Teacher being a bit OTT

[wonderstuff100]

Can I get you opinions on son's teacher please?I'm a teacher myself hence why I'm posting on here.

He's just moved into year 3 and has had repeated reports of being rude and interrupting. Having spoken directly to the teacher this week it seems he speaks to other kids on the carpet when she is and therefore gets warnings. I've told him this is unacceptable many times and it needs to stop,he doesn't seem to be reacting to having 3 mins of playtime taken off him (he told me it doesn't bother him) so I've started to confiscate stuff at home. We're on day 2 of a behaviour book,yesterday was daily good,today not so great.

The thing is,I can't help feeling this teacher is blowing things out of proportion. Yes he's interrupting and it's annoying,but is it serious enough to warrant constant comments? I'm starting to feel she's got it in for him and maybe she needs to use a different strategy for him that just moving down the rainbow and taking minutes off break as he doesn't care. Today,his report was he'd lost some of break for shouting out,so that was before 10.45 and when i aske him if he'd moved back up the rainbow,he said no. So either hes misbehaving so badly all day,thay his warning stays or hes being disruptive but then getting on witg his work,but the warning stays in place. Ive always told the kids I give warnings to that they can redeem themselves,and most of the time they do. I get the feeling hes not been given that chance. I'm also struggling with something she said at the end of our meeting which was that she didn't know what he was like for the PPA teacher,but he "probably wasn't good" were her words. That just screams to me that she's made her mind up about him.

I did speak to her at the start of the year about my suspicions that he was dyspraxic and the SENCO agreed and hes just waiting for an observation. This again,doesnt seem to be taken into consideration. Ok he's not been diagnosed,but two teachers have raised the issue that he finds listening and processing instructions hard,surely she should be taking that into account?

C'mon then,have I become one of THOSE parents?! Please say no!

[rainyinnovember]

Interrupting is extremely rude and it's a bad habit for children to get into.

[OrangeSquashTallGlass]

Do you mean dyspraxic? Maybe my experience is unique but the children I've taught with dyspraxia were able to sit on the carpet without calling out. They couldn't catch a ball... but they could listen, take turns with social interactions and concentrate (for varying periods of time).

[wonderstuff100]

Oh I would never say that to her. But yes,I may need to suggest she may need to give him a bit more leeway than other kids.

Trust me,he can be rude,I'm not saying he can't,but I don't think he's interrupting to be rude. I think he forgets he's not meant to.

[wonderstuff100]

Dyspraxia can also affect speech and listening skills. He can sit still on the carpet and is good at sport but his spatial awareness isn't great.

[wonderstuff100]

Yes he does,I tell him to wait his turn as I'm talking. It's like he has lots in his head and if he doesnt get it out that second,he'll forget. I'll also be talking to him,and then he'll start talking about something completely different,like he's not even aware I'm speaking. Again,it's not rudeness,he actually seems unaware.

[Wolfiefan]

I'm afraid saying she should give him more leeway is unfair. So he should be allowed to shout out whilst other kids don't?
It doesn't matter if he calls out to be rude or not. They are there to learn. Every time he calls out the learning stops. She's really not overreacting.
Perhaps a meeting with the school to discuss strategies that may work. Rewarding short periods of time with no calling out? She's probably following a school policy though.
And PPA. She won't know how he was as she wasn't there!
You are kind of being that parent. Support the teacher and work together to find strategies that work.
And your post should be about your child. Not opinions of the poor teacher.

[AllPizzasGreatAndSmall]

Trust me,he can be rude,I'm not saying he can't,but I don't think he's interrupting to be rude. I think he forgets he's not meant to.

but he's year 3 not year 1, he needs to learn not to 'forget'.

[wonderstuff100]

Thanks guys,especially thetroublewithangelsfor the mostly useful advice,I'll take it on board.

[ilongforlustre]

Whatever additional needs he may or may not have, it would not be out of line to ask when the current strategy will be reviewed. Every time she tells you he has been interrupting etc. ask what else could be done to manage the situation more effectively. Resist the urge to think for her... it's her classroom after all.

Personally I don't see the point in behaviour books. I don't get their purpose. (My DS had one)...I mean is it just for the teacher to moan into? What am I supposed to do with it? Manage after the moment what she couldn't manage in it? And yes! Of course he should have the opportunity to redeem himself, what's the point in the cloud, sun, rainbow, lunar eclipse stuff otherwise.

[leccybill]

What age group do you teach, yourself, OP?

[wonderstuff100]

Primary. Have taught KS1 and 2

[wonderstuff100]

I agree ilongforlustre hence why I asked her for her suggestions to which she didn't know.

[Emochild]

Some school behaviour policies don't allow for redemption

Might be worth asking if the school does allow them to move back up the behaviour chart or if they stay down and then it's a fresh start the next session or the next day

[wonderstuff100]

I actually work at the school (awkward) so I know each class has it's own behaviour policy. But I have asked in the behaviour book if he is able to move his way back up.

[ilongforlustre]

Nothing ticks me off more than teachers who "don't know"... full stop. If she doesn't know she needs to take advice, or find out. Inform her that you sympathise but talking about it at home and sanctions at home are already happening, but you aren't in the classroom so that limits you... she's in the classroom... the balls in her court really. Ask her what she suggests you should do.

I have been 'that' parent for years OP (you can probably tell) In my experience it tends to get stuff done.

[ilongforlustre]

For what it's worth my son doesn't respond to sanctions either... doesn't care. Now a sanction with the chance to earn it back....competitive streak you see.

[PerspicaciaTick]

I wouldn't worry about doubling up punishments by punishing him at home for things he has already been punished for ay school.
I would try and create opportunities for him to practise listening and turn taking skills at home, maybe playing board games or memory games where you build on what the other players say (I went to the zoo and saw an Aardvark; I went to the zoo and saw an Aardvark and a Bat). Also at mealtimes take it in turns to tell each other your news and stories.

[YellowPrimula]

Dyspraxia children often ' live in the moment ' they find waiting difficult because they find the whole concept of time difficult .Have you tried social stories to explain the concept .

The fear of something disappearing from your head if you don't get it out quick enough is also common I think.If you have problems with auditory processing then you are going to blurt things out .

[YellowPrimula]

Sorry that should read dyspraxic children .My ds also struggled with sanctions , although he was so shy he got lost because no ones noticed him.If you struggle with time then a sanction at the end of the day might as well be next week , also auditory processing affects short term memory so he often genuinely couldn't remember what he had done wrong .

[wonderstuff100]

That's another thing,when I ask him,his response is usually,I can't remember. And again,this isn't just in class,we'll be in the car,tell him where we're going,ten minutes later,where are we going?

He's very competitive also,so yes the chance to earn it back would be important.