Despite technology allowing us to stay more connected to our children’s school, I am lagging behind. For those of you with grown children or for those who don’t have children and grew up at least a decade ago, you are in for a special treat of what it’s like now. For those of you that are in the thick of things now….let’s be strong together. We will get through this, I think.
Volunteering
Then
There would be 3 parties a year for Halloween, Christmas and Valentines day. I would bring home a slip with a list of party needs. My mom would circle spoons as her donation. The teacher would have to hope for the best and not end up with 500 spoons and 0 cookies. There was usually 1 mother helping out the day of the party and it was never my mom. Hell, I think we had parties without any mothers.
Today
You are sent a link to Sign Up Genius to donate to the Harvest, Holiday or Valentine Party. Because I wait till my email reaches roughly 6,000 before cleaning it out, I am the last to sign up to donate. As I am being logged into the site I pray to God that spoons are still available to donate. Unfortunately, the only thing left to donate is Tuscan risotto or Creme Brulee.
The party is planned, staged and put on by over-zealous mothers who are a bit confused about Pinterest and incorporating it into the parties. Side note to these mothers: the more obnoxious the Pinterest craft is that you make does not make you a better mother. Just because you can fashion a quirky little kid with a capri sun and a rice crispie treat, doesn’t deem you mother of the year.
Communication From the Teacher
Then
Occasionally if the teacher was feeling like going over and beyond, they would send home a witty little letter along with our report card, detailing everything the class had accomplished.
Now
In addition to the class website, we are sent a newsletter every week. There is also an app called Class Dojo which the teacher posts pictures on and sends messages to us. For my middle-schooler, 1/2 of the teachers send updates via email as well as each principal has emails they send out. The school district is on Facebook and Twitter as well as the middle school having it’s own Facebook site. I have access as well as the boys to something called progress book online where I can check all of their assignments and grade though I haven’t been on it since last year because I can’t remember my log on and I must complete an obstacle course to obtain new credentials.
Behavior
Then
I remember a kid in the 4th grade getting paddled. I was mentally abused by my 3rd grade nun. Unless we received a detention, our behavior wasn’t really communicated to our parents till the report card. The ass hole teachers always felt the need to select a pre-generated “note” about your behavior that read something like:
Does not apply themselves
Disruptive in class
Sorry Mrs. Smith but no person with a soul and a will to live wants to apply themselves to Algebra.
Now
The kids have a color code and based on behavior it goes something like this:
- Purple- Saint
- Green- Good
- Blue- Meh
- Yellow- Uh-oh
- Orange- Screwed
- Red- Run away
Every day my son brings home a paper showing the color they received and I have to initial it every single day. This works for most kids but it sounds like a few could care less about what color they get. I know this because my son has told me so.
My next entry we will discuss lunches, lock-down practices and field trips. If you guys have any suggestions, I am all ears!
Oh I love these flashback type of things! I can’t remember my mom ever being involved in school things. She might have gone on a field trip once or twice but I can’t remember even that.
Yes! And if my mom did, I don’t remember it….ever!
I hate class Dojo for behavior. Munch’s teacher uses it to send pictures and half ass communicates and then sends us a behavior report. Just create a parenting email list and communicate with the parents. You only have one class with 25 students. Ugh!
I am just so scared I’m going to miss something. My wish would be for their teacher to decide on 1 standard form of communication and that be the ONLY outlet. It’s additionally confusing b/c my middle schooler has multiple teachers which means each of them use their own performed version of communicating. So then I’m left to remember, who uses what. You totally get it!
LOL. I totally agree. Pick one method and rock with it.
Yup!
Speaking as a former teacher, your kids’ teachers are probably pulling their hair out. Someone tried to get me to sign up for Class Dojo, and I was like, “Are you freain’ kidding me?!” Sadly, we were not allowed to have any kinds of parties– partially because we were in middle school and partially because they were too afraid of offending someone. *Rolls eyes.*
So you were against Class Dojo? Do you figure my sons’ teachers are forced to use it or do they have the option to use it? I can’t believe they have just gotten rid of parties! What is this world coming to? Honest to God!
I know! It was so sad! No candy, no costumes, nothing! ? Re Class Dojo, it depends on the school/ district. Some people do really like it, but I felt like it was just one more thing on my plate, besides updating grades, and my website, and my google classroom, and answering parent emails, and sending good news notes— you get the idea.
Completely understand. It’s like the amount of social media out there. Too much to keep up!
Apparently, I’m soulless…and I DO suffer from depression, which might explain why I fell asleep in a Calc II final and got an “A” (Which, by the way, are no longer the types of grades given. MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
On a side note, I was the one that got paddled for calling a teacher a name, I still need to tell you about. And I really struggle with the kid-glove approach to education nowadays – we literally could tell our kids, “Back in our day…” stories.
A in Calculus? Wow! I struggled with pre-Algebra. They give A through F’s still but only in middle school and high school. Elementary is like an E, M, P, in an effort to not offend. Whahh!
Eh… In our school district it’s 4, 3, 2 and 1 as if the kids wouldn’t be offended getting a 1 instead of a D (they don’t actually use the word “fail”)
So stupid! If you fail, you fail! How will these kids function as adults?
Word!
Oh…and I can’t remember a damned thing since I never use calculus #thoseeffingteachersliedaboutneedingthis
#WeAllWalkAwayWithTheSameDiploma
#MyJobSucksComparedToTheDiplomaIEarned
#IForgetEverythingFromCollege
#LuckYou