| I remember waiting anxiously for the letter to | | | | child's previous teacher, the preschool director, |
| come announcing the teacher my child would | | | | and sometimes the parent herself. If we think |
| have for the upcoming year. So many times, it | | | | two students prevent each other from being |
| seemed like I didn't get the best choice. Now, as | | | | most successful, we work hard to separate them. |
| a teacher myself, it's interesting to sit on the | | | | If we believe a child is best served in a smaller |
| other side of the desk, and wonder how many of | | | | class, we make sure she is placed there. If there |
| my students' parents think that they could have | | | | are children who need additional support, we place |
| done better. | | | | them in a class with an extra teacher. |
| In truth, most of the times when I was | | | | In other words, it isn't the teacher alone who |
| disappointed with my child's placement, I was | | | | should make you pleased or not when you get |
| proved wrong. Once given a chance, the teacher | | | | your child's assignment. Give it a chance even if |
| came through and gave my child an excellent | | | | you don't get your first choice. Maybe, instead, |
| education. It's so easy to get caught up in rumor | | | | your child got the best choice for her. |
| and speculation and believe your child MUST have | | | | And, in the worst case, even a not-so-great |
| a particular teacher or he will be doomed to | | | | teacher is a learning experience for the child. My |
| failure. Yet, there are many factors that go into | | | | daughter had a really crummy teacher one year. I |
| creating a cohesive class, and usually your child's | | | | believe she made my child more doubtful about |
| best interests are considered. | | | | her abilities. While I wish she hadn't experienced |
| For example, would your child be best educated | | | | that, it did force our family to work harder to |
| by a teacher who will push her to work harder or | | | | instill confidence in our child ourselves. It taught |
| is the gentle approach better? Will the other kids | | | | her that sometimes you have to make a bad |
| in the class form a complementary unit or are | | | | situation work, which is an important life lesson at |
| there kids who are more disruptive? In the end, | | | | any age. |
| it's part teacher, part students, and part how it all | | | | |
| works together that makes a class a success. | | | | So, when you open your letter, stay positive. |
| Where I teach we take great pains to create the | | | | Have faith that your child will have a wonderful |
| most effective classes, getting input from the | | | | year. |