Am I being pfb. or has this teacher 'got it in ' for ds?

[GreggsOnLegs]

He's just started year 3, teacher is new to school.
He's very well behaved.
They have a zone board for behavior, all children start the day in green. It goes up to silver then gold and down to Amber then red.
In previous years, he's been consistently in green and silver once in gold and only once in Amber.
He's been back at school since Sept 4th and been in amber four times already. When I picked him up the other day the teacher had a go at him for pushing past her, he didn't! My friend noticed too and said your poor ds, she's really got it in for him hasn't she? -Hadn't told this friend about him going in orange.
Wwyd? Am I being too precious? He is getting upset about going in orange

[jo164]

I would ask your son/speak to the teacher and ask why he has been on 'amber' four times. It may be she has higher expectations than the previous teacher. You can then address this with your son. I sincerely doubt she 'has it in' for your son - I have taught for nearly 20 years and have never come across a teacher who singles out pupils to deliberately make them feel miserable. I expect he just needs to get used to the behaviour expectations of the new teacher - and even very well behaved children do make mistakes too, such as talking when they should be quiet or not following instructions.

[mimbleandlittlemy]

Some schools seem to have a very marked difference of expectations between Infants and Juniors so maybe she is expecting more of Y3s or it could be she's just horrid. Have you got a Parents' Evening in the next couple of weeks where you could say "Greggsonlegs Minor is a bit worried about being in amber all the time - can you let me know what he's doing wrong so we can have a talk about it at home and I can point him in the right direction?" or something along those lines?

[avolt]

I was thinking that too - about the difference in expectations between year 2 and 3. It seems a lot more sort of strict in my dd's year 3 class. General cheekiness they would have got away with last year, doesn't seem to be tolerated any more. It might be that he just needs to get used to the new expectations.

[PatriciaHolm]

There is definitely a step up in what's expected between Y2 and 3 here, and maybe she's just coming down hard on them to start with to set the standards? Does he know why he's on Amber (there is no use in the scheme if he doesn't!) Are a number of others on it too?

[redskyatnight]

Are lots of other children also going into amber?
DS's Y1 teacher was very strict and I think the entire class (even the very well behaved ones) ended up on their's schools equivalent on a fairly regular basis.

[GreggsOnLegs]

Yes there's a parent 's evening in October, I'll mention it if it continues.
It seems to be minor issues, shouting out the answer and not putting his hand up. Knocking on the window to say hello to his friend Not sitting on his chair properly -we are waiting for an appointment for suspected dyspraxia, the teacher knows this. Writing his 2's the wrong way round. I agree with the not putting hand up and knocking on the window but the other two? Bit harsh?

[mimbleandlittlemy]

From what you describe that definitely sounds to me like she is trying to weed out 'infant' behaviour and instil 'junior' behaviour as per seat sitting and window knocking but I have to say the 2s thing does seem foolish, especially if you are awaiting diagnosis. Perhaps worth sticking head round the door one morning and saying something disingenuous along the lines of "I was just wondering when the dyspraxia appointment will be as he still seems to be having problems with number writing?".

Y3 was our worst year ever in a fairly consistent stream of worst years until we hit 5 and 6 so I really sympathise.

[Periwinkle007]

I think it is fair enough for the behaviour but I disagree with the writing numbers back to front. that is punishing a child for something there may be a reason for.

[CaterpillarCara]

I agree with all the behaviour ones. The chair one is difficult, as the possible dyspraxia make it more likely not to sit properly e.g. slumping. However, do you know HOW he was not sitting properly? Kids who wiggle round with their chair legs in the air do make it really difficult / dangerous to move round a classroom. I don't have brilliant eyesight and it really concerns me as I think I will hurt myself or a child tripping one day.

I don't like the sound of the "2"s one though.

[GreggsOnLegs]

Apparently the two's one because he previously wrote them correctly so he wasn't concentrating hard enough when he got them wrong.

[Periwinkle007]

hmm ok so the 2s COULD be acceptable if she felt he was actually messing around or chatting and not concentrating on his work but it is a bit more debatable

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

It does sound a bit harsh tbh. It could be her expectations are higher but if its not happening to anyone else then that would make me wonder. Especially as someone else noticed too. But then I've had a couple of teachers who seemed to have it in for me too. Including one who would give me filthy looks and then promptly repeat what I just said despite making out I was wrong.

[doggiedog]

I severely doubt that the teacher moved his name down for writing his 2s backwards, it's more likely that the teacher told him he wasn't concentrating or was messing around and that was why he ended up writing some numbers backwards.

At the beginning of the year (especially Year 3 and other KS2 years) it's important to set strict behaviour standards because the amount of work really increases quite quickly.

Sorry but I do think you are overreacting.

[ipadquietly]

'From what you describe that definitely sounds to me like she is trying to weed out 'infant' behaviour and instil 'junior' behaviour as per seat sitting and window knocking ...'

'Infant' behaviour? I wouldn't put up with my Y2s getting up off their seats at inappropriate times or knocking on the windows! Our school rules and behaviour expectations are the same throughout the school from Y1 to Y6 (YR has a modified version). There is no 'getting away with things' just because you're in the infants! I'm shocked with the number of posters explaining this away because of the perceived difference in behaviour expectations between KS1 and KS2.

[Cheryzan]

If he can't sit still in his chair, and you suspect dyspraxia, buy him a move n sit cushion.

[keepsmiling12345]

Afraid I'm with iPad, at our school answering questions without putting up your hand or knocking on the window would not be allowed in y2 and would result in losing Golden time. So it doesn't surprise me your DS is being picked up on this if he is still doing it in y3. I would suggest discussing with the teacher at parents evening why she thinks your son is struggling to meet her expectations of y3 behaviour...rather than deciding the teacher has "it in for your DS".

[Smartiepants79]

Have to agree with ipad I wouldn't put up with those behaviours from my yr1/ 2 kids. It does depend a little on how persistent these behaviours are.
I think it sounds like she is just setting boundaries and making her expectations known.

[clam]

God, are there still schools doing that ridiculous traffic light chart? We did it years ago and it was a pain in the arse. So hard to be objective and fair. Binned it after a year.
Had one parent complaining that her pfb hadn't been put up to gold "especially seeing as it was her birthday."