DD2's new teacher said the funniest thing!

[lougle]

First of all, new teacher is fantastic. We went to a 'how we teach maths' workshop yesterday, and the teacher was there. She told us DD2 has settled beautifully, is 'popular' , but then she commented that she 'is sucking her hand a lot'. We told her that's something she's always done to soothe herself, and the teacher said 'well that's fine, I just wanted to mention it in case it's a new thing.' I mean...she's noticed already.

Then, she said that DD2's mentioned her tummy hurting quite a lot. She said 'I tend to jolly her along a bit, saying 'have you had a drink?, have you used the toilet?, come over here and see this, it's nearly lunchtime...' she said 'I'm wondering if DD2's just a bit anxious, I'm taking it as a signal that she needs a break from whatever she's doing and needs distraction.

Can you believe it? She's thinking about what DD2's tummy ache might mean!

The funny bit:

I said 'DD2 saw a paediatrician, he wondered if her processing was a bit slow, but I'm sure you'll assess that yourself in time.' She said:

"Oh no! I think she's quite bright. I was suggesting to her that she did a bit of writing, a bit of colouring, a bit more writing then finished her colouring, and she said 'do you mean like a repeating pattern?'

After DH and I picked ourselves up from the floor, we let her know that repeating patterns are DD2's obsession

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

How great that she has an observant thoughtful teacher.

[Handywoman]

Oh how lovely, am absolutely thrilled for you all.

Just shows how a little insight goes a very long way. Long may it continue.

[porridgeLover]

Wow. Kudos to that teacher. I wonder does she realise what a treasure she is?

[bigbluebus]

She sounds lovely. Can she be cloned!

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Wow! That's excellent. Hopefully with time your dd's anxiety will subside due to sensible teacher and even rarer, communicating teacher.

[lougle]

Absolutely! I nearly died with laughter that DD2's obsession of more than a year is being seen as inspired

[Ineedmorepatience]

Great news lougle, that she recognised the link between tummy ache and anxiety!!

It has taken 2 schools and 5 yrs for us to find some staff who can understand that.

Hope everything continues to go well

[lougle]

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. The teacher wrote in DD2's reading book 'I've done a quick assessment, but it would help to know what level she was on at the other school.' She put her on level 2.

I replied: 'She was on level 4 and moved up to level 5 3 weeks ago. I've had concerns that her comprehension isn't keeping up with her decoding and she is able to recognise some phonemes in one context but not another (struggling with 'any' but fine with 'many' for eg.).'

Today, she's written:

'I've moved her up and she'll move up again very soon. I do feel though, like you, that comprehension needs to be our focus at the moment.'

So I wasn't mad! I'm waiting to wake up and find this is all a dream.

[porridgeLover]

Seriously, what course has this teacher done that has been bypassed by many other teachers?!
Can she do one?

[lougle]

If I didn't know me I wouldn't believe me either!

DD2 has been coming out of school, actually talking about other children and even revealed that she has boyfriend (who she apparently told might be able to have a sleep over and a shower together ).

She is coming out of school with everything she went in with, too.

[Ineedmorepatience]

Fantastic so happy for you lougle

[ouryve]

This is fab news, lougle. It's lovely when someone else sees what you're seeing and tries to find ways to work through it, isn't it?

[Dinkysmummy]

Wow!

So which area is this?
(starting to think about moving lol)

Only kidding.... That's amazing! Long may it continue!
You sound so happy and your dd must be happy too! The right teacher makes a big difference!

[lougle]

The best bit is that she came home today and said 'My favourite bits of school are PE and Playtime!!'

It was playtime she talked about at the old school because she hated it.

And, my SIL whose DD is at that school said that she expected DD2 would sort of cling to her for a while, but her DD said 'I don't really see DD2 in the playground because she's running around playing with different children.'

[Pebbles69]

So lovely to hear your daughter is so happy at her new school.

[Badvoc]

Very similar to my sons experience Lougle.
So pleased for you.

[EllenJaneisstillnotmyname]

Wow, Lougle. No regrets about moving, then?

The repeating pattern obsession, reminds me of an observation on my DS1 who had very, very delayed speech. 'Onge' was his word for any fruit, any colour and any crayon or felt tip. Report came back, 'DS1 correctly identified the colour orange!' How we did laugh, good job it wasn't purple, or green, or red, or blue.....

[lougle]

No, none Although I dread to think what a basket case I would have been if the move had back-fired (which it could do, still - early days). So I'm bigging up the good points while I can