All of my kids are in Kindergarten and they are doing well. I spoke with both teachers (they are split 2/2) before school to talk about specific things.

One of the things I talked about with Samantha's teacher is that we DO NOT call her SAM!!!! I said it several times, and I even specifically told her she chould call her Samantha or Sammy, but please DO NOT call her SAM.

We have told Samantha that if someone calls her Sam she is to politely ask them not to call her Sam, that her name is Samantha. Everyday she tells me that her teacher calls her Sam. Samantha says that she asks her not to call her that, but it doesn't seem to be working. Yesterday I picked the kids up from school (which they usually ride the bus) and I saw on the teachers table the list of "walkers" that day and it said Jeremy and Sam. So now the office is also calling her Sam.

Okay, sorry that got so long. This is really a problem for me, as I do not want her called Sam. I have never had to tell anyone more than once that we do not call her Sam. What would you do? I have thought about sending a letter to the teacher and the office and AGAIN requesting they only call her Samantha. I know it is silly, it is just one of those things that bother me.

Dawn

Mom to Samantha, Jeremy, Paige and Christian

Born 12/12/03 @ 31w 2d



http://lovinglifewithquads.blogspot.com

Wow, I can't imagine that! I don't think it's stupid to want your child to be called by their actual name. In my case no one ever said my name right and sometimes I would get sick of correcting them. I think most people didn't even try to say it right. Pure laziness which sounds like is the problem with this teacher. Luckily my teachers did get it right after the first time which ANY caring teacher would do. So this would be a problem for me too.

I wonder if Samantha is really correcting the teacher? I was terribly embarrassed at having to correct anyone, didn't like drawing attention to myself, so maybe she is saying it under her breath or the teacher thinks she is not serious? Go to the teacher and be very firm about it, it should not be up to a small child to be firm about this. Go to the office if you have to. Don't let them minimize it. Her name is NOT Sam and they may as well be calling her Jane at this point.

Kari S.

Mom to BBB 21, 18, 14
BBG 9/25/01

How is her handwriting? Do you think the teacher shortened it because Sam is easier to write? I know Gregory shortened his name to Greg for awhile just for that reason.

I'm grasping here. It's the only reason I can think of for a teacher to be so rude.

Michele
Sarah, Gregory, Amanda
born 1/22/04 at 35w1d

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

Wow. Can we say, "bonehead?"

I would write a note to the teacher, pointing out that people have begun calling dd "Sam" and that the child is bothered by this, and so are you. From there, I'd point out that not only has she been calling her "Sam," but that she has used this to refer to your daughter in communications with the office and now the office staff is calling her this, too. Honestly, I would also bring up the fact that you informed her about this concern before school began, and that it appears that everyone is determined to call your daughter something other than her name, but that you would truly prefer that they use her name. I would also "cc" the principal on the letter.

And, since I've been traveling under a gray cloud recently, I would likely get a bit more snarly and suggest that if they refuse to call her by her name, that perhaps they would like to call her "Hagatha," since that will likely be less offensive than calling her by a boy's name. I would also spell the word "Sammi" to make it appear more feminine if they are going to be encouraged to use that rather than Samantha. I really don't understand why they are balking at calling her Samantha. It is a beautiful name.

In truth, though, I'll recommend against following the second paragraph of advice. That's the stuff that can get you tagged as a witch.

Cat w/3 Kittens
Caidan, Carina and Caeleigh
Born at 31 weeks, 1/8/04.

Maybe call the teacher Hagatha instead. Maybe that will get the message across!

Kari S.

Mom to BBB 21, 18, 14
BBG 9/25/01

>Maybe call the teacher Hagatha instead. Maybe that will get
>the message across!

....but shorten it to "Hag".

MonsterMom6
10 year old ^b^ b twins @ 30w5d (1 survivor) and
8 year old gggg quads @ 32w0d

I thought of the writing thing too...but if "Sammy" is an acceptable option then why on earth not use that?

When you talk to them don't be nice - Cat had good advice but don't tell them you "prefer" they call her Samantha. That implies it's their choice. Tell them you DEMAND they use it! It's her NAME. THEY don't get to choose her name. It's not rocket science. You already discussed this IN DETAIL with the teacher so IMO she is just being a (insert bad word of your choice here) and I would be concerned about any teacher with that attitude.

Kari S.

Mom to BBB 21, 18, 14
BBG 9/25/01

I don't get why the teacher is not understanding your request???

How hard is it especially after having been politely told?

This isn't the biggest deal, but I have a Katharine and NO ONE spells it correctly at school. She goes by Kate and everyone does a nice job remembering, but spelling out her formal name on forms and folders, forget it. And it kinda cracks me up because her name is hardly a brain teaser! LOL!

I guess your teacher needs another friendly reminder from you.

Lisa

I would send an email to the principal, counselors and teachers and let them know that her name is Samantha and that is what you would like her to be called at all times, that you want her to learn to write Samantha and you want her called that in all class rooms.

As far as the writing thing goes we have faced that issue, but they still call John Michael by both names, yet he only writes John..

so that is no excuse

BBG Triplets Born March 31, 2004
31 weeks three days
Douglas
Kalie and
John Michael

This is hardly a stupid situation. I would tell teacher again that she likes to be called Samantha....smiling the whole way. You can tell her again that your daughter does not like that. Then I would go to the front office and tell then you realized there had been an error on one of your children's info - it is no Sam but Samantha. I don't think anyone is being mean.

Hold in there!

My daughter is still trying to get her own Daddy to stop calling her by a shorten version of her name - he just forgets but a quick glance from me and I can see he tries and corrects himself. I made a shorten girlie version and she even doesn't like that - so I have to untrain myself too. At seven she knows what she likes and heck it's her name.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I am going to send an email to the teacher and cc the principal and secratary asking them all to call her Samantha. I am a non confrontational person, so I prefer to do it all through email.

As for the writting thoughts. She has been writing her name (full name) since she was 3 1/2, so that is not the issue.

Thank you again for all the thoughts!

Dawn

Mom to Samantha, Jeremy, Paige and Christian

Born 12/12/03 @ 31w 2d



http://lovinglifewithquads.blogspot.com

First of all, this is not a stupid situation. Here's what I would do, if your child will allow it, put a nametag on her as a reminder to the teacher. Secondly, your idea to send the email is a good one. Always remain polite in your tone, yet forceful. This teacher's display of unprofessionalism is totally unacceptable.
Hope it all works out.

Did you send the emails? How did it go?

Kelli

Morgan (11) & natural (by natural I mean concieved on top of a picnic table at a campground, so maybe it should say nature-al) BBG triplets Eric, Josh, and Hannah born @ 33w1d



http://b5.lilypie

I did send an email to the teacher. I simply let her know that Samantha was really upset about it and she needed to stop calling her Sam. I also let her know it was not okay to shorten her name at all.

She wrote back a couple days later and let me know how sorry she was about it, and that is just something she does. She was raised always using nicknames and it just comes natural to her. She let me know that she would try harder. The next day, Samantha came home and told me (with a big smile on her face) that no one called her Sam that day. She was very happy!

Dawn

Mom to Samantha, Jeremy, Paige and Christian

Born 12/12/03 @ 31w 2d



http://lovinglifewithquads.blogspot.com

Yippeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! Great result!

Cat w/3 Kittens
Caidan, Carina and Caeleigh
Born at 31 weeks, 1/8/04.

I'm glad to hear that!

Kelli

Morgan (11) & natural (by natural I mean concieved on top of a picnic table at a campground, so maybe it should say nature-al) BBG triplets Eric, Josh, and Hannah born @ 33w1d



http://b5.lilypie