Teacher visiting the homes of students during the summer? Opinions from teachers & parents please!?

Question

I received a letter in the mail today from the 2nd grade teacher that my daughter will have this school year. In the letter she states that she will be calling us within the next week to schedule a time that she can come to our home & meet with us & our daughter (who will be her student). She says that she "likes to see what kind of environment that her students are coming from". Also she says, speaking to the student now, "please think of some things that you can tell me or show me, such as your room or a special toy". There are 12 teachers in this elementary school & this one teacher is the only one that does these summer home visits prior to the school year. I feel that this is very inappropriate and that she is just being nosy. The school is having an open house 4 days before school starts anyway & that is when we will meet her. I feel this is an invasion of privacy, etc. Should I contact the principal about this? I hate to be a trouble maker. Opinions/ thoughts? Thanks!

I know I can just tell her "no" when she calls, but I worry that she will think that I have something to hide, which I don't. My husband & I are happily married with three children & we have a nice home, so how we will look does not concern me. I just think that she is trying to form opinions about her students before she has them in class. My daughter is a straight A student, with excellent behavior, and is reading higher than her grade level, surely the teacher aleady knows this info. So why come and check the home? I just think this is strange.

Answer 1

I am a teacher, and I think you should give her the benefit of the doubt. During inservices, I've been told that going to see the students in their homes shows you care--that the parents and students will look back on that extra effort and appreciate it, that it will help to build rapport faster, etc. I would not jump to the conclusion that she's looking for evidence about which students come from "bad homes." I also think you should feel free to decline.

Answer 2

I have to say that I see both sides VERY clearly. I know my own husband would object to the idea of a home visit, and we're BOTH teachers. Some people just prefer their privacy, and I see nothing wrong with that. I also think you make a GREAT point about forming opinions before having the child in class. Some teachers prefer to not know ANYTHING about their students from other teachers and instead prefer to form their own opinions through interactions with the students. On the other hand, knowing a bit about a child's home environment CAN be a useful tool for teachers. I had to do a home visit my first year teaching simply because I could NOT get the parent to come to the school, call the school, or even send a note to the school regarding her child's struggles in class. Visiting the home was a HUGE eye-opener for me, and I really do believe it helped me to gain the right amount of perspective with regards to how I should have proceeded with the student.

So I'm not completely for or completely against home visits. I think they would be better suited for students whose parents refused to communicate otherwise throughout the school year rather than something done with every student.

If I were you, I wouldn't speak with the principal about this. I'd speak openly with the teacher when she calls. Tell her what you told us- that you feel it's an invasion of your family's privacy and that you'd prefer she get to know your family and child through school interactions. How would you feel about writing a letter to the teacher that explains what you feel is important for her to know about your child? I'm trying this for the first time this year and hope to learn a lot in that way. It will allow parents to let me know what they think I should know should they choose to do it. If not, no hard feelings.

Answer 3

I am answering this from a teacher and parents stand-point. One of our former 2nd grade teachers did exactly the same thing -even down to the questions what your teacher wants to ask your child. When she came, it is all very informal and very quick - she spoke mainly to the child ( but then again I had taught with her for years) and then gave my daughter a book.Basically the teacher wants to meet the child before school starts so her students will know her face on the first day.

Please do not call the principal about this. If you feel this is inappropriate, then just sweetly say no and that you will glad to meet her at orientation. I'm sure the principal knows that she does this. I don't think any of our teachers do this anymore, but several will drive around and pass the houses so when their students talk about home, the teacher can picture the setting in her mind.

Answer 4

As a teacher I would highly discourage home visits. Of course, being a male teacher, I must be very careful with situations such as this. There are many, many ways to get a feel of a student's home life, not just by going on a home visit. This teacher, I believe seems to be sincere in her efforts, however, she must understand that not all people are comfortable with this. I for one, would not be comfortable with a "stranger" coming into my home and wanting to ask questions and look around. You might suggest meeting at a central location, McDonald's, or public library. The teacher CAN get a good sense of a student's homelife from the interactions between parent and child as well as many other factors without actually going into the home. If she has been at the school for a while, she SHOULD know the basic homelife of all students and can ask those simple "what do you like" questions during the first couple of days.
So in response to your question, it is not uncommon. However, if you do feel uncomfortable with this, suggest an alternative. Make something up if you want, like you are having your house painted, remodeled, or something else... Meet somewhere else and do get to know her, not just her getting to know your child. YOU need a good sense of your child's teacher as well. Ask HER questions, and make sure you are involved in all aspects of your child's learning.

Answer 5

I'm sure being nosy is not the point of such a visit. School is stressful for many kids and the teacher wants to meet the kids beforehand to ease the transition.
Also, open house is not a good opportunity for parents to tell teachers certain things concerning their children, as it is very crowded. Many parents would love to meet with the teacher privately in a comfortable environment to discuss any health issues the child has or family issues (such as custody and who's not allowed to pick the child up, etc...) without having others overhear or having to set up a conference. Teachers are told this early on, but some parents would feel better with a more private conversation.
As far as the environment, it is a good way for a teacher to see how the child interacts at home and then use that to judge if the child is having problems adjusting (an outgoing, bubbly child at home is quiet and withdrawn at school may mean the child doesn't know how to make friends or is frightened, for example). Also, a child's home environment gives the teacher ideas of things to use as classroom rewards or as a way of making the child feel at home at school. She could have their desk decorated with a favorite thing (stickers of cats or of race cars, etc...).
I understand you feel this is intrusive, but the teacher is trying to let both you and your child get to know her on a more personal level so you all will feel comfortable with her. If you do not feel comfortable having the teacher in your home, perhaps you could suggest meeting somewhere public for lunch to 'accommodate your busy schedule'.

Answer 6

Please do not contact the principal. Like it was stated earlier, he probably already knows that this teacher does these visits. While going to school to become a teacher, I was told that visiting the homes of your students before or during the school year was key in getting to know the students and families (and I just graduated in 2005). I don't think she's trying to be nosy, but she's just trying to get to know your daughter. Take it in stride and if you don't want her to come then just say you'll be very busy before school starts, but you look forward to meeting her at the open house. As a teacher, I understand her want to meet everyone and see where your child lives. I don't think it's anything to be concerned about.

Answer 7

I can understand your alarm, but really it doesn't have much to do with the teacher's opinion about you and your family as it does with the teacher wanting to be the most effective teacher she can be.

One of the ways that we learn is through prior knowledge. We connect what we already know with what we are learning. For teachers in higher grades, this is simpler because students have gone through so much school, you can connect what your learning with what you've already experienced in school. But for really young children, it can be near impossible, because so many of them live completely different lives before they come to school.

By letting your teacher visit you, you not only let the child meet the teacher in the child's home territory first (which is much safer for the child then meeting her in her territory- the classroom first), but it gives the teacher an idea of where the child is coming from. It's not like you're good parents or bad parents, but does the child love stuffed animals, building blocks, playing soccer, video games.... Given just a couple minutes, the teacher can assess some of the ways the child learns right now to better teach her when she gets to school.

This is an amazing opportunity. And no matter how awkward it might be for you, imagine how it is for the teacher. She is offering to come to a strange house for free to meet with potentially hostel people in hopes that maybe, just maybe, she will figure out a way to be a better teacher to their child. This is how we fix the educational system, and you have someone that's willing to try.

Answer 8

I'm a beginning teacher who has just started doing home visits with three other teachers in my program. It's really a way for teachers and students to connect better. She's not being nosy, just taking the effort to get to know her students and understand their home situations better than the other teachers. Some teachers are quick to judge, but if she knows about the home situation of some students, she'll be able to sympathize with them. Not saying that there is anything going on in your house, but there are some students who don't get three meals a day or any furniture to sit on, students whose parents won't come to open house to meet their teachers. Students also tend to enjoy it when their teachers come to visit.

Also, the principal probably already knows she's doing home visits because I highly doubt she would do them without his or her permission first.

Answer 9

I agree with "lou53053". I think where its odd at first, and does seem a little invasive, I think the teacher is probably trying to familiarize herself with the children, one-on-one, so to speak. If you are uncomfortable with this, do as the others suggested and opt out, stating you look forward to meeting her at the conference before the begining of school. Im sure you wont be the only one telling her that.
Last year, when my daughter was in kindergarten, her teacher invited her to stop by her house to drop off some paperwork that was due. My daughter thought that was the greatest thing... lol I think it made her feel special.
Good luck with wahtever you decide.

Answer 10

It does seem odd. However if you take it in the best light, she may just think thats her way to get to know the family well. teachers are always looking at ways to personalize their instruction.

I personally would simply pass on her visit. When she calls, I would tell her that the thought is nice, but we will not be available for your visit. No reason for this necessary, just tell her you look forward to meeting her on parents night. If she pushes it, you can let her know your concerns and that before inviting a teacher into the home, you would like to see the environment she creates in the classroom.

good luck!

Answer 11

I don't think she's doing it for the wrong reasons - be happy your daughter's teacher cares enough to even write to you, let alone take her own time to do this. I don't see the harm in it, but if you don't want her to visit just tell her your schedule is really full and you're looking forward to meeting her during open house. Period. Or, you can tell her you'd be happy to drop by HER house when you had a chance... That might calm her jets. Still, I see this as a caring gesture, not one to form opinons, etc...