From a Teacher
As I said, I believe in a good education. Â And one thing that I believe can help foster that is a strong reading and writing background.
Many teachers say, Read to your child!  Read to your child!  And they are right on!  It is important…
BUT as Roy just pointed out…that isn’t how a child is TAUGHT to read.  Or rather that is not all that is needed.  If simply reading to someone teaches them to read a teachers job would probably be a lot easier, right?
And let me make this VERY clear AGAIN-I didnt’ say I expected a 12th Grade English teacher to stop teaching what they are required to teach and read Dr. Seuss because Little Johnny can’t grasp Shakespeare.  What I WOULD expect that teacher to do is let the proper people know that Little Johnny isn’t able to grasp what he is supposed to be able to at this level. Identifying a problem SHOULD be exactly what we expect of a teacher, because if  you are taught to TEACH, and you can’ do so because a child can not learn at the level you are teaching, how can you do your job?  How can parents get that child the help they need?  How can that child get the help the need?
A few points (and forgive me if it jumps around, it is rainy season in Florida and that triggers my migraines):
It sounds like you and Roy are fabulous parents.  You love your children, want the best for them, and it sounds like you would be willing to try just about anything reasonable a teacher suggested to you.  That’s fabulous.  However, in my 7 years of teaching in both low and high ses more than half of the parents I have dealt with have not been willing to work at home with their kids.  I get very anxious prior to parent-teacher conferences because while I LOVE my students and see the absolute best in them â€" in the past when I mentioned any concerns I had (academic, behavior, or social).  I’ve been jumped on.  The response that I receive is that responsibility of fixing my concerns are entirely on my shoulders â€" and not at all on the parents or the students.  (Alternately, the community of parents I work with now respect my profession, my opinion, and trust what I say instead of questioning it.  It is so refreshing).
If you knew all that I put into my teaching, and how much I care about my students, you would know how incredibly demoralizing such encounters can be.  They eat at my thoughts, and take away from my concentration on my job.  Do I think parents should share concerns, ask questions, etc.?  Absolutely.  However, I think that when it is approached as I am an expert in education and together we are going to work on a solution for any problems â€" the results can be much more positive.  I’m not saying that you personally don’t do this, but many parents do.  I’ve been told, “I basically pay your pay check, so you have to do this.”
I am a primary teacher with a M.Ed. in Literacy.  I believe that all content area teachers do teach reading in some forms, and should have appropriate teaching strategies to support students with lower reading skills.  However, there are mandated curricula that teachers MUST follow.  In an era of high expectations, if we suddenly lower the material we are at professional risk because of education laws and requirements in districts.  Many elementary schools uses response to instruction (RtI) to support students reading below grade level.  The RtI is in addition to, not in replace of, the core curriculum.  As data is collected, if the child is still not showing progress they are referred for a special education evaluation (Multifactory Evaluation MFE) and if there is a disability they receive a Individualized Education Plan which identifies goals, services, types of instructions, and accommodations.
So, ultimately all students MUST receive the core curriculum (grade level).  Supports are available â€" however, this is NOT done during the core instructional time.  As the student hits high school, it is my understanding that high schools generally have different levels of courses (remediation, regular, honors, AP, etc.).  That is something to be considered.  If your child was below grade level at this point, I’d reflect on the effort you and your child are putting into their school work (not that you do their work, but the way you enforce expectations).  Then if your child is working at a reasonable level, you are trying to support them, etc. I would suggest you approach these teachers and say “What can we do to help Johnny access this material and help him improve his reading comprehension/writing skills?”  Most teachers are probably differentiating their lessons and making it as hands-on as possible.  You might be surprised to know what they are already doing.  I really think asking for advice, asking what is working in the classroom, asking what tutoring is available at the school, will absolutely always be received better than “You need to do this,” “Well, when I was a kid we…” and, “You shouldn’t do this.”
Believe me I get it. Â Just as a parent, I can see that some parents believe a teachers job is to teach-and to them that means teach it ALL! Â Manners, hygiene, nutrition, as well as reading writing and arithmetic. Â I understand that. Â We have cringed more than once during back to school night as a parent attacked a teacher.
I am not a teacher, but I was a swim coach. Â I had parents attack me because their kid did not do well in a meet, but the bottom line is I can’t swim the race for them. Â Students need to put in an effort. Â As a parent, I get that, and I tell my kids that. Â
And I agree with you that many parents take the attitude of “If I didnt’ have kids you wouldn’t have job.” Â Sure in a way that is true, but at the same time the teachers that love what they do, that are passionate about teaching can be chased OUT of the profession by parents like that. Â I get it, and as a parent of five kids that bothers me. Â I give teachers their due, trust me. Â Just like with my boys, I know people flourish when they know their work is appreciated, and I make sure to do that with the boys’ teachers, but that doens’t mean I will hold back when there MIGHT be a problem.
On the other hand, I do THINK SOME things worked better from ‘the old days.’ Â Phonics-many kids dont’ even know how to sound out a word. Â Why not?
I see your points and agree with many of them, on the other hand, do you know what it is like for a parent to ask a teacher for advice and get no response? Â Or even worse, be asked to clarify who their child even is-even though you give child’s name and what block they have the teacher in? Â Do you know, as a parent, what it is like to set up a meeting with a teacher, to try and come to some resolution, or get some answers only to be told that basically your child is a screw up and they are just biding time until they can get rid of them? Â Do you know what it is like to walk by a classroom and see a teacher sleeping and kids just doing busy work?
Just like ANY other profession, I think most teachers (and notice I say most) care about their students. Â I think they do what they do because they want to make a difference, but I think there are some teachers that could give a flying poop, and it is those teachers THIS parent is concerned about!
