DenG says:

Great site! Appreciate folks sharing positive stories of teachers. A lot on my mind about the immediate needs in classrooms. I appreciate assistants and volunteers in classrooms, but fear many quick to volunteer, will not understand regiment or flow of a classroom. I would like more volunteers, parent volunteers. Had parents come to volunteer, but I did not invite them to return because they scolded my students repeatedly saying they were “chatty” or “noisy.” Parent/volunteer also sent my students back to their seats when they were allowed to leave their seats. Volunteers would question why students weren’t in chairs. Parent, volunteers, and student volunteers were often confused, bothered, and visibly frustrated by students chatter and movement. Most teachers have developed an extra sense to multi-task in “organized chaos,” that many are not able to. Many parents, and student volunteers, do not understand “organized chaos,” and are not familiar with the processes of elementary school teaching and learning today. Children should not spend all day sitting in their chairs, so to the visitors it seems as though there isn’t any teaching and learning in progress. In my classroom, a “working classroom” I call it, I operate under “organized chaos” for some part of the day. Students are engaged in experimental, pairs, and hands on learning. I accept the various behavioral challenges I do have with a good quarter or more of my students, and try to adjust the best I can. As we accept all students regardless of background, and often with a lack of support and proper guidance at home (also lacking in “privileged middle and upper class”),I simply must adjust, daily, to the various needs and challenges for the classroom, as a whole, to thrive. Many volunteers are familiar with days when children sat quietly, in desks in rows. Of course, many classroom operate totally to the opposite. Additionally, parents do not understand that in school, teachers do not bark commands or order children around, as is most likely done at home. We simply cannot demand a response from students, well at least in my classroom that does not happen. I would never make headway throughout the school year operating in this fashion. I would soon get weary, not to mention the overall stressful and negative climate of a classroom I would create. I use “psychology” to “manipulate” students to a cohesive and productive environment. Parents and volunteers are simply unaware of what it takes to manage and teach children who are not in the presence of parents. Parents do not realize most of the times their child’s conduct and personality differs significantly, when they, the parents are not around. Again parents, outsiders, non-teachers do not understand the school environment, especially in the classroom. I would love to have volunteers in my class, but definitely hesitant because outsiders have little knowledge on the almost second to second, daily going-ons, multitasking, and operation of classroom teaching and learning. I would reconsider when all volunteers participate in a class as to what they should expect in a classroom. Sorry, just a quick teacher vent. lol!