Will this work?

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Home : 2006 : November : 14

Will this work?
By teach2all

At our school, parents are welcome to observe, BUT they have to set up an appointment through me. Our principal has us get together with the guidance counselor, who will sit in an inconspicuous place in the classroom with
the parent (we set chairs out for the counselor and the parent to sit together.) The parent is told in advance that this is our teaching time, so they are not allowed to interact with us or their child, but only observe. If they feel the need for a conference after what they have seen, they can leave a note in the office and we will contact them with times that are convient for us. I

like the fact that the counselor is in there also, because this helps insure that their is another person in the class making the same observations. The counselor also makes sure that the parent is not disturbing our teaching.
Could you talk to your supervisors and see if this can be worked out for you? You can then set up a time that is convient for you and the counselor and then let the parent know. You should give the parent a heads up about not disturbing the teaching, and ask her to bring in a notebook or something so that if she has any questions for a later conference she can write them down as they come up (again so that she doesn't have to interupt you.)
I really like the way that my school does this. At my old school, they were allowed to show up at any time and it is so distracting, not only to me and their child, but also to the other students who are supposed to be engaged in the lessons.
Hope this helps- good luck.