Hellobee Boards Topic: What do you call your children's teachers?

Hellobee Boards Topic: What do you call your children's teachers? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 18 May 2026 21:20:52 +0000 yin on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774529 Wed, 20 Sep 2017 15:03:27 +0000 yin 2774529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Depends on the school. In preschool it's Ms./Mr. First Name. In elementary school it's Ms./Mrs./Mr. Last Name. I always call teachers by the same name that my kids use. 808love on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774524 Wed, 20 Sep 2017 14:56:59 +0000 808love 2774524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @irene: lol I just throw in my first name just to throw the parents off! :) Actually, I just use my first Initial. Last name when I write things. But then when I meet them for the first time, especially if they are new to the school, I just say my first name with my last name. I feel like it is polite and builds trust. It also to gives them options to Google me if they want...hehe! :) Anagram on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774489 Wed, 20 Sep 2017 13:30:43 +0000 Anagram 2774489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @hilsy85: progressive schools are big on first names. I worked in one for just a summer program, and it weirded me out that the kids even called the school's headmaster by her first name. But it's like, a core tenant of the progressive school philosophy. But I think in most typical public and private schools, k-8, last names are used. irene on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774485 Wed, 20 Sep 2017 13:24:33 +0000 irene 2774485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @808love: That is so interesting to hear from a teacher's perspective! I have been soooo confused with this. I used to call them Ms. Lastname But then, say in an email, the teachers always refer to me in my first name and sign with their first name. Then I reply with Ms. Lastname - I would be like, OK this is really weird. If the teachers find it weird for parents to call them by their first names, then don't sign the email ending with their first names ! Haha. And then I also heard another parent calling one of the teachers by their first names and I feel like I were such an outsider . hahaha! I am weird. OK. That settles it, I will insist on calling everyone Ms. / Mr. / Mrs. Lastname from now on.... hilsy85 on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774112 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 11:43:15 +0000 hilsy85 2774112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @808love: gotcha! I don't know if it's a regional thing, but I definitely thing it depends on the culture of the school. My son goes to a progressive school, where all the teachers--even in 8th grade!--are referred to by the first name. For pre-k, it doesn't feel strange, but I'm sure as he gets older it will take some getting used to :) certainly not something I grew up with. Alba4 on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774104 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 11:03:06 +0000 Alba4 2774104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Pollywog: I think it's just tradition and polite that I use a respectful title in addressing teachers and professors. I never refer to myself in the third person as Mrs. ___ to the parents, but most people in my region would not refer to teachers using their first name. It's just too casual. Within the school, we use first names with each other whether you are the custodian or superintendent. Between parents and teachers, there is a formality. I am addressed by Mrs. lastname at the pediatrician and I call the doctor Dr. lastname. I'm sure within their office they go by first name. It's just more formal and polite imo. 808love on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774094 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 10:03:17 +0000 808love 2774094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @hilsy85: Not frowned upon. Just interesting because it is not common. Imaginary lunch situation: Me: Oh, by the way, I have a parent calling me by my first name. Other teachers: oh that is weird! Me: Yah, I don't know why! Others: Maybe she wants to be your best friend. Me: Yeah! Others: I've had that happen to me too, once. I often introduce myself first name last name to parents of new students but it is just the custom to be called by last name. I also call parents by their last name. (I've tried first name once and it just felt weird.) When LO was in preschool, the teachers all go by Ms. Firstname. But when the preschool teacher called me by my first name and that felt so weird after always being addressed by last name in school. Sometimes the grocery clerk looks at the receipt and calls me by last name. When it first started happening, I used to think maybe they were a former student. just wanted to add: If you want to call by first name, go for it. Maybe it is a regional thing. If you want to call your teacher by last name and you feel awkward, try it some more. I think you will get used to it quickly. Anagram on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774069 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 08:59:05 +0000 Anagram 2774069@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Spinoff---how do your doctors address you? I think most of my doctors address me by my first name, but recently I've been going to a specialist and I've noticed that everyone in his office, including the doctor himself, refers to me as "Ms. M__________". Even on voicemails. It's kind of fun. It makes me wonder if there is an office rule about it. Like if someone was calling from my GP's office, the message would say, "This message is for "Sue Smith", Your blood test results are in. Please call at your earliest convenience to get the results". And from my specialist office, it's always, "Hi Mrs. Smith. Your blood test results are in", etc. It's interesting. Anagram on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774067 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 08:56:22 +0000 Anagram 2774067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I work in a middle school, so there isn't a lot of face-to-face contact with parents. But in emails, I always address parents by Mr. or Ms. Last Name, and they always address my by Ms. Last Name, even though my standard email signature is First Name Last Name However, my daughter's Pre-K teachers go by Ms. First Name, so that's how I address them, even in emails. Even their door decorations and name plates say Ms. First-Name, so I didn't even know their last names. Pollywog on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774065 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 08:46:40 +0000 Pollywog 2774065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I find this a fascinating relic. In any other field I'm addressed by my first name only, but teachers are the only ones who expect to be addressed as Mrs. X. I avoid it when communicating with LO's teachers, but it comes up at work (I'm not a teacher, but am in meetings with teachers). I introduce myself as Polly Wog and they introduce themselves as Mrs. Smith and call me Mrs. Wog. It's always awkward because most people on my side of the table have doctorates and would never go by Dr. Wog, only first names with their colleagues. We just do this dance around the names. kiddosc on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774064 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 08:41:53 +0000 kiddosc 2774064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Too funny, it seems like it's all across the board, even for what the teachers prefer to be called. I think that part of it is that his kindergarten teacher is older than I am and so I feel more inclined to use Ms. Lastname. But I assume we will encounter plenty of teachers who are younger than I am and I wonder if I'll have as much of a hesitation using a first name. Sometimes I'm such an awkward adult :silly: Mamaof2 on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774063 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 08:32:49 +0000 Mamaof2 2774063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @kiddosc: in Elementary school I address them by their first name yoursilverlining on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774062 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 08:27:02 +0000 yoursilverlining 2774062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Mrs./Mr./Ms. Last Name. In fact, LO's teacher called me yesterday and introduced herself as first name last name and I had no idea who she was lol I was like "......who?" and it only clicked for me once she said "I'm Mrs. Last name" At LO's preschool they went by Ms. First Name lawbee11 on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774059 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 08:21:56 +0000 lawbee11 2774059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Even in emails I still use "Ms. Firstname" (same as what LO and all the other kids call her). I had the same struggle with what to type but it felt weird just addressing her by her first name. hilsy85 on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774047 Tue, 19 Sep 2017 06:05:12 +0000 hilsy85 2774047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @808love: just curious, what sort of conversation would it be? Is it like frowned upon at your school? LemonJack on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2774023 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 21:22:03 +0000 LemonJack 2774023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It's funny you write this! I'm a teacher and I always have that question when writing to parents! I often just write "hello!" the first time as well. Most parents refer to me as Mrs. Lastname when they initially email me. I always respond and just sign it with my first name. Once I do that the parents often will address further emails to me using my first name. 808love on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773997 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 19:35:25 +0000 808love 2773997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I've taught elementary school for many, many years. I have never had a single parent address me by my first name, with or without child present. That includes in writing. It would be really interesting and would be my lunch conversation with colleagues if they did. At preschool, it was Ms. Whateverthekidscalledher petitenoisette on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773992 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 19:23:10 +0000 petitenoisette 2773992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Miss + first name at my LOs daycare. We'll do whatever the teacher asks our kids to do as she gets older. As a teacher myself I always use last names with parents and appreciate them to do the same. irene on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773987 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 19:13:35 +0000 irene 2773987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I could have written this post! I have the same struggle! All the teachers are Miss/Mrs/Mr Lastname in our school. So it becomes so awkward when I try to write an email to them especially for the ones that I don't know them well. Say I would write, hi Miss. xyz, she replies signing the email with her first name. Then I don't know what do I call her when I write back to her. I feel weird either way. First world problems lol MamaG on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773955 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 16:46:46 +0000 MamaG 2773955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I address my daughter's elementary teachers in the same manner my daughter addresses them. Same thing at our daycare. Our daycare mostly goes by last name but there are a few that use their first name. daniellemybelle on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773952 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 16:40:27 +0000 daniellemybelle 2773952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ At LO's school, her teacher is Mrs. Last Name and that is how I address her. kiddosc on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773934 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 15:54:27 +0000 kiddosc 2773934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @meganmp: I think she just has an automatic signature line at the bottom of her emails... so it's always first last. Or in her response to my email this morning, she didn't sign a name at all. :silly: meganmp on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773930 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 15:45:53 +0000 meganmp 2773930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @kiddosc: I'd use the honorific then, and see how she responds. If she signs it with her first name, then proceed with first names from then on. mediagirl on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773927 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 15:43:40 +0000 mediagirl 2773927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Mrs./Mr. Last name (Kindergarten) unless I'm friends with them outside of school. kiddosc on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773906 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:43:00 +0000 kiddosc 2773906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @meganmp: She always signs Firstname Lastname. I seriously put way too much thought into this this morning, LOL. meganmp on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773898 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:29:34 +0000 meganmp 2773898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I always sign my emails the way I wanted to be addressed by the parents- by my first name. I will introduce myself to my children (students) as Mrs. Last Name though. Do you have any old emails you can check? snowjewelz on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773893 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:12:11 +0000 snowjewelz 2773893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I never remember to address them by their first names so I always end up saying Ms! All cards I have written say Ms too :silly: looch on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773890 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 14:05:58 +0000 looch 2773890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If my son is there, it's Ms. Last name. If it's just adults, it's first name. Shantuck on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773886 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 13:55:53 +0000 Shantuck 2773886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I always refers to teachers in the same way my kids have been told to. My son's kindergarten teacher is Ms. Last Name and his daycare teachers were Ms. First Name. I do the same thing in emails, in person, etc. Alba4 on "What do you call your children's teachers?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-call-your-childrens-teachers#post-2773878 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 13:32:20 +0000 Alba4 2773878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My kids are in daycare/preK and they only use first names. I have a hard time with that personally and usually address them as Ms. Firstname. I teach at a public middle school. Everyone calls me Mrs. Last name. I do have some parents email me using my first name, but I find it very casual. When I email and address parents, I always use Mr. or Mrs. Last name. I also look up whether mom uses her maiden name.