Do I Really Need to Know Who the Teacher in the Classroom Is?

I would ask - because I keep open communication with my kids teachers. I wouldn't care what was going on with the teacher, like you said, but I would want to know how to get a hold of who was with my child that much of the time.

I have no problem ever calling the school to ask a question. It's not about being a nervous parent, it's about being an involved parent. I don't get how people confuse the two. Knowing the people who are around my kids on a daily basis benefits all of us - and that's the comments from the people I know at their schools. Maybe 10-20 years ago it was different, but communication is the key to success, in my world.

Unless there's some issue with the quality of teaching when the substitute is there I'd let it go. If there is an issue with quality of teaching then I'd bring it up with the regular teacher. If they have the same substitute every single time then it's fair to guess that the teachers are working together well.

Funny, my first thought was that I'd totally want to meet the sub and clarify with admin that they have a plan for consistency, etc. But when you said even if you knew, what would you do differently, I totally changed my mind. That's true- your kid seems happy and still learning, etc., so probably nothing left to do! I suppose I, too, would let it go, but maybe look for an opportunity to pop into the classroom for some reason to say hello.

Call the teacher and ask. It's possible she has a student teacher. Sometimes, two teachers share one position so each teaches half time. Sometimes teachers have another education role in addition to being in the classroom. Just say your son seems to have more than one teacher. I wonder why he thinks that.

Always call whenever you wonder what is going on at school. Many schools have an Internet site for school news. Teachers have email addresses which you can use to ask questions or give information. My daughter often communicates with her kids teachers by email. The school page will list addresseses. Teachers want to hear from parents. Never feel that you can't ask. I strongly believe that kids do better when parents are involved.

If you pick up your son after school, talk with the teacher. Knowing you helps her to know your son better.

Of course what happens at school is your business! You are responsible for your son. You are sharing the responsibility for his education with the school. That means know the things that are happening that affect your son and his learning.

When we've had teachers have to go out on leave and have substitutes take over, we've been notified. We had a teacher who was ill and had regular appointments and required a substitute about the same amount as yours - we did not get notified. She was still their main teacher and handled all the communication, marks, etc. It went on a couple of months and the substitute handled things well.

If it were me, I'd just let it go unless I had concerns with how my child was doing.

Let it go. It's really none of your business what's "going on" with the teacher. I know you feel like you "know" his regular teacher since you have met him/her, but you don't REALLY know him or her any better than you know the sub.

As a parent, I wouldn't care as long as my child was still being challenged. Sometimes when subs are in the room teaching turns into babysitting. Other times, the sub is well-qualified and does a wonderful job. As a teacher (I teach AP English and Creative Writing to 11th/12th graders), I think it's odd that the school hasn't notified parents. I had health issues a year and a half ago and was hospitalized for the last six weeks of school. I notified parents to let them know that I had an English certified sub in place to teach the students in my absence, and the principal also contacted parents because it was going to be such a long absence.

If I were you, I would probably just put in a call to the office to politely inquire about who is teaching your child's class and when the teacher may be returning. You don't need to ask why he/she is out.

As long as your kid is fine I wouldn't worry about it. And it may not always be the same substitute, so there could be more than one person anyway.
I never bother the school with questions and/or phone calls/emails unless there is an issue or a problem, those people are busy enough without having told hold parents' nervous hands.
Signed,
a former classroom aide and substitute

Personally I would meet the substitute if anything to show that I'm an active and supportive presence in my child's education. Yes, I would be curious to know what's going on but of course it is none of my business. Provided your child is doing well and things in school are good I wouldn't see a need to be concerned.

Isn't it crazy that these kinds of situations affect us when they probably didn't when we were kids?

Personally, I would be curious as well, and I would be reminding myself, "He's doing just fine, there doesn't seem to be a problem, this is good for him," etc. But I think you're a good mom for at least wondering if you should be talking to the teacher.

As long as your son is doing find, I wouldn't do anything. But it's not going to hurt anything to shoot the teacher an email, as NewName2013 suggested, and ask if this will be ongoing.

Do you have Parent/Teacher Conferences coming up? Our are next Thursday and Friday, so that would be an excellent time for us to ask questions.

I think you have a right to know on a basic level what is happening. If the teacher does have a medical issue that causes her to be out 1-2 times each week, she should try to make long-term arrangements to get the same sub every time. At least that way, the kids will have consistent teachers, even if it's two different people. Many teachers I know share contracts and are only in the class 2-3 days per week, so it is an arrangement that can work.

Ask the teacher or the office for the basics - how long will the pattern continue, are they using the same sub consistently, and is it always the same day(s) each week.

You are right not to pry into the specific reasons for the absence, just to find out how the absences affect the classroom.

If your son is handling it ok and isn't struggling academically, I wouldn't really worry about it. I think it can be good for children to learn from different teachers as long as there is some consistency in how they are taught and what their expectations are.

I would call the office and ask. Our kids school is great at communication and would never not tell us.

I don't think it matters who is in the classroom when the teacher is gone. They have passed the same background checks and stuff that the teachers do. In some schools even parents can sign up to be a substitute. They don't have to have any degree but can only substitute a certain amount of number of hours per school year or they have to be a certified teacher.

If you have a suspicion something is wrong then ask for a different substitute to be used.

Otherwise I have no concern over who is in the classroom with the kids. They have a lesson plan and have to go by that. They don't get to make up their own curriculum for the day. Like "Hey, I'm cool so let's play games all day!".

it would only be an issue for me if there's a problem. i think the modern trend is to be a little over-involved with schooling. i get it......if i had kids in school i probably would be all up in their business too. it's our kids, after all.

but scheduling and personal issues are part of any large institution. they already have to 'keep parents notified' of everything but the kitchen sink, don't they?

if it's bugging you, i think it's fine to schedule a brief intro meeting with your sub just to put your mind at ease. but since your kid is sensible no-drama type who isn't thrown into chaos by changes, i don't see any pressing problems here.
khairete
S.

At most, I might call the office and see if they have an email for the sub. Then maybe you can introduce yourself, offer to help if there are ever any issues, let them know you're open to communication. Other than that I'd leave it be. I'd be curious too, but it's not something you can really ask about too much, for the reasons you mentioned. At most, you could possibly ask if your son can look forward to having this sub a day or two per week, all year, or-? (*My son has adhd so I will probably always want to have some sort of line of communication open with his teachers, so that's where I'm coming from. I also think letting it go is probably completely valid, as mentioned, as long as your son isn't having any issues.)

Our son's third grade teacher was serving as an instructor to other teachers in the district and was out a lot that year for that reason. She told us at the beginning of the year, though, so we knew the situation. (It worked out OK, because she wasn't a great teacher anyway.) If you're concerned, I'd just shoot the regular teacher an email and say you've noticed there has been a sub in there regularly and is this something that would be continuing throughout the year. If so, can you get the contact information for this teacher so you can contact him/her in the main teacher's absence?