Meet the Teacher Night

Tonight was Meet the Teacher Night at the school where I work. I wasn't nervous until right before the parents came in. Then it hit me that I had to speak in front of these people whose children are entrusted to me for 30 hours a week. I started to go over the handout I had created, and my mouth was so dry from nerves. Then I allowed the parents to ask questions. We discussed behavior because about seven of them got in trouble for talking in class and/or during the fire drill today. Those students lost 10 minutes of recess and had to fill out a Time to Think sheet. They had to discuss what rule they broke, why the rule was important, and what they will do differently next time. I was a little bit nervous about this part, but the parents seemed to take it really well. I told them that I need to be a little tougher on them the next few weeks, so that the kids will respect me and understand that the rules are important. The parents asked about my reading groups and when we would start going to the computer room.


Once the formal discussion was over, then the parents came up to introduce themselves and speak to me individually. It was awesome to see what the parents of the kids looked like. To see who looked more like their mom, and who looked more like their dad. The parents were really nice to me. One mom told me she was so impressed by how organized I am, and that I am doing so well for my first year. She said she told the principal that her daughter loves my class, and that she is so impressed by me, considering that I am a first year teacher. Then, she said she told the principal that she didn't know if she hired me or the old principal but that I was a good pick. She said the principal said "Oh, that was me, and yes I know!" Another set of parents said they are teachers too and that they appreciate what I am doing in my classroom. Another mom told me how her daughter loves the time we spend together at the end of the day since she is always the last one to go home. Another one told me that her daughter says she loves being in my class because I don't yell and that I am so nice.


The conversation I was dreading the most was with the parents of the one boy who I have been having the most trouble with. He had lost part of recess the past two days and I had to send a couple notes home. Well his parents were completely awesome, so understanding , and absolutely on the same page with me. We were cracking up about their son's abundanct energy, and his little crush on me. After I spoke to the class about their behavior on the fire drill today, he raised his hand and said, "I just want to tell you that you're beautiful Miss. Mauro." His dad told me that he told them the other day, "Mom she is so pretty and so much younger than you." We laughed a lot about it all, and we decided if necessary we will meet together with him, to show him we are united and that his behavior needs to improve.

So all in all, I survived my first Meet the Teacher Night.

And FYI, "Someone Saved my Life Tonight" came on the radio on my way home...