What do you think of your child's teacher?

My first graders teacher is in over his head. He was a fourth grade teacher last year. A few partents I have talked to said he has his hands full.It is January and he is still not quite settled into the classroom. He is, as he says, putting the finishing touches on the room. I think he is good though.

The most important part is matching the teaching style with the learning style. When my youngest was in kindergarten, his teacher swore that he was not ready for school. He needed extra attention, and could not be taught in her classroom. He was transfered to another classroom where he did very well. This teacher had no problems. It all came down how the teaching style related to his learning style.

Rachel is an experienced teacher with the right mix of firmness and indulgence - perfect for my year 1 schoolgoer. He is garrulous, witty, loving and an awesome storyteller. Rachel brings out the best in him and he thinks the world of her. Rachel, with her upbringing on a farm in rural NZ does infect her children with joy and down to earth values. Karen, the teacher of our 7 year old is technology savvy, slick and has just the right blend of skills. What she lacks in patience she makes up with throwing challenges to the kids. Our boy wakes up with a buzz, all set to go to school and returns bright eyed and bushy tailed - signs of a good day at school. I think both teachers are good.

We are actually very happy with our son's teacher this year. Last year, when Christmas break was over, he got a new teacher and she was so clueless! I wanted to scream! I pack his lunch, since he is so picky, and I had sent in those little microwave containers of Beefaroni. She waited a week to ask me if I heat them up or give them to him cold! UGh! He is always bringing papers home that he completed in class, plus I am in constant contact with his teacher. Since he is in a special ed class, I make sure I keep on top of what is going on. The teacher and I send notes back and forth each day, we telling her about his evening and the morning before he gets on the bus (if he ate any breakfast, got enough sleep and such) and she sends notes home about what and how he did during the day. I'm hoping he has the same teacher next year. He works really well for her.

I have been very lucky. Almost all of the teachers my kids have had I liked very much, and the ones I had issues with weren't that serious. The scary thing is that my middle daughter this year had a sub for part of the year while her teacher was sick. Well, he left abruptly and then a couple of months later he had a lawsuit filed against him for allegedly abusing a boy at a camp more than 10 years ago. And she did so well with him! We were both heartbroken.