For Those Of You With Teacher's Kids...

[Lilbutterflie]

When I was teaching I was under contract to be there 7-4. I could not leave earlier than 4pm. And I usually left later than that either because I had to pick up my room, grade papers, talk to co-workers, staff meeting, etc.

Is your DCM a FIRST YEAR teacher or something else quite new to teaching? If so that could explain alot. New teachers typically end up working MUCH longer than a veteran teacher.

I have a DCD that is a middle school math teacher and the kids are here until 5:45 if I let them!!!! Absolutely too late! The dad just needs to take his work home with him or become a better multi-tasker.

OP the hours 7:45-4:45 seem quite reasonable to me depending on when school lets out for kids, the teacher could be there much later after the bell. Maybe she wants to get all her work done at work so that when she gets home she is able to focus exclusively on Mommy time!

She teaches middle school art. She is a veteran, definitely not first year. She did pick up a little earlier today, 5pm instead of 5:15pm. But then again, she dropped off at 7 instead of 7:15! I discussed with her that a 7am drop off is not going to work for me because at that time I'm trying to get my DD on the bus to school. She did say that she was TOO early today (I think she was making sure she had enough time to drop her son off at school and get to work); and she would be coming at 7:15 from now on.

Thanks for all your input ladies!

[saved4always]

The last few years I did childcare in my home, I only watched teachers' children because the hours were better and I got to be off when there was no school. The latest I had one of my teacher clients pick up was at 4:15 a few years ago. The earliest drop off was at 6:40 (this one picked up by 3:10). The hours depended on where the school was located in relation to my home and also what grade they taught. The early drop off one was at a middle school which started very early in the morning. I had a teacher call me last year looking for care but she did not get off work until 4 p.m. and would not be able to pick up until 4:30. By that point, I was not taking anyone who would pick up after 4 p.m. so I did not even interview with that family.

[lovemykidstoo]

Sometimes the first weeks with a new family can be challenging. Your situation really just needs some tweeking by the sounds of it. Do you have certain hours or does it depend on what kids you have? I am open from 7:30 - 5:30. So, it doesn't really matter what time they come and go. I absolutely will not work past 5:30 as I have 2 kids of my own, but if it is requested ahead of time I will let someone come early in a special circumstance, but not all the time. I have 2 people that are teachers. The one teaches until 2:30 and comes at 4:00 for pickup and the other one I'm not sure what time she's done working, but she comes at 4:30, but has a 1/2 hour drive from her school. When she came 15 minutes early, was it before your opening hour? Maybe if it bothers you if she runs errands before pickup you should charge so much per day for say 9 hours but extra for past 9 hours. I charge per day for 10 hours and some use the full 10 hours and others only use 7 hours. It all equals out. The forgetting the check is something to watch, but if she brought it the same day I would say no foul.

[saved4always]

all our schools have different times here (for bussing purposes) so the hours vary. Our elementary school is one of the later ones in our district, kids go 8:45 - 3:15 so any teachers from there I've had usually contract 8-4.

Does this dc mom have far to drive? If she is dropping her son at another school is that farther away? Is she then picking him up after school? All those things could lead to a 9 hour day (7:45-4:45 is 9 hours, not 10). I agree she should ASK you, not tell you though and you need to let her know any changes to the hours needs to be approved ahead of time (assuming you run on contracted hours).

Our schools in our city also have different times like that, too, because of the busses...Middle School starts very early and gets out at 2:30 if I remember correctly. High shool does not have buses and starts at 7:30 and gets out at 2:30, too. Elementary schools start at 8:30 and get out at 3:05. The afternoon kindergarten gets off later at 3:35 and first grade is 8:50 to 3:20.

[jojosmommy]

Our elementary schools run from 9-3:30. I know when I worked as a teacher we had a minimum of 30 min before and after last contact that we had to stay at school. That did not include any staff or district meetings, IEP meetings/phone calls, check ins with parents or special ed teachers/coordinators, prep meetings, curriculum meetings, or emergency stuff that comes up. I reported by 7:45 everyday (and often felt rushed) and would be lucky to be on the way home by 5.

Also, most districts are pretty political. Often teachers are "expected but not required" to be part of this or that committe, or help out with after school care or.... you get the point..... Go home early, get passed over for a new school, new assignement, district development $.....

I think its a misnomer that teachers work less hours/luxury hours. Every teacher I have had here has has similar or longer hours and takes work home to do later.

[DaisyMamma]

What are your teacher's kids typical hours?

I have a new DCG that started last week; and mom is a teacher. Her hours seem long for a teacher! She told me her hours are 7:45-4:45. So, new DCG is here for 10 hours each day. Sometimes her dad picks her up earlier depending on his hours, but most of the time it's mom that does drop off & pick up. Then this morning, she dropped DCG off 15 min early without notification. I answered the door saying "Wow, you are EARLY!" She then said, "Yeah, it will be this way all week. I have to drop off my son at his school, too." Not asking, but telling me. They seem like such a nice family in every other way, and gave off absolutely NO red flags during their interview, or last week! AND of course, she forgot the check due this morning as well. She at least acknowledged it and stated she would bring this afternoon. I hope this is not a sign of things to come!!

In regards to the early drop off, I would be ticked, especially if they are the first drop off. Does your contract say anything about early drop offs? I added this into my last contract revision, it comes right after late fees : "Early fees will never be charged as I do not allow for early drop off. If your contracted drop off time is 8:30am you are expected to drop your child off no earlier than 8:30am. Please do not arrive at the daycare before drop off time unless previous arrangements have been approved (at least 24 hrs)."

After forgetting the check I would have kindly reminded her that there is a fee for paying late.
In regards to hours, teachers here are done at 3:10. I do not have any teacher's kids in my care, but I would expect them to leave by 3:45 with a 7:45 drop off. Many teachers do stay after school to work on lesson plans, correct papers, etc.

[AnneCordelia]

My teacher families drop off between 7:15-7:45 and pick up between 3:45-4:15.

I find it hard to fathom a teacher who can't leave until 4:45?? I wonder why?

[lovemykidstoo]

A teacher probably isn't working until 4:45, probably running errands. That's why I wondered how the OP worked her hours. Do people pay by the day and if so is it for certain amount of hours or the hours that she opens and closes. Like I said before, I charge $35 a day for anything between 7:30 - 5:30. Just curious how OP did it.

[PolkaTots]

I have watched several teachers children in the 5 years I have been providing daycare. One set came at 6:45-4, the other was 7:30-4:30. I will not watch teachers children after this next set leave. Been burned by too many for Summer Vacation. I make them pay 2 days per week to hold their spot, and their child can attend or not. I have had a couple quit right before then to get out of paying it, but the worst was a teacher who was pregnant and I already watched her 2 year old. I was told I would be watching the Infant and 2 year old once she had the baby in April, but then she decided to not return to work until Fall, and wanted to pull the 2 year old in April and start them back both in September. I told her I was absolutely unwilling to hold spots with no payment for that long, and filled them right after she left.

[momma2girls]

7:30-4:30 here also

[texascare]

I have an Art teacher and she has to be at work at 7:00 and gets off at 4:30-4:45. The child doesn't get here until later though because of dads schedule other wise i wouldn't be able to take him because I don't open till 7:30.

[DBug]

I did my B.Ed and all of the teachers I worked with had LOOONG hours. 7 to 5 usually, sometimes 8 to 5. They got one 15 minute break either in the am or pm, and 15 minutes to eat lunch. Other than that if they weren't actually teaching, they were on lunchroom duty, yard duty, intramural duty, etc., etc. They were also expected to coach at least one sport on their own time, do fundraisers, take turns attending School Council meetings, and of course, attend Staff Meetings, do training through the summer on their own dime. And of course, they were always taking work home with them after 5pm.

I decided NOT to go into teaching because it was too much work! ::::

Maybe it's different in the States, but here in Ontario our teachers are way over-worked and under-paid, and their hours can be ridiculous. I would be hesitant to take a full-time teacher for that reason (unless they had reliable overtime care).

So no, I don't think those hours are long just because the parent is a teacher. Showing up early is a no-go here, but the parent's job wouldn't change the way I deal with it. JMO.

[E Daycare]

My teachers kids have new schedules this year due to moms changes in schedules/new schools.

Last year was like this

1st dck: dropped off at 7:30 picked up at 4:30(3xwk)
2nd dck: dropped off at 8-8:30 picked up 4:30-5(3xwk)
3&4th dcks: (non teachers kids) schedules all over the darn place. (2-3xwk)

This year:
1st dck: dropped off at 7:15 picked up 5-5:15 (every day all day now)
2nd dck: supposed to be dropped off at 7:15 (pfftt yeah ok I wish but I sent out new contracts with a more expensive late fee that includes being late in the am.) and picked up around 4-4:30 (2x week now which was a surprise to me and im NOT VERY HAPPY)
3&4 dcks: (non teachers kids) 3rd is in school now and 4th is here 1x week.

I loved my teachers kids schedules LAST year. This is is all screwy and I'm like well crap now I need to advertise again and move some people out the door.

Summers are pretty freakin awesome tho!