Reputations

We went and met Quinn's new teachers tonight and apparently his reputation preceeds him. His two teachers were so excited to have Quinn in their class. And it wasn't just the general, "Oh Hi! I'm so happy your in my class." It was the, "Oh, hi Quinn! You got so tall this summer!" And then later to me, "I'm so excited he's in my class. I was so happy when Miss. Amanda was telling us about him." And as a teacher I know you need to act happy to have each student in your class. But I also know that teachers talk. Luckily for Quinn he was a happy-go-lucky boy last year. Always following directions, always happy to be at school, always smiling. Just overall a very good boy. And so his new teachers know this and are thankful for this. Now besides just hoping that his good school behavior continues I've been thinking about my own school.

Since I'm the preschool teacher there I have NO idea about my students. No teachers to warn me about a certain stduent's behavior or to say, "you're going to love him!" And you know what? I think it's better that way.

I know it's important to communicate some information to the next year's teacher - but maybe I should try to tone it down so that when the students start the year their reputation (good or bad) doesn't preceed them.

Of course - today at work one of the K-teachers said to me, "Oh, (insert child's name here), a handful, hunh?" And then later, "Oh, (insert child's name here), is doing SO well!" For both of these children their reputation did not preceed them - the teacher just figured it out for herself. In only 5 school days.