Is this asking too much of a teacher?

My nephew is struggling in school and has all along. He is now in 8th grade. His parents, in an effort to help him and to make sure he gets his assignments done, asked one of the teachers to provide them with the assignments (for each day, by week - whatever works best), by email or note home, because the teacher does not put assignments on the e-board. The teacher refused, saying my nephew is old enough to know what he has to do and she shouldn't have to provide him with this "extra". Is it really asking too much, to help a child who is struggling, so that his parents can know if he is doing what he is supposed to do? I was shocked to hear that the teacher refused their request.

Is this asking too much of a teacher?

My son is in seventh grade currently and last year I had put in a similar request (and this was sixth grade, big transition to middle school, etc). And I was also told that not only do they not have the time to do that, that he was old enough and needs to be more responsible and accountable.

The only thing I could get them to agree on is for each teacher to sign his "agenda book" daily to ensure he was writing down the homework properly. We did this for a while and it worked. So far this year in seventh grade, we have not had the need to do it. So maybe this technique worked in forming the habit of writing it down properly.

Another thing I did at the end of the year was to specifically call a meeting with the guidance counselor and request he be put in classes the next year with teachers who use the eboard. They did this, and that is helping a lot this year.

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

Does he have an iep? I would schedule a meeting with the guidance counselor or the vice principal to discuss how he is slipping through the cracks.

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

Is this asking too much of a teacher?

to be honest - I do think its a lot to ask just because those teachers can have 100+ students. If they started doing this for every kid whose parent just asked - it would be a nightmare. And they probably can't do for one and then have another parent ask and say No to them. I also tend to agree that at 8th grade it is the students responsibilty and even though your family is legit trying to help him - a lot of other parents will then turn it back on the teacher and blame them for missed homeworks or assignments. So unless there is a written reason on file at the school that the teacher is directed to do it - I would never expect them to take it on.

Is this asking too much of a teacher?

Yes I think it is too much for the teacher. They have many students and only about 40 minutes to teach, doing extra taking away from the other students. I would sit down with guidance and try to come up with solutions. Does the teacher write them on the board? Can he take a picture of them with his phone? Does he need an aide for that class to keep him on track? In our school the teacher puts all assignments on the Parent Portal so we know what is needed. He may just need some organizational tips to keep him on track.

Is this asking too much of a teacher?

If the teacher would use the parent portal or e-board, it wouldn't be an issue. Most of his teachers do that, but this one refuses. I do understand that it can become a huge thing if a lot of kids/parents ask, but then why not put the info online? I appreciate all of the responses. My brother & SIL are just frustrated trying to help him and being met with no way to do so in this situation.

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

Yes too much - unless he has special needs.

Today for the first time I brought my child into the PTC because I felt she needs to be part of a discussion when this is all about HER. She is my younger one and in 5th grade. I stress education and am hard on them with school work and grades however this is THEIR education and responsibility not as much mine. I have set the expectation and offer them the support they need and do email teachers but I refuse to be a helicopter.

Edited because I just saw the post about him being in an IEP. I hope they work with him. Can he ask one or 2 reliable classmates each day to make sure he has the assignments?

Message edited 11/4/2015 8:59:58 PM.

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

Where are homework assignments posted? Is he having trouble copying it accurately? I think the idea to take a picture of the assignment with the phone is a great idea.

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

No, I don't think asking the teacher to do this is too much. When I worked full-time, clients would ask for me to complete different tasks, meet tight deadlines, etc. and I always did. I certainly never said it was too much work. I would take the issue up with the department head or principal.

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

At that age, yes, it's asking to much of the teacher to spoon feed him his assignments. Kids need to learn to take responsibility for themselves at a certain point. If he were in 2nd grade I'd feel differently but in 8th grade, he should really know how to write an assignment down on his own.

ETA - Just saw he has an IEP. That might change my feelings a bit depending on his needs and what's outlined in his IEP.

Message edited 11/5/2015 12:21:51 PM.

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

Being that he has an IEP, so obviously has some sort of special need, I say NO this isn't asking too much. Not at all. If this continues to be a problem, I would talk to special education department about calling a meeting to discuss providing an aide that will be able to copy the homework for him, so he can complete it successfully. I bet they will make the teacher assist him then. Pay for an aide, or have the teacher help?..... Also, if ALL his other teachers are doing this, why can't this ONE teacher do it? She sounds difficult, and I would fight that for sure!

My son has a 1:1 and she writes his homework down in each of his classes.

Message edited 11/5/2015 12:20:10 PM.

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Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

Message edited 11/5/2015 12:21:55 PM.

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

If he has an IEP then it is not asking too much. What are his issues/needs? I'd have a solution written into the IEP. They should look into a psychoeducational assessment. A good one will include very specific and tailored school/classroom/teacher recommendations that can then be put into the IEP.

Is this asking too much of a teacher?

An IEP doesn't always mean that a student should receive something like this. The district would need to look into the cause of him not being able to copy down his homework on his own. That being said, by 8th grade I do think kids should be able to copy down assignments, and parent portals are often a crutch for the kids.

I also don't think I've even had a MS kid whose IEP required me writing down homework assignments for them.

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

An IEP is not a blanket "this child is given whatever they want."

I believe - unless otherwise directed in his IEP - that this is an unreasonable accomodation. You can't expect every teacher to honor requests like this - part of parenting and teaching is to teach your child to be responsible for their schoolwork. By 8th grade he should find a way to make sure he gets his assignments written down. That's on him and his parents - it's not the teachers job to coddle him.

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

I teach eighth grade math. I have to say this is unreasonable. The child is going to high school next year. I don't think I would honor this request as a teacher either for the following reason: if I happen to forget(amongst teaching my 100 students) to write down his hw for him or email you, is it then my fault he didn't do the hw? It's a slippery slope. I'm sure he has friends he can text in the teachers class and they can tell him the hw if he can't write it down himself. Also, an accommodation made for one child is not fair if I don't do it for everyone. I have plenty of students with ieps and 504s and they all manage to write down the hw everyday.

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Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

Message edited 11/7/2015 9:07:14 AM.

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Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?

Message edited 11/28/2015 2:12:50 PM.

Re: Is this asking too much of a teacher?