Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Primary education

Over zealous teacher or should I worry about DD

11 replies

PorkPieLove · 30/09/2010 11:39

Sigh...I'm on here a lot lately about DD who as just started year 2 ...she's the youngest in the class and the school's very academic.

The teacher expressed concern the the other day to me because my DD is slow to complete work...I know this also affects her homewok as she takes ages/gets bored....so last night I tried her homework with a stopwatch and there was LOADS of improvement... she did 20 sums in less than 5 minutes...the teacher collared me today and said she was worried about DD's reversing of numbers and letters sometimes.

I was pee'd off as I had been so happy about DD speeding up with her homework and now it's something else! I had noticed that DD does reverse numbers or letters sometimes but wasn't worried as she turned 6 only in late July.

I said to teacher "Is she too old to be doing that now? Should she have gotten over that at this stage?" and teacher said "Oh no! Shes very young still."

And I thought...well then WHY tell me!

All this about DD being slow and now the letter reversal only cameup because I casually asked Teacher the other day how DD was doing!

I now feel like if I had not asked, then she would not have told me...so how valid is it to strss me out? Is it because I showed an interest? Or would she have pointed it out to me? Should I worry? Is it just becase they come down heavier in year 2?

OP posts:

Report

Hullygully · 30/09/2010 11:41

is it a private school?

Report

PorkPieLove · 30/09/2010 11:44

Yes Hullygully.

OP posts:

Report

Hassled · 30/09/2010 11:46

The teacher won't see it as stressing you out - just keeping you informed. It does all sound a bit much, though; if the school have significant concerns re your DD then they need to put steps in place to address them, rather than vague worries which don't really add up to anything. She sounds like a normal 6 year old to me.

Report

PorkPieLove · 30/09/2010 11:53

Yes hassled...that's what I thought...all a bit vague. If there is a real concern then ask me for a meeting!

I don't know...maybe it's because they're so academic and they worry about SATS....so if a parent shows interest they tell you all this stuff so you work extra hard with the DC.

OP posts:

Report

Hullygully · 30/09/2010 11:54

If I were you I would be asking the teacher what the school's expectations/requirements are. V academic private schools can be a little ruthless.

Report

throckenholt · 30/09/2010 11:59

mine still reverse letters and numbers sometimes and they are 9 and 7.

Report

shellye · 30/09/2010 12:22

My DD also just started in year 2 and is 7 in January. She is also at a private school. I also get fed up at the constant remarks from teachers in reports and reading record. At the schools request we had assessments done this year as DD has always been lively and their word " disruptive".

The assessment proved she did not have ADHD but is on the lower end of the aspergers spectrum. DD cannot "slow down" at anything yet we are constantly reminded how bad she is at not doing so. The teacher who brings them out in the afternoon will roll her eyes at me and complain about her lack of concentration! I know all this and would love constructive advice instead of the same old issues.

I feel that some teachers struggle to cope with the kids who don't fit into their academic boxes! Thank goodness she is not struggling academically as then they would have something else to moan about!

Report

PorkPieLove · 30/09/2010 13:34

Shellye....I feel your pain! I sent her to this school so she'd have a small class size...I bet if you tested a whole class of kids then half of them would have some "slight" learning issue...still...I suppose it's better to be under a microscope than have their development ignored.

I think year 2 is where they whip them into shape for the slog to come! I'm blinking dreading it!

I'vegot DD on the list for an excellent state school and found out today that she is 2nd on the list...there are 15 others waiting! So even if it takes 2 years, I have that to think of.

The school she is at is very good...but not sure if the pushing them so hard is good for my DD.

OP posts:

Report

shellye · 30/09/2010 14:17

I would think that most private schools are pushy in an academic sense, ours certainly is. Not helped by the parents in some issues either. We are also looking at removing DD as we have lost faith in the school and some of the teachers, though not all. Moving schools though is not an easy decision to make. What will happen when you double the class size and DD becomes one of thirty? It is a dilema.

It was good to read your post PPLove as you wrote what i said to my DH only this morning.

Report

Serendippy · 30/09/2010 14:33

It seems that the teacher is not overly concerned but answered truthfully about areas for improvement when asked. All teachers should be aware of next steps for children so I would be pleased that as one problem was resolving itself, another was being targeted.

IMO Enthusiastic, caring and on-the-ball teacher, no need to worry about DD!

Report

PorkPieLove · 30/09/2010 16:04

Good point Serendippity...I asked after all!

Shelle...changinf schools can be worrying...but having weighd it up, I feel my DD is the type who will slot in....I also think the SATS results of the State school we may go to are ggood enough that 30 kids in the class is not a bad thing. The state school is in the top 100 of the country.