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Case: Feeling Betrayed
I have had a wonderful school year with my 26 third graders all of whom were bilingual. Most of my students were Chinese Americans with two from India. I used very engaging interactive strategies with my students throughout the year. They have responded to my teaching strategies very well, and made a lot of progress in all content areas. To my surprise and disappointment, my school principal informed me that she received a letter signed by most of the parents of my students stating that I did not teach their enough math. In the letter, they indicated the previous year students came home with a lot of homework and completed a large number of worksheets, while this year they have been given fewer worksheets. I explained to my principal that I was more interested in using math manipulatives and meaningful real world math problems than repetitive worksheets. What disappointed me (or hurt me) the most was that I have had four meetings with all the parents, and they did not raise any concerns in these meetings. Why would they directly go to the principal? What did I do wrong? Is this cultural? How should I respond to these parents?
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
I can completely understand how shocked and hurt you must feel, especially if you have met with the parents. Not taking their side at all but maybe they felt more comfortable going to your boss instead of coming to you. I'm not sure why they wouldn't come to you instead, especially since you are the teacher and know more about what's going on in your classroom instead of the principal. I don't think you have done anything wrong. I think you are doing a great job by instead of giving worksheets, you're making their math more real world for them. I would keep up the great work and just talk to your parents. Let them know what you are doing and why. Though I don't feel like a teacher should ever have to explain why she is teaching how she is teaching, just do it and show them how much more progress you have seen teaching this way. |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
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The suggested solution is original |
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Comments: |
Rated On: March 3, 2013 8:19 pm |
Rated By: yTuGyd |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
No
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Comments: I thought this solution was appropriate. The teacher should not take it to heart that the parents did not come to him with their questions. Instead, just explain to them the new method of teaching math. |
Rated On: October 15, 2014 12:38 am |
Rated By: ySaryN |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: It was probably sheer embarrassment on their part, or coming from a cultural aspect. Although they might have come to you before some educators believe that just meeting with the parents work perfectly. Sometimes the parents have concerns they feel are better addressed with the principal. |
Rated On: October 17, 2014 12:49 am |
Rated By: PezaLe |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this because they should of come to you first and then went to the principal if the issue continued. |
Rated On: October 19, 2014 9:43 pm |
Rated By: apened |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: I completely agree with you. Letting the parents know what is going on in the classroom and the reasons behind it may make them more understanding. |
Rated On: October 21, 2014 2:43 am |
Rated By: yVuLyR |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: I would agree with this. |
Rated On: October 21, 2014 2:45 am |
Rated By: qyryMa |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: I agree with this solution. |
Rated On: February 25, 2015 8:07 pm |
Rated By: aNaQev |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: This is a good solution for this issue. Informing the parents about what they have been doing in class and letting them know about the progress they have made using the manipulatives verus using repetitive worksheets. |
Rated On: February 26, 2015 1:57 am |
Rated By: uVataS |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: I would do exactly this. |
Rated On: October 27, 2015 2:33 am |
Rated By: yheGaQ |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: This solution is stated exactly what I was thinking. Most imprtantly I think more teachers should attach math to real world problems. |
Rated On: October 17, 2016 2:55 am |
Rated By: Raven B |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: Agreed! |
Rated On: March 6, 2017 3:35 am |
Rated By: jyvubu |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: i agree |
Rated On: October 27, 2018 2:46 pm |
Rated By: Carla Crumb |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: If I were in this situation, I would exactly do this |
Rated On: October 15, 2020 9:37 pm |
Rated By: Angela Mitchell |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
No
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
No
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: I think this is a good idea. Giving parents a better idea of what is going on in the classroom and giving them something visual could really help. |
Rated On: October 18, 2020 7:25 pm |
Rated By: Mutyre |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: I agree with this solution, I would try to be as open and welcoming as possible to the parents that way if they have something to say, they can come to you and you can address the issue together. |
Rated On: October 31, 2021 4:03 pm |
Rated By: Pearl Reberkenny |
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The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) |
Yes
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The suggested solution is relevant to the case |
Yes
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The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement |
Yes
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The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue |
Yes
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The suggested solution is original |
Yes
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Comments: Sometimes it can feel best to have admin involved in those situations and I would not take it super personally. I agree with this comment. |
Rated On: April 3, 2023 2:17 am |
Rated By: TuVune |
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