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Original poster

Teacher treating children too young

313 replies

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 21:40

My child is in a year 3 class, the teacher now sings a song to get them to sit on the carpet and has organised a book advent for this week. The children are 7 and 8, I feel they are far too old to be sung to sit on the carpet. Aibu to talk to the headteacher?

OP posts:
agoodfriendofthethree · 01/12/2024 22:38

My year 11 son is in top set maths at our local grammar school. His favourite bit of learning this year has been some songs his maths teacher taught them to remember various equations. Should I complain that the teaching methods aren't age appropriate OP?

People like you are the reason I am no longer a primary school teacher.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 01/12/2024 22:38

AllYearsAround · 01/12/2024 21:59

Go straight to the governors OP!
Primary schools are no places for books and songs. How childish.
They'll be forcing the children to play next.

Outrageous!! Far more useful to pop them back up chimneys. After all mines not going to clean itself now!.

JayJayEl · 01/12/2024 22:36

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:25

I didn't say it was harming anyone, more that I expected a teacher to not be singing to 8 year old. I would of thought an experienced teacher would have more age appropriate strategies.

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Since when should 8 year olds not be singing?? I'd be much more concerned if they weren't singing!!

EmpressOfTheThread · 01/12/2024 22:36

Many years ago, when I was picking my son up from primary school, a parent was very rude to the teacher about some aspect of her practice. She said "oh are you a teacher?" the parent replied "no, a graphic designer"
😂

whatcanthematterbe81 · 01/12/2024 22:36

lol

Bakingwithmyboys · 01/12/2024 22:35

Maybe 10 years ago people may have thought along your lines.

At this point in yr 3 they are still yr 2 really. Children are coming through with much less maturity than before. We have yr 3's who are still learning to be in the classroom with other children. Which should have been learned in reception.

7 and 8 yr olds lap up songs/ picture books/sillyness and being a child of any kind. All normal.

TimeToGoAgain · 01/12/2024 22:35

Delorian · 01/12/2024 22:27

My DC's reception teacher uses a call and response clapping rhythm to get her class to shut up.

I saw it and stole it. I now use it on 22+ year old postgraduate students to bring them out of group discussion (I have 200 in a room). I tell them it's for reception children. They love it!

Primary school head teacher uses a shh shh shhh little song, to bring the school to silence, kids join in and love it too.

I like the idea of uni students using a clapping version too.
( they are big kids still)

adviceneeded1990 · 01/12/2024 22:34

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:30

No, not child related.

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I bet no one guessed 😆. In all seriousness, surely you have other things to be thinking about? Let the teacher do their job, the strategies sound perfectly age appropriate. My DSD is 9 and loves her advent book! We used to wrap Christmas picture books, now we do a Christmas chapter book and read a chapter a night! Let them be little. They’ll be grown up soon enough.

Threeandahalf · 01/12/2024 22:33

I sometimes sing to my year 10s

Ace56 · 01/12/2024 22:33

What’s a book advent? The teacher gives someone in the class a book every day? What’s the issue with this?

I used to teach KS1 and all I did was give them a turn every day to open a picture on the advent calendar. They loved it, but I’m sure if you were one of the parents you would’ve complained that I was being too stingy and a picture advent calendar is rubbish.

GretchenWienersHair · 01/12/2024 22:33

A song?! With children?! Why stop at a meeting with the head? Call Ofsted and long your complain with them too. Better yet, have the teacher arrested. What on earth were they thinking?

in all seriousness, yes it’s a little young but, in a world where we’re constantly told children “these days” grow up too fast, is that really an issue worth getting a bee in your bonnet about?

Thewholeplaceglitters · 01/12/2024 22:33

doodleschnoodle · 01/12/2024 22:31

Not sure what age year 3 is as I'm in Scotland but I do volunteer work with 7-10yo and they love a song to signal sitting down group time etc!

It’s such a quick, effective and positive strategy. Far nicer than nagging and builds a sense of community as well as they all sing together.

Have to admit if OP is headed my way tomorrow (cos I know our y3 teacher uses loads of songs) I will struggle to know what to say in response because it’s such a bizarre objection.

EmpressOfTheThread · 01/12/2024 22:33

@adviceneeded1990 - forward them this thread! 😂

Ablondiebutagoody · 01/12/2024 22:32

Please complain! Then come back and report how you got on

EmpressOfTheThread · 01/12/2024 22:31

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:30

No, not child related.

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So leave it to the experts who have graduated iin the subject.
Also monitored, observed and checked by senior staff on a regular basis.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 01/12/2024 22:31

Congratulations!

You are THAT parent.

doodleschnoodle · 01/12/2024 22:31

Not sure what age year 3 is as I'm in Scotland but I do volunteer work with 7-10yo and they love a song to signal sitting down group time etc!

Franjipanl8r · 01/12/2024 22:30

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:20

Absolutely not, more that I expected a certain level of behaviour management when children move up to the next key stage.

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Expect what you like. But your teacher will understand the reality that there will be a huge range of abilities and maturity in their class.

Original poster
Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:30

adviceneeded1990 · 01/12/2024 22:27

I’m assuming not lecturing on education, child care, child development? Your complaints are ridiculous but please message the head, my staff room loves parents like you and we’re all tired and drained with Nativity and Christmas Craft Fayre etc. I’m sure the teachers at your DCs school will appreciate the laugh.

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No, not child related.

OP posts:
jigglywigglyhungryhippo · 01/12/2024 22:30

Teenagers are taught through appropriate songs at secondary school.

Are you saying they should stop that too?

Thewholeplaceglitters · 01/12/2024 22:29

Tell you what, OP. Write a list of strategies that you deem are age appropriate and give those to the teacher. I bet they’ll find that really helpful.

Just make sure you spell & grammar check it first. Wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself.

Mama2many73 · 01/12/2024 22:29

mitogoshigg · 01/12/2024 22:14

Seems a bit odd so old i admit but if it works what harm does it do? Pick your battles! I had one child who hated having to sit on the floor, being autistic she found lots of things challenging and was pleased when floor time ended in year 2.

When I taught, any children who struggled to sit on the floor, due to needs, were allowed to sit on a chair. It was a reasonable adjustment for them.

AliasGrape · 01/12/2024 22:28

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:25

I didn't say it was harming anyone, more that I expected a teacher to not be singing to 8 year old. I would of thought an experienced teacher would have more age appropriate strategies.

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But what is not ‘age appropriate’ about it?

If it’s working for the teacher (ie it gets the children to sit on the carpet) and the children are learning then it’s appropriate? If it’s not working, or the children are not making progress then I’m sure the teacher will rethink - or it will be picked up in one of the many, many lesson observations/ learning walks/ drop ins that teachers have to deal with on a seemingly weekly basis.

What’s wrong with a book advent?

OrwellianTimes · 01/12/2024 22:28

My 8 year old would love this

criminallyvulgar · 01/12/2024 22:27

Someonehelpmeagain · 01/12/2024 22:25

I didn't say it was harming anyone, more that I expected a teacher to not be singing to 8 year old. I would of thought an experienced teacher would have more age appropriate strategies.

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A University lecturer who writes 'would of'? Of course you are.

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