Parents who ask for specific grade-school teachers to teach their children have always been viewed as helicopter parents. This is especially true if the children are fortunate enough to be able to attend an outstanding school with many teachers who make it so. My second grader was fortunate to have three teachers who were different in their personalities and styles (some very strict, others very sweet). It is as important for me to learn to work with and to learn from all types of people as it is to add double digits.
However, I have come to realize that my prior policy of no requests was very privileged. My son will be starting kindergarten this Fall. My first child is a very good student. So I didn’t worry too much about the teacher she would get. I was confident that she would succeed regardless of who her teacher was. My second child is quite different. My son requires a special kind, patient, experienced, caring teacher.
I have never requested a teaching assistant before. So, I did my research about the best way to ask friends with experience asking about teachers. I also called our school principal to learn more about how and when to ask a teacher to teach my child. These are five tips that I learned about how to request a teacher for my child.
- Write a letter to the school. Most schools ask you to make a formal request. The principal will be most likely to have the most influence and final say in the placement of your child into the appropriate class.
- Submit your request before end of current school year. In the spring of the next school years, the school will likely start class placement. If you haven’t already done so, send an email to or write a mail. There is a cutoff for some schools (mine is in mid-April), so make sure you ask about it and follow through.
- You should not ask for a teacher, but your child’s specific needs. Instead, discuss your child's individual academic and social needs. If you have had positive experiences with a particular teacher that can meet those needs best, please mention the name of your preferred teacher.
- Do not let teacher gossip get you down Don’t believe gossip and hearsay. You might not have liked the teacher who was super-silly or strict, but it could have been great for your child.
- You might be surprised at how much your school knows about classroom design. Schools consider the learning styles and needs of each child, as well as academic, emotional and medical requirements. You must ensure that there are no personality conflicts and classrooms are equally sized. If your request is not granted, believe that the school has a valid reason to ignore it. Focus instead on getting your child excited about the classroom they will actually be in.
