!
Member since 1/07 5819 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
Posted by MrsProfessor
As a former teacher I preferred to communicate via email, I feel it's easier to avoid miscommunication and a parent can't claim you said something you didn't (which had happened to me). I have also emailed DD's teacher, her address is on the school website.
Exactly how I feel. And as an aside, I got the email address off the school website!
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| Posted 1/14/14 7:48 PM |
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Michmouse
LIF Adult
Member since 11/07 1260 total posts
Name:
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
I am a teacher and have been instructed not to utilize email to communicate with parents. It's an administrative request, not a union issue. There have been incidents that precipitated this request.
My DS's kindergarten teacher does not correspond via email either.
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| Posted 1/14/14 8:03 PM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
Name:
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Parent/Teacher Communication
In this day and age, it's quite antiquated not to use email, at least for basic correspondence. I don't understand why it would be a problem if you are just planning things like birthday parties, answering simple questions, etc. If there is a major issue, I totally understand avoiding email (I personally prefer the phone), but for everyday stuff, it's pretty lame not to use it.
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| Posted 1/14/14 8:54 PM |
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Juliet
Family is Complete!
Member since 5/05 5913 total posts
Name:
Juliet
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
My daughter's school asks not to discuss disciplinary problems via email but any other correspondence via email is permitted.
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| Posted 1/14/14 9:28 PM |
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beachgirl
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 7967 total posts
Name:
sara
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
YEs - email communication with all the teachers I need to contact in DD's school and most especially her grade teacher.
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| Posted 1/15/14 8:18 PM |
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Re: Parent/Teacher Communication
If it is a general question it can be done via email. If it about incidents, I believe it has to be by phone.
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| Posted 1/17/14 2:20 PM |
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