[BCFD]

I'd love to hear how everybody's school operates on pick up/drop off. Our school just instituted this new procedure of operating at pick up for the half day students (both my kids only go from 9-Noon). We are not to enter the classroom because it is disruptive and a teacher will bring our child to the lobby (where they have a train table, puzzles, games, and a small table to draw/write/color/etc.) My rational side says, "well of course this makes sense to not disrupt the classroom!", but my mommy side is irritated at this new rule. Usually when I am picking up my children, they are just finishing lunch, using the toilet, and the full time kids are starting to get settled for nap (rarely do I see them asleep when I pick up my kids), so it's a very relaxed atmosphere in the classroom. It's not like I'm picking them up in the middle of job time. I like to go in and see the class and see how my dd's mood is and see the other children and maybe get a "dd did this today" from the teacher. I would say 90% of the time when I get there they are already in the lobby anyway. About 10% of the time I would arrive early JUST so I could go in and look around the classroom, see what jobs were currently on the shelf, soak up the vibe, and see how my child's day was. Now, apparently, we are banned from doing this. There are 6 or 7 kids that are only half day students, but I have never seen more than 2 or 3 parents there at the same time.

We read in the Feb. or March school newsletter that we are supposed to have a parent conference soon, but nothing has even been mentioned and it's mid-April. I'm a little annoyed that this hasn't been scheduled yet (last year it was in late Feb/early March and dd had only been there a few weeks, so we really got NOTHING out of it). They do have a clipboard that I can pick up at any time to see what jobs dd has been working on, but I feel like I have been banished from her classroom.

: I always thought there was a pretty decent open door policy, but now I just feel like we're a big nuisance to them.

Another thing that has me bent out of shape is that the infant room is right off the lobby (door is ALWAYS open - it's one of those half doors) and sometimes we pop our heads in to ooh and ahh at the little babies crawling around in the a.m. The infant room is really more like daycare with a few Montessori materials, but we have NEVER been disruptive. The other day, DP looked in the room because our 2 year old wanted to "see the babies" and later that day we were told that we were not even allowed to look in the door.

:

:

: And because of its location near the lobby (and another CH classroom is near the lobby, as well), my other 2 kids and I are always being shushed by the staff because we may wake somebody up. The alternative is leaving my kids in the car (they would be in view) for a few minutes while I got dd1. I have actually talked to the owner about this issue, but unfortunately I just get that blank stare and "hmm..I dunno what to tell you" look.

::sigh:: I feel like one of "those" parents for even being annoyed, so maybe I just need a good talkin' to by you guys.

Overall, we are very pleased with the school and our kids are happy and we absolutely adore the owner and co-director. I know that after lunch is a busy time where they are trying to get kids in the toilet, hands washed, and down for a nap, but I really don't see how a 5 min. visit to the classroom every other week is disruptive.

In the Mont charter dd1 starts next year, they BEG for parent participation. I'm so annoyed this week that I'm actually considering changing preschools next year for my other 2 children. No school is going to be 100% exactly what I want, but I am a little ticked off about not being able to spend even 2 min. in dd's classroom without feeling like I'm not wanted.

Am I overreacting??

 

[AllyRae]

I kind of wish DS's montessori school was like that. Right now, he goes all day, but there are 2 days a week he is picked up early due to therapy appointments. During those days I have to go in the building with my other two kids and it *always* is distracting for the other kids..they stop what they're doing to say hi to DD1 or to stare at and play with DD2 (my 2 1/2 month old). I feel awful that I'm interrupting the class like that because it really is distracting for them and I wish they'd send Brandon out to the lobby for me! We don't get to talk to the teachers no matter when we pick them up because they are to focus on the kids, but we have "back and forth journals" where we can write notes to the teacher and they write notes back. And the parents also have the teacher email addresses to email about concerns or asking about the day.

We do have observation days where each parent signs up for a day to observe a couple hours if they want. I did it in the first semester to make notes for his IEP team (he goes to a private out-of-district school) and even that was distracting to him!

:

 

[mamalemon]

It would bug me too, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker. Our school has an entirely open door policy and I have seen it be distracting before. One parent is no big deal, but several parents coming in and out and wanting a moment of the teacher's time gets distracting.

I would say that if you still like everything else, stick with it. It doesn't hurt to look at other schools to compare, but I wouldn't scrap the school you are at without finding a better (if there is one) fit first.

 

[mamalemon]

Now that I am thinking of it more... if your girls go for half days in a class with full day kids, I can see how that would be disruptive. Are there enough half day students that they can just have a half day class (our school has 1 half day and 2 full day classes)? Our teacher is available for 20 minutes before and after class to speak to parents without appointments and I LOVE this about the class, but it wouldn't be feasible if she had to hurry back to tend to the full day students.

Ask about the conferences. We had ours last month. There was a half day at school to make time for conferences all afternoon.

 

[MattBronsil]

I don't know the whole situation, but let me give a little different perspective on this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCFD I'd love to hear how everybody's school operates on pick up/drop off. Our school just instituted this new procedure of operating at pick up for the half day students (both my kids only go from 9-Noon). We are not to enter the classroom because it is disruptive and a teacher will bring our child to the lobby (where they have a train table, puzzles, games, and a small table to draw/write/color/etc.) My rational side says, "well of course this makes sense to not disrupt the classroom!", but my mommy side is irritated at this new rule. Usually when I am picking up my children, they are just finishing lunch, using the toilet, and the full time kids are starting to get settled for nap (rarely do I see them asleep when I pick up my kids), so it's a very relaxed atmosphere in the classroom. It's not like I'm picking them up in the middle of job time. I like to go in and see the class and see how my dd's mood is and see the other children and maybe get a "dd did this today" from the teacher.

Imagine the flip side to that. Let's say...10 (not sure of the amount of students that are half day, but just picked a number) parents coming in, looking around, and trying to get updates from the teachers while the teacher is trying to keep track of kids that have gone to the bathroom, trying to get them settled into a nap routine, and trying to get them to clean up after lunch. The beginning of nap time is usually the hardest part for me because there's already a feeling of chaos at that time that takes a lot of work to calm down. Their routine they're doing now probably isn't working well and they needed to rethink it. I can see where that would be a bad time for extra people in the classroom.

Quote:

I would say 90% of the time when I get there they are already in the lobby anyway. About 10% of the time I would arrive early JUST so I could go in and look around the classroom, see what jobs were currently on the shelf, soak up the vibe, and see how my child's day was. Now, apparently, we are banned from doing this. There are 6 or 7 kids that are only half day students, but I have never seen more than 2 or 3 parents there at the same time.

OK...should have read more carefully before I assumed the number 10.

But I think the same thing applies. Parents coming in and out is another thing to deal with at a time when it's already hard enough to deal with that. But I also understand the point from your perspective, too. Maybe if you approach this with the administration of "I understand how chaotic that time is, yet I'd also like to be able to --------. Is there any way we can get both things we're looking for?" you might be able to work something out.

I don't think you're over reacting, but I also see what they're doing as trying to help out what's in the best interest of the class as a whole. Whether what they're doing is in the best interest of the class is something I can't determine. But I think if you want to bring it up to the administration, I would at least keep that goal in mind and realize they're likely doing it with the right intentions.

 

[eepster]

At DS's school parents don't enter the class room. You drop your child at the door and pick them up there. When you volunteer to help with a special project, it is done outside the classroom. If you child is having seperation anxiety and trouble adjusting to being left at school, you stay outside the classroom.

There a several advantages to this policy:

• There is no interuptions and distraction.
• Seperation from mommy is clear, though gentle. The child can't try to convince mommy to stay since mommy never went in at all.
• The child does not get to rely on mommy to hang up his/her coat etc.
• The other children don't get upset b/c A's parent has come but B's parent hasn't yet.
• Pick up is much more orderly. Children come out one or two at a time with one of the teachers. They are handed over to the parent with any stuff they did, or notices. The teacher can come out before bringing the child and talk to the parent privately.

What probably would have been best at your school, would have been to have set up this new routine at the beggining of a school year, and not switching 3/4 of the way through. I can totally understand why they want the babies to have more quiet, but why are they leaving the door open? In DS's school, the doors are shut unless it's a time when it's OK for parents to peak in like aftercare, so an open door means "peak in and see what's going on" and a closed dorr means "sit down and don't interupt the class, which is still doing something."

 

[tbone]

At ds's montessori, parents also are not allowed in the classroom. Usually pick ups are outside on the playground, this goes for half day, after lunchers, and full day kids. If it is raining outside then parents go to the door and stand just inside it. They usually have the kids waiting with their coats and things so you just sign them out and and leave.

There is a sign up sheet available for observation in the classroom. If I have questions for the teacher its usually on the playground if she is out there (sometimes the teachers rotate turns outside).

I understand what you mean though, I always love it when the kids are outside and Ds forgets something inside or I have to drop something off. I go inside and take a peek around the classroom and just take it all in.

 

[GuildJenn]

We have the lobby policy. I'm just as glad because I know for my particular child, other adults coming in - especially at nap time - would throw him off his game.

 

[BCFD]

Quote:

but we have "back and forth journals" where we can write notes to the teacher and they write notes back. And the parents also have the teacher email addresses to email about concerns or asking about the day. We do have observation days where each parent signs up for a day to observe a couple hours if they want.

This sounds GREAT and I think I might talk to the owner about this.

Quote:

It would bug me too, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker. Our school has an entirely open door policy and I have seen it be distracting before. One parent is no big deal, but several parents coming in and out and wanting a moment of the teacher's time gets distracting. I would say that if you still like everything else, stick with it. It doesn't hurt to look at other schools to compare, but I wouldn't scrap the school you are at without finding a better (if there is one) fit first.

This is what I needed to hear. Thanks C!! There are not enough children for a half day class. There are only 6, maybe 7 or 8? On paper, it would make sense to do this since they do have a very smaller class size of 10 in a much, much smaller room (mixed half/full time) and then the larger classroom of 24 children (mixed half/full time). But they pair the children up with the teacher that makes the most sense. The smaller room is also used for those children that are entering Montessori for the first time or need that extra special attention from the teacher. It's a smaller space physically, so I think that makes a few of the children feel a little more secure.

Quote:

There a several advantages to this policy: There is no interuptions and distraction. Seperation from mommy is clear, though gentle. The child can't try to convince mommy to stay since mommy never went in at all. The child does not get to rely on mommy to hang up his/her coat etc. The other children don't get upset b/c A's parent has come but B's parent hasn't yet. Pick up is much more orderly. Children come out one or two at a time with one of the teachers. They are handed over to the parent with any stuff they did, or notices. The teacher can come out before bringing the child and talk to the parent privately.

That's why I love this forum so much. Seeing somebody else say this calms me down a little about the situation. It really does make sense and I know this is why they are doing this. This is exactly how the new policy works at our school and it definitely benefits the children. When I walk dd into the classroom she just kinda stands there and waits for me to help her off with her coat and shoes which she is perfectly capable of doing herself.

I really wish the class had observation windows. This is never going to happen though.

Thanks everybody for the feedback!

 

[CityParkMom]

DD goes half day at her Montessori--for drop off, I have the option to walk her in (I can pop my head in if I need to talk to the teacher but generally the parents do not enter the classroom) or I can drop her off in the carpool lane. Most of the time I do the carpool lane--often it's her classrooms' teacher aid at the curb, he opens the door, helps her out & put on her backpack & she walks in the school on her own. I LOVE it--I am very pregnant & have a fiesty 2yr old & love not battling my 2yr old every morning (she wants to stay usually)--especially in the cold weather. For pick up---all parents (traditional & montessori) are to wait outside for the kids to be brought out. The Montessori Moms get the alley pick-up too so we can leave our other kids in the car on pick-up as well...it's fabulous. If I want to help out in the room or have an emergency, I just go to the door & get buzzed in & go to the room...it's no biggie..but no, there is never a mass of parents wandering around inside the school, especially not in mid-day when the kids are still in school. My DD went to a traditional Young 3s preschool last year & it was such a pain to park, walk half a block w/ a 1-yr old, wait in a mass of parents to drop/pick up the kids everyday--I much prefer them to bring the kids out to us.

 

[Aufilia]

Well, at DD's school, we only even go into the school to pick up or drop off if we're early or late. It's a preschool only with 2 classrooms in the bottom floor of a converted house in a suburban area. There's a large u-shaped driveway and a small parking lot with room for about 4 cars. Yet they have to get 40+ kids into and out of classrooms twice a day, so it's sort of like a drive-thru kid-exchange procedure, like this:

In the morning the parents wait in the driveway, and the teachers get the kids are out cars (there are usually 2 teachers getting kids out) and walk them to the walkway that goes from the parking lot down to the classrooms, which is a fenced path. The head teachers are waiting in the classrooms to help them take off coats and put their bags away. In the afternoon all the teachers walk up with all the kids and 2 of them supervise the kids in a fenced-in area, while 2 fetch the kid who goes in the next car in line and put them in. The school traffic runs out of the driveway and into the road as it is.

So--we never go in, unless we arrive late or pick up early, or have come specifically to observe.

So myself, I wouldn't be bothered. I think once #2 arrives I'd actually prefer the way we do it now, because I would rather not have to manage 2 kids in a parking lot twice a day if I didn't have to. I can certainly see how having lots of parents coming into the classroom while some of the kids are trying to settle down for a nap could be disruptive.

 

[spottiew]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eepster At DS's school parents don't enter the class room. You drop your child at the door and pick them up there. When you volunteer to help with a special project, it is done outside the classroom. If you child is having seperation anxiety and trouble adjusting to being left at school, you stay outside the classroom. There a several advantages to this policy: There is no interuptions and distraction. Seperation from mommy is clear, though gentle. The child can't try to convince mommy to stay since mommy never went in at all. The child does not get to rely on mommy to hang up his/her coat etc. The other children don't get upset b/c A's parent has come but B's parent hasn't yet. Pick up is much more orderly. Children come out one or two at a time with one of the teachers. They are handed over to the parent with any stuff they did, or notices. The teacher can come out before bringing the child and talk to the parent privately. What probably would have been best at your school, would have been to have set up this new routine at the beggining of a school year, and not switching 3/4 of the way through. I can totally understand why they want the babies to have more quiet, but why are they leaving the door open? In DS's school, the doors are shut unless it's a time when it's OK for parents to peak in like aftercare, so an open door means "peak in and see what's going on" and a closed dorr means "sit down and don't interupt the class, which is still doing something."

i pickup at 3; some kids are at 1, some at 5-6... i get to go in for a few, and CHERISH this time so much, as my kid shows me works (and at least i can say 'hi' to the teacher who would otherwise be a stranger)... how else would i ever know anything about what happens in class? (yes, we can write notes, but it's not the same)

i get the disruption argument, but if the parents feel excluded or that they are an annoyance, they are not going to support the school.... there has to be some balance, where they can be part of their child's class experience- mine loves showing off his room and work and the other kids like meeting their friends' parents, too.

 

[eepster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spottiew i pickup at 3; some kids are at 1, some at 5-6... i get to go in for a few, and CHERISH this time so much, as my kid shows me works (and at least i can say 'hi' to the teacher who would otherwise be a stranger)... how else would i ever know anything about what happens in class? (yes, we can write notes, but it's not the same) i get the disruption argument, but if the parents feel excluded or that they are an annoyance, they are not going to support the school.... there has to be some balance, where they can be part of their child's class experience- mine loves showing off his room and work and the other kids like meeting their friends' parents, too.

But I get all that even though I never set foot in the classroom. Since the teacher brings the kids out, she says "Hi," and mentions any issues.

Since the other parents are also waitng in the hallway by the chairs I can chat with them while waiting and our children see eachothers parents when they come out.

I get to see the works DS has been doing on back to school night and bring your mommy (or other female relative) to school night (there is also a bring your daddy (or other male relative) to school night,) and any written work, art or craft item gets put in his folder and sent home. Besides when I get there DS usually just wraps himself around my legs hugging, and isn't showing me work. Telling me about what works he did, gives us something to talk about on the drive home.

 

[lindberg99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCFD In the Mont charter dd1 starts next year, they BEG for parent participation. I'm so annoyed this week that I'm actually considering changing preschools next year for my other 2 children. No school is going to be 100% exactly what I want, but I am a little ticked off about not being able to spend even 2 min. in dd's classroom without feeling like I'm not wanted. Am I overreacting??

But isn't parent participation different than going in the room for a few minutes at pick up time? I would think of parent participation as coming for a specific time frame (say an hour, the morning, whatever) and helping out in the class. Does the charter school really just let any parent walk into the classroom whenever? I could see that being disruptive. Say Sara's mom comes in at 10:00 to pick her up for the dentist, then again at 11:30 when she brings her back. Susie has come in late so her mom comes in with her at 10:30. Now that's a silly example but I could see how having parents in and out during the day even for just 2 minutes could be affecting the class.

 

[spottiew]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eepster But I get all that even though I never set foot in the classroom. Since the teacher brings the kids out, she says "Hi," and mentions any issues. Since the other parents are also waitng in the hallway by the chairs I can chat with them while waiting and our children see eachothers parents when they come out. I get to see the works DS has been doing on back to school night and bring your mommy (or other female relative) to school night (there is also a bring your daddy (or other male relative) to school night,) and any written work, art or craft item gets put in his folder and sent home. Besides when I get there DS usually just wraps himself around my legs hugging, and isn't showing me work. Telling me about what works he did, gives us something to talk about on the drive home.

i could live with that if my teacher was really able to take every child out like that, but they really don't- we also have a VERY small hallway! but i would still want time to see the works, it's rather hard to appreciate without seeing the classroom (my kid neither tells nor brings home 'crafts')- one back to school night is not enough, not when they buy new works shortly after. a monthly or quartlerly 'parents invited in' time could work (they do encourage lunch, but the timing doesn't work for all). i guess i'm glad that they do let us in for those few mins and that it does work in our case

if it didn't on their end, i would hope they would think of something. it does seem to matter, i know people who have left for feeling 'left out', and that they would know more about their kid's school in another environment.

 

[bobandjess99]

Well..you are NEVER allowed to just wander in to our school.
Parents, of course, may go in to observe when they wish, but they need to make an appointment. If you need to go into the school for any reason, you have to be buzzed in and go to the office. then, if you need to go anywhere else in the school, they generally either escort you or give you a badge, like when I needed to go put dd's coat in her locker when she forgot it in the middle of winter *rolls eyes*

You drop kids off in the car line, and pick them back up in the car line..if you want to walk up to get your kid, you are welcome to, but you walk up to the door of the building and stand outside while a teacher brings your kid out.
But..it is a public school Montessori in a larger city with a high crime rate...they are pretty careful about security and stuff. As a parent, you would never be denied access to your kid, but you do NOT get to just come and go as you please.....

 

[SomedayMom]

Our school has a drop off/pick up line for preschool through grade 6. The toddler program my little guy will be starting, I will park and walk him in and out. My 4 year old will go through the car line. We can visit their classrooms any time we want, so I don't think it's for classroom disruption reasons, just easier flow at the busy drop off and pick up times.

My son hasn't started yet, but he's visited a few times and one teacher walks each child out to the car and talks with the parent. I've gotten a great insight into his day that way.

 

[Flor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbone At ds's montessori, parents also are not allowed in the classroom. Usually pick ups are outside on the playground, this goes for half day, after lunchers, and full day kids. If it is raining outside then parents go to the door and stand just inside it. They usually have the kids waiting with their coats and things so you just sign them out and and leave. There is a sign up sheet available for observation in the classroom. If I have questions for the teacher its usually on the playground if she is out there (sometimes the teachers rotate turns outside). I understand what you mean though, I always love it when the kids are outside and Ds forgets something inside or I have to drop something off. I go inside and take a peek around the classroom and just take it all in.

Ours is like this, too. I wish I could see them in action more often, but if I do want to come, I come to observe (even then I get a little note telling me to try to disappear into the wall). Ds also has a class that is mixed 1/2 day and full day kids. We stand outside the class door and when the teacher sees us he releases him.

 

[babymommy2]

In our school your must pick up your child in the lobby, no one goes into the classroom, unless you must come early or drop off late, you can go to the back door. I think this is also important for safety reasons. If there were 25 parents all int he classroom, talking to teachers, picking up children at once, it wouldn't be that hard for a child to leave unnoticed, or someone take a child. 2 teachrs stay in the class room and the third stays in the lobby, and 2 -3 children leave at a time. The lobby is small so this helps with crowd control. The only time parents are in teh classromm are if they have come to volunteer for something specific, or have booked an observation.

I also have a child who doesn't share his day with me and I don't really get the detail that I would like, so I hear your frustration there.

Here are some ideas our school uses, that might be possible for you to suggest to your school, if you are feeling out of touch:

we do 2 parent teacher interviews, one in nov and one in march.

call the teacher and talk to her or book an extra appointment.

1 evening where parents come to veiw the child's work

a folder is sent home every friday with notices, or crafts or homework, etc.

There is also a communication book in the lobby anyone can write in.

We were given dates for interviews, etc at the begining of the year.

Personally I just call the teacher when I have had a concern.

There are no other classes to distrupt in our school, but I think if you have a baby room right by the door, the common sense thing would be to close the door during pick up times and at nap time. I totally understand why they don't want other people coming in, but they should close the door, that is not unreasonable.