Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy How to phrase this?

Tips on phasing this sentiment in a school 504 meeting:

Quote from DS9
"I like teachers who know a lot, are excited about whatever we are learning about and treat their students with respect. I don't like the ones that just boss kids around. It seems like they just use their "I am the adult in charge" position to disrespect kids and make themselves feel big. The ones that do that make me angry and want to revolt against them."

I understand the meeting will be focused on accommodations and not teacher preferences but if possible I think I'd still like to nudge a little on the teaching style that works best with him.

Great observations by your DS9!

Teacher preferences can easily be worked into 504 accommodations. This old post has several lists with examples, some of which may be helpful.

This may not be quite what your DS is trying to convey, but it reminds me of a frequent comment by my own. Maybe yours DS can find something in this that helps frame his input as more about "unusual needs of kid rather" than "avoiding bad teacher"?

My DS has two teacher requests: "cheerful", and "eccentric, like me". More practically, the latter means teachers who really enjoy coming at topics and problem from unusual directions - and really like *students* who take their class discussion in unexpected directions. Such teachers think it's neat when students propose approaches, problem-solving strategies and ideas they've never heard of before, and feel challenged and excited to try out this new concept, rather than derailed from their lesson plan.

Other somewhat more neutral descriptors of possible use include: flexible, out-of-the-box, not linear, non-traditional.... a little googling and thesaurus might give him some new wording ideas. Good luck to him - I think it's awesome he's prepared to go in there at 9 and try to explain his needs and concerns.

Does the original text really need to be translated into PC language? Because your DS9's comments are genuine, legitimate, and not directed at a specific teacher, I would be inclined to include them and provide the diplomatic softeners myself.

Thank you for all the input. The meeting has been postponed and in the meantime he has been assigned a teacher. I have not met her but she gets great reviews on the gifted program's parents' social media group.

I checked out her Facebook profile and they at least have one quirky common interest.

This is our first year in public school so this is all new to us.

hmm - i have never tried to request a teacher - my kids know that mom and dad can't pick their bosses - neither can they ... my kids had the full spectrum of teachers ... including ones we didn't like - but I realized after close to 10 years that every year made us stronger in a different way ... the boring teachers taught us patience and self motivation and the ones with a big ego had us come up with ways to deal with them - just like in real life we had a few gems and a lot of averages and ... yes very few truely horrible ones ... sometimes I have been surprized by how well my kids did with teachers that I didn't think would be a good fit... I wouldn't tollerate a teacher bullying my child but as long as they are fair and have reasonable expectations and rules I find that my kids do ok. And believe me ... we are an eccentric family

No you can't pick your boss except by not accepting a job. But you do choose your job and you can leave. Kids don't have those options.