Hi, Our bgb are going into 3rd grade and after Kindergarten we've requested them being in the same class, which the principal never wanted and it never happened. This year we want at least 2 in the same class. Reason, just easier dealing with 2 classes then 3.

Can I tell you she made me feel like crying. She told me I should tell my children that Mommy will do 1 month each for each child then Mommy gets a month to herself. Why she said this is because I told her that when I help in 1 class the other 2 want to know when I'm going to their class (they are excited to see me), she took it as they are controlling me. Then she tells me that she has 3 sons (born within 5 years) so its the same. The minute she told me that her situation is the same as mine my mind checked out I just wanted to get out of there. I don't think anybody has the same situation. If you have 2 girls and a boy it's not the same as me everybody has different families.

Long story short she said no again. I wrote her a letter, cause talking to her gets us no where, saying we want 2 in one class and 1 in another.

We'll see. She made me feel so bad.grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Donna Proud Mom to NOW 8 year old Tyler, Samantha, Zackary

I am not sure that I would have been able to hold my tongue. Does she have a reason for not honoring your request?

Dawn

Mom to Samantha, Jeremy, Paige and Christian

Born 12/12/03 @ 31w 2d



http://lovinglifewithquads.blogspot.com

Her reasons are: the only time they are individuals are when they are in school. She doesn't want my DD to compare her work in school with her brother (they are the ones that will share a class). Mind you, when they come home with good work it gets hung up, so if they had a problem with it, I would see it at home. I don't feel she has a "real reason" for not putting them together. I have real reasons why I would want them together at least 2 of them, my other DS wants to be on his own, that's fine.

I should have said a lot more, I should have went off on her, but I don't want my kids to get bad teachers. I sent her a note saying that I talked it over with my husband and we want them together. We will see this time if I have to talk to her again I will tell her how she made me feel and she doesn't have a clue to how my kids will do in the same class.

Thanks for asking

Donna Proud Mom to Tyler, Samantha, Zackary 8 YEARS OLD

Wish I had some advice for you! But as a teacher your situation makes me mad too. The last two years I have had one twin in my classroom and the other in another colleague's classroom. It's so much more work for the teachers to only have one. I'm always trying to stay on exactly the same schedule as the other teacher and do exactly the same projects at the same time and introduce them on the same day and make deadlines on the same day. It's such a pain not to have flexibility but I don't want the parents to wonder when things don't come home at the same time or to have to keep track that kid A's project is due on Tuesday, but Kid B has until Friday. Ack! Even though the parents have always been so nice and understanding I see a glimpse of my future and want them to have it as easy as possible. My third co-worker has a set of twins in her classroom and she has it so much easier.

It's so annoying when people think that parenting 3 different aged kids are the same as triplets. There is a very big difference in managing 3 very different assignments compared to trying to manage 3 similar assignments with tiny variations in the details.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Jennifer
GBG 2/20/2007
@29 weeks

Thank you,

You are a special teacher. The teachers that they have had and their teachers now don't try to keep the work the same. I have one teacher who is so different the work is no where near the same. The other 2 teachers have almost the same work but comes in different weeks.

It just blew me away the way she talked to me.

Donna Proud Mom to Tyler, Samantha, Zackary 8 YEARS OLD

Seriously??? While I think it is nice that you are doing everything you can to make life easier for these parents, I am dumbfounded that you go to this extreme. I would never, ever expect a teacher to work that hard to keep on schedule with another teacher just because of my multiples. There are 27 kids in each of my kids' classes...all with different "special needs". I would actually be mortified to find out that the teachers were being inconvenienced and changing their schedules and plans because of *me*. You teachers work hard enough. With all of those kids all day long, I just can't believe that keeping math tests on the same day to make life easier for me is a priority for them. And, yes, we separate our kids...different spelling lists, different math homework, different everything. I was actually complaining all week because they all had diorama's due on the SAME day. We spent the week making the habitats for a beluga whale, a beetle and an aardvard out of shoe boxes. I thought I was going to lose my mind. A little bit of time spread between those projects would have been nice!

Kelly
Ben, Jack & Drew 05/28/02
Charlie 07/06/06
Aunt to: Liam, Aidan & Connor 03/05/08
www.outnumberedmommy.blogspot.com

Dioramas are S-T-U-P-I-D!

BBB born 7/26/04 at 35 weeks

I just re-read my post and realized that it sounded much more harsh than was intended. Honestly, my tone falls completely in the category of "surprised". Seriously, I do think it is wonderful that you are trying so hard to make life easier for this family. You sound like a very caring teacher...your students are very lucky. I am still shocked though...

Kelly
Ben, Jack & Drew 05/28/02
Charlie 07/06/06
Aunt to: Liam, Aidan & Connor 03/05/08
www.outnumberedmommy.blogspot.com

I would have another meeting with her but not by yourself. Take your dh along. Sometimes principals/counselors realize you mean business when the 2 parents show up. Taking your dh isn't necessary, but it might help. If that doesn't work, I would go above her to the superintendent . . . if it means that much to you. If you don't give up, believe me, eventually you as a parent will get what you want.

When my oldest dd started middle school at another school district, dh and I wanted her in certain classes and the counselor assured us that she would be placed in the correct classes. However, when school started, my dd was placed in the wrong classes. I had to call several times, and finally dh and I had to go in person to meet with her before she took us seriously. As a result, my dd was in the wrong classes for the entire first six weeks before the issue was settled. The counselor knows us VERY well now and knows not to dismiss our concerns because we won't go away!

As far as the prinicipal saying that having 3 sons is the same as having triplets, well, she has no idea! Just like you don't know what it's like to raise 3 sons (born within 5 years) . . . I'm sure if you told her you knew what it was like to raise 3 boys since you have triplets she'd chew your head off.

GL! -- Gloria

Gloria,

Thank you. I wrote her a note, so we'll see. If she makes another meeting for me my DH is coming! She just pissed me off and I shut down, which I shouldn't have but I couldn't believe her.

Drama, drama, drama

All I know is my DS and DD will be in one class and my other DS will be in his own class and Mommy and Daddy will be happy

Thank you,

Donna Proud Mom to Tyler, Samantha, Zackary 8 YEARS OLD

Okay, I didn't read all of the responses but when she told you, "school is the only time they are individuals" . . . I stopped reading. Who made her the decision maker when it comes to how you raise your kids? I would schedule a meeting with the superintendent - with the sole purpose of letting yourself be heard - not necessarily with the purpose of changing minds. What it will do, however, is let the principal know that you mean business about your request. Also, you may want to ask the principal to put the reasons against the decision in writing. If all of the reasons are her reasons . . . then they aren't very good ones.

We've not faced this kind of issue - all of our kids are in the same class - and they are complete individuals. Friends are different, homework is done independantly, interests, etc. Kids do not lose their individuality b/c they are in the same class.

Good luck!

Stacy
Proud mother of
Ethan, Maizie, and Hunter
10/29/02

Thank you so much. I just got blown away with how she talked to me.

Thank you,

Donna Proud Mom to Tyler Samantha Zackary 8 YEARS OLD

We have alot of inner city schools in our area that would split up my girls so I put them in smaller country schools where they have on class per grade...so there is no split up.
If there are small country schools around your area... you might want to check it out.

Frances: mother to

Richelle
Neshay
Alana

ggg born in March 4, 2003

WOW, I can not believe that a prinicpal would treat you that way. My boys are just finishing up there kindergarten year, and I want them together again next year. We never have had an issue, and I am a 3rd grade teacher myself, and think it should be up to the parents, not the principal. Good luck, maybe it is time to think of a different school, if your wishes are not meet.
Sorry you have to go threw this.