Do I mention I'm a primary teacher at my son's first PTM?

cinnamon_drum_506516 Jul 2026

First PTM of the year is on Saturday. He's in class 2 with a new class teacher, and I know from my side of the table how those ten minutes go. Last year I said nothing and the teacher spent half the time explaining phonics to me. The year before, it came up, and after that every conversation felt like two teachers being polite to each other instead of a teacher telling a parent what's going on with her child. I'd like the plain version. Do other teacher-parents say it upfront, or let it come out on its own?

4 comments

cobalt_wave_22516 Jul 2026
I'd only bring it up if it changes something the teacher needs to know, like if your hours mean you'll mostly answer the diary late at night. Otherwise you're just a parent for those ten minutes. I keep my own work out of school meetings for a similar reason. I research how people use apps, and once a teacher knew that, the meeting turned into feedback on the school's app.
rose_notebook_187916 Jul 2026
Tell them. Worst case they skip the phonics lecture 🤷
- cinnamon_drum_506516 Jul 2026
  worst case is they get careful with me. that's the part i'm trying to avoid
orchid_piano_517416 Jul 2026
I stopped mentioning my profession at school meetings after one teacher began asking my opinion on other children in the class. That was one school, and it may well not happen to you. I would separate two things, though: whether the teacher knows, and whether you speak like a teacher in the meeting. The second probably matters more.
mint_compass_282617 Jul 2026
Does it matter much? Most teachers work out what a parent does within five minutes from the questions they ask. If you ask about phonics sequencing, the secret is out anyway.