Year 2 struggles

[Headsashed4]

My son went into year 2 in September. I’ve never had issues with him in previous years, all his previous teachers have told me he’s bright and right where he’s supposed to be. He’s classed as a greater depth reader and he’s in top sets for maths and English. Since he’s moved into year 2 he seems to struggling to focus. Before I add this next part I’ll just add that I’m a TA in year 2 and work along side his class teacher a lot. Now she doesn’t come across as if she enjoys being a teacher. She’s always in a mood, doesn’t really have a laugh with them very often and quite frankly a lot of the kids are scared of her as when she does raise her voice everyone knows about it. I am wondering if this is why he’s struggling. I am appreciative of the fact their work load increases a lot as they go into year 2, but I do think they cram too much into lessons and she doesn’t always explain things on a child level either. He misses almost every break and lunch time and recently has had to bring work home with him to finish or he’ll end up being behind. She says she doesn’t know what to do with him because he’s capable but surely if there’s something he doesn’t get then he should be helped but she kind of refuses to and just leaves them to it and complains that they ‘can’t follow simple instructions’ I don’t want my sons education to be jeopardised but I work with this lady and so find it hard to give my opinion on it. What can I do? Is it a focus problem with him or is it down to her teaching skills?

[MiniEggAddiction]

He misses almost every break and lunch time

Well this is outrageous and needs to stop ASAP. Of course he's not going to be able to concentrate if he has no break. It's very unhealthy for kids to be deprived of leisure time (and will negatively affect them socially) and has been proven to worsen bad behaviour. As to how you proceed I think it's very tricky given your working relationship - hopefully someone who is more familiar with this situation can advise.

[CommanderShepard]

I too am a Year 2 TA and a parent at the school I work at. I think you probably need to go in with your parent hat very firmly on and make it clear you are not judging her professionally (even if you are!) because if it's to do with your son then you being a TA is really neither here nor there.

When you say he's struggling to focus, what do you mean? Is he disruptive or just staring off into space a bit? Could he move tables if the problem is that he's being distracted by friends? As you say there's a big increase in expectations in year 2 and I wonder if he's coasted along so far and now it's harder he's starting to struggle... how is his resilience? (It's a pattern I've seen a few times),

I can't blame her though for "never having a laugh with them". We're not there to be their mates.

[CripsSandwiches]

Wow - difficult situation OP. Firstly he can't miss entire lunch and play times, Like PP said you need to go in with your parent hat on and let the teacher know it's not on. He needs a break and some exercise. (Presumably as a TA you could do a bit of work with him at the weekend to help him if needed).

In terms of her teaching style (which I agree doesn't sound ideal) I'm not sure there's much you can do unfortunately unless you feel it's actual unprofessional or negligent . You can however bring up specific concerns about your son you could certainly bring them up. For example if you think he feels anxious in class that could be something you mention.

While a teacher isn't there to mess around with kids like their mates they do need to form positive relationships with the kids or the kids won't learn and humour is usually part of that in early primary.

[Headsashed4]

@CommanderShepard I understand that we’re not there to be their mates but myself and the teacher I work along side do still manage to have a little fun with our class as I think sometimes it’s easy to forget they are only 6/7 years old and need that from time to time. I mean she literally barely cracks her face!
In terms of him focusing, he doesn’t distract or get distracted by anyone on his table, they wouldn’t dare tbh, they’re frightened to say a word! I just mean he’s one of those children that looks like he’s listening but think sometimes he’s probably not. I can at home for example be talking to him and know his mind is elsewhere and so I’ll say ‘what did I just say to you?’ and he can’t tell me. In terms of resilience he’s quite sensitive and if he gets upset he finds it hard to come back from it, he dwells and worries about it for a while after, he doesn’t usually do this at school but I did see it the other day from him he came into our classroom at the end of the day in tears cos he’d written something she said was wrong and made him rub it out and wouldn’t help him find the right answer. He actually got marched out of the classroom the other day too because she’d asked him a question he didn’t know the answer to in front of the whole class and instead of moving on from it she waited 10 minutes for him to answer and when he didn’t (couldn’t) she sent him out the class.

I’ve had a chat with him and he said that he doesn’t put his hand up and ask for help cos he knows she won’t help him. Luckily for him her TA will but she often gets pulled for covering teachers.

[needadvice321]

The teacher sounds awful and your poor son’s self esteem must be taking a battering. Is be either a) complaining to the head or b) looking for a more supportive school. They’re still little in year 2!