teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (Full Version)

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artemis -> teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/6/2008 3:27:18 PM)

For those who don't know me, I'm a jr. high Spanish teacher and I'm expecting a baby in December [:)] There is one other Spanish teacher at my school and she just had a baby a few weeks ago. Some parents are understandably concerned about their child's education (or lack there-of) if both of the Spanish teachers are taking an extended leave during the same semester.

I want to put together a letter to send home with my kiddos that will reassure parents that their kids will continue to learn while I am gone and that they will be prepared to go onto Spanish II next year. As a parent, what would you want included in the letter? I have a Spanish-speaking sub who is working on her certification to be a secondary Spanish teacher, so I will definitly mention that. What else should I say that would be reassuring? I'm going to send the letter home a month before my scheduled leave to give parents plenty of time to contact me if they have any questions or concerns. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks!



garsyt -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/6/2008 4:21:15 PM)

I would want to know what your subs qualifications are and it sounds like you are already prepared to handle that. I would also like to know what I could be doing at home to help my child. How about how to access internet sites to help them with their Spanish?

Blessings,

Garsy



2shaye -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/6/2008 4:34:01 PM)

I would want to know how to contact the sub (hopefully it's a long term sub) and is she doing the lesson plans or are you. I would also want to know if you plan to return.



garsyt -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/6/2008 4:44:27 PM)

btw - Congrats on that baby! When are you due again? IM me!

Garsy



artemis -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/7/2008 7:49:54 AM)

Alright, I'm making a list of things to include. I won't send the letter until the end of October, so I've got some time. I've got a lot of stuff to do, though! I'm doing all the lesson plans, and I'm actually going to have them ready to go starting a month early because both my mom and my mother-in-law had all their children early.


quote:

ORIGINAL: 2shaye
I would also want to know if you plan to return.

Hm... good question [8D] My husband has been unemployed since May and is looking for a job (not necessarily in the area). If he gets a job, we'll probably be moving and I'll quit. So while I'm planning to return, I'm hoping I won't have to. Maybe I'll just leave that part out.

The other Spanish teacher is planning NOT to return, but isn't going to tell anyone until the last day of her maternity leave so she can get paid as long has possible. That, to me, is just wrong. Hard on the kids, hard on the school, hard on me who will probably end up having to do her lesson plans until they can find a replacement teacher [:@] My principal knows that if my husband gets a job, I will probably be quitting. If that happens, I will let the kids/parents know as soon as possible.



momma_bee -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/7/2008 7:53:08 AM)

I would want to see a general lesson plan for the year so I can check the teachers progress. "Our goal is to be on chapter 6 before Jan 15th." If I know that they are on chapter 5 in mid December, then they are on track.

Is your sub the same person that subbed for the first absence? That could be reassuring or worriesome... [8D] But I'd want to know if they have long-term subbed in the district.



artemis -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/7/2008 7:59:58 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: momma_bee

I would want to see a general lesson plan for the year so I can check the teachers progress. "Our goal is to be on chapter 6 before Jan 15th." If I know that they are on chapter 5 in mid December, then they are on track.


I already have a day-to-day lesson plan outline through the end of the first semester available on my webpage, complete with the title of all homework assignments and a list of vocabulary. Aren't you impressed? [8D]

quote:


Is your sub the same person that subbed for the first absence? That could be reassuring or worriesome... [8D] But I'd want to know if they have long-term subbed in the district.


I am absolutely NOT using the same sub that the other Spanish teacher used. But I think my sub is relatively new to subbing, so no one knows her. I picked her because she speaks Spanish. She's a college students, so probably pretty young (I haven't met her in person). I'll be meeting with her in November to go over all the lesson plans and whatnot.



momma_bee -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/7/2008 8:13:43 AM)

I am impressed - please talk to my kids' teachers? I get so frustrated I swear I'd use a vacation day a month to sit in the library and update their pages...

[8D] Well, I was impressed until I read this???
quote:

She's a college students
Hiring a girl with a multiple personality is a bit risky. [8D] Just teasing about the typo - no disrespect intended.

BTW, my kid loves Spanish and told his old English teacher last night he likes it better and is doing better in class.

I would emphasize WHY you are using the sub you chose so that you reassure folks with her qualifications.



artemis -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/7/2008 8:56:02 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: momma_bee

[8D] Well, I was impressed until I read this???
quote:

She's a college students
Hiring a girl with a multiple personality is a bit risky. [8D] Just teasing about the typo - no disrespect intended.



[8D] I said I teach Spanish, not English... and for good reason [:D]



Kath -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/8/2008 10:21:42 AM)

quote:

If he gets a job, we'll probably be moving and I'll quit. So while I'm planning to return, I'm hoping I won't have to. Maybe I'll just leave that part out.


I wouldn't say that either!

It honestly never occurred to me to worry about a long term sub. I'd figure they have to follow the lesson plan. If my child wasn't bringing home the same amount of homework or said they were getting behind I'd call the principal. I wouldn't even have asked about credentials. After all, I wouldn't have asked the teacher going on leave what hers are.

The only thing I think I'd want is the email address but I'd probably get that from the principal.

Is sending out a letter before a leave common where you are?



garsyt -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/8/2008 10:51:44 AM)

quote:

It honestly never occurred to me to worry about a long term sub. I'd figure they have to follow the lesson plan.


I thought that too - but last year we had a long term sub for our art teacher and even though the art teacher left detailed lesson plans for each grade level, she complained to the 4th grades several days in a row that she was not left lesson plans for them. I KNOW the plans were left for those two weeks! -I took them from the Art teacher in the office as she was late to get on the road to a doctors appointment with her daughter waiting in the car, and took them down to the art room myself and handed them right to the sub. I KNOW 4th grade was there as it was the second one on the pile. I saw it I handed her the plans for her first class of the day and 4th grade was the next one on the pile. I helped her get sat up for that first group of kids (2nd graders I think), but when the 4th graders came in later in the day - I had already left - my daughter proceeded to tell me that Mrs ___ told them that she did not get lesson plans for their group so she was just going to let them draw in their sketch books.[:@][&:] I was pretty upset and called and spoke with the principal the next morning. I never heard what happened with all that, but I do know that the project that the kids were supposed to do was NEVER done, at least while the sub was there that 2 weeks.

So while they should follow the lesson plans - it doesn't always happen. Most subs do follow the lesson plans tho. We just didn't get one of those that week.

Blessings,

Garsy



artemis -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/8/2008 11:55:02 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Kath
Is sending out a letter before a leave common where you are?


Not that I know of, but I know that the counselors have gotten several complaints about both of the Spanish teachers being pregnant at the same time. They seem to think we planned this [;)] I think they just feel blind-sided by the fact that they showed up to school and found out their child's teacher would be missing an entire six-weeks. Quite a few parents asked to have their child switched from the other Spanish class to mine, only to find out that I would be taking maternity leave this semester, too! I thought a letter might make me appear more organized and prepared, as well as making the parents feel involved/informed.



Kath -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/8/2008 2:53:56 PM)

That's very thoughtful of you, Amy :)



kohls356 -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/11/2008 3:31:44 PM)

My main concern is that the sub knows the curriculum they are teaching. My middle daughter has had a sub in geometry since the beginning of school and he didn't know much about geometry. After many students wanting out of that class they ended up bringing in someone else that knows geometry to teach. I think it is one thing to have a sub that doesn't know much about the subject for one or two days but for several months they need to know what they are teaching and how to teach it.



zoebob -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/11/2008 5:09:38 PM)

The might want to know who will be grading and if the set up for the gradse will be the same or will the sub implement her own grading system.

Almost a year ago my mom had surgery on her foot and missed about 6 weeks of school. I majored in that subject and had gone to school to be a teacher. Plus, I had her as a teacher many years ago and she hasn't changed her system very much. I went in for about 4 days before she was out and observed 2 days and then taught her classes for 2 days to get used to the system. She made up the lessons and I brought the tests/quizzes home for her to grade (homework is checked for completion and only counted as extra credit if 100% right) so the grading stayed consistent. I think the parents thought it was a smooth transition.



artemis -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/14/2008 12:34:27 PM)

OK, here is my rough draft. I'm trying not to make it too long because I'm afraid no one will read it then [:)] Thoughts? Comments? Typos ([:o])?



Estimados padres y estudiantes,

As many of you know, I am expecting a baby in early December and will be on maternity leave most of the end of the semester and the beginning of next semester. I would like to take a moment to share some details with you as I know this can be a difficult transition in the classroom.

My leave is scheduled from December 1- February 5 and I plan to return to the classroom on February 9. My long term sub, sub's name, is currently pursuing her certification in Secondary Spanish. I believe she will be an excellent replacement for me and that she will be able to help the students through my lesson plans just as well as I could.

My blackboard site is current (web site) and has an outline of lessons for the rest of the semester. Students and parents can utilize the site to see what we have covered and see what is coming up. The vocabulary we are studying in the classroom is also available on the site.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Because I travel between two schools, e-mail is the easiest way to get in touch with me. My e-mail address is my (e-mail address). If you prefer contact by phone, you can leave a message on my name of school phone and I will return your call as soon as possible. My number is (my number).

Sincerely,

my name



garsyt -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/14/2008 7:10:38 PM)

Did you say something about her being fluent in the language?

You may also want to include something about your expectations of the students, behavior wise. From experience kids try to pull things on subs if they think they can get away with it - BUT if they KNOW you will be in touch with the sub from time to time, maybe they'll behave themselves better.

Blessings,

Garsy



ffbruce -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/15/2008 11:31:07 AM)

Hey Artemis;

This looks like a well thought-out and written letter. It is proactive rather than reactive, and gives parents plenty of time to call or email you.

My wife & I have two grown children, and one who is a high school junior. We have been very involved in our children's educations, and I would personally be quite satisfied with your letter.

Thanks for caring so much about your kids. You're obviously a good teacher!


Oh - and congrats on your pregnancy!



CEmom -> RE: teacher out for 2 months... what would you want to know? (10/21/2008 2:38:17 PM)

I had to laugh at the parents being worried about both spanish teachers off for 6 weeks. Here in Canada moms get a year off and as a mom of kids in schol always worry when we get a young teacher. lol Hats off to all of you who go back after 6 weeks. And congrats on the baby



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