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Original poster

Concerned about Y7 maths teacher

40 replies

NameyChangey666 · 11/11/2013 20:20

My DS is in Y7. He got a L6 (and was in the 'G+T' maths group) in his SATs last year so I was not overly concerned about maths this year, feeling that he has all the skills and confidence and it would be good for him to have the chance to consolidate his knowledge and not be stressed by maths for a year.

His secondary school is a good one, and the Head of Maths is an 'old school' type, very hot on knowing the basics, no messing about with him, etc (we know him outside school) so we thought this ethos would filter through to rest of dept.

I have now learned that in fact the school is very short of maths teachers, as two left last year amend they're struggling to recruit more. And apparently they are using other teachers to cover, after putting them through 'crash courses' in maths teaching (I was told they were already good at maths, just needed extra skills for teaching it)

DS has a maths teacher who is described as an ICT teacher on the staff list, and the same man teaches him ITC as well. DS claims to be getting on OK with maths, and I've looked at his exercise book and it looks alright. But all the homework they are given is on a computer programme called MyMaths, and teacher doesnt always put the work on there on the day he sets the homework, meaning that sometimes DS struggles to get it done because of extra-curricular activities.

Same teacher uses an ICT programme called Edmodo to give the class homework, and also uses it as a chat forum for class members. The 'quiz' programmes on it that he uses as homework are really badly laid out and confusing to use.

I have met the teacher once, on an Open Evening (for DS2) and I really didnt warm to him, he seemed very techie/geeky and not really used to talking to parents. The ICT kids think he's cool because he understands MineCraft, but that doesn't fill me with confidence!!Grin

Parents Evening is tomorrow and teacher wants to talk to all the parents. I know DS's CAT results (all L6) so what should I say to this guy and how should I gently express my slight concern that I have in my gut? Should I ask what DS's expected progress is? Will the staff have that sort of info or is that only used in Primary school? I just feel uneasy about his ability to maintain interest and concentration and the old person in me thinks that using computer programmes for homework is rather lazy teaching. Am I out of touch?! Please advise before I make a tit of myself Grin

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 12/11/2013 09:51

Imagine, a geeky ict teacher?! Whatever next? They'll be employing people who love to read as English teachers soon!

I'm wondering what your problem is tbh.

JohnnyUtah · 12/11/2013 09:44

You're going over the top here. It is hard to get used to the lack of info you get at secondary compared to primary. You need to work on this issue (which is your issue) and leave the maths teacher alone.

lborolass · 12/11/2013 09:41

Tbf I hadn't heard of MyMaths until my child started secondary but it would have been stupid of me to assume it wasn't any good simply because I wasn't aware of it.

curlew · 12/11/2013 08:32

Do you know what level your ds is currently working at or what his end of year targets are?

I didn't know that CATS were translatable into NC levels- how does that work?

Marmitelover55 · 12/11/2013 08:06

My DD1 in year 7 (outstanding school) uses my maths for homework and she is taught by the head of department. I have been impressed with my maths.

friday16 · 12/11/2013 07:41

see how engaged he seems to be tomorrow. Any issues and I will talk to HOD.

Who just happens to be a friend of yours. Charming. If you're starting Y7 off complaining about teachers via your friends because you've got a bad feeling about them based on no evidence (and utter ignorance: MyMaths is used by, essentially, every school, and if you've never heard of it you'll just look like a twit) the school will, I hope, mark your card as someone to be ignored. And your son will get the reputation of being the child whose parents use their friends to get at teachers they don't like, and find himself treated like plutonium.

You are going to make a tit of yourself. Stop now, before it's too late.

BettyBotter · 11/11/2013 21:53

I'd love to hear that complaint.

So Mrs Namey. What is your concern?

Well, the maths teacher seems a bit ... geeky. And his primary subject is IT so we're worried he might be a 'rogue'. Apart from that he seems to be teaching well, setting appropriate homework and ds is happy, so we really think you need to check him out.

Please send your complaint in writing so it can be pinned on the staffroom wall. Grin

noblegiraffe · 11/11/2013 20:49

You're going to see 'how engaged' he is at parents evening and then get onto the HoD if you have concerns?

I think, tbh, you need to back off. Let him do his job.

PartyConfused · 11/11/2013 20:44

MyMaths and Edmodo are brilliant! I'd say any teacher using tools like these to connect with the kids for things like homework is a pretty good one. but I may be biased

noblegiraffe · 11/11/2013 20:40

Whether you get on with the teacher or think he is too geeky to connect with parents is completely irrelevant to his ability to teach your DS maths. The majority of schools use Mymaths, that's fine, although you can certainly request that the homework is set on the correct day.

I don't know Edmodo, so can't comment on that.

You say his exercise book looks fine, so give the guy a break. You say you're not worried about your DS's maths this year!

You can ask this guy for an end of year target, if the school does them, end of KS3 if not. But it's early in Y7 so they might not have generated them yet.

BettyBotter · 11/11/2013 20:39

So ds feels he's 'getting on OK'. His homework 'looks alright'. So what exactly is the concern? Confused

Original poster
NameyChangey666 · 11/11/2013 20:39

Thank you. I have never heard of MyMaths so I am glad to hear it is a respected tool.
I don't know this teacher is doing his best, that's why I'm concerned! DS doesnt particularly like him, and I have only met him once, very briefly. So its quite hard to judge. Most teachers are great, but there's plenty who aren't (read some of these threads!) and I don't want to get to the end of Y7 and possibly poorer than expected results before I find out that he's a rogue one. But I need to know the questions to ask and of course I absolutely don't want to offend or put anyone's back up.

I shall ask about individual expected level of progress for Y7 and see how engaged he seems to be tomorrow. Any issues and I will talk to HOD. Thanks

OP posts:
lborolass · 11/11/2013 20:32

It's difficult if you haven't clicked with the teacher but it's still early in the year and I think you have to give the teacher a chance.

Have you had a bad experience with MyMaths - they way you've phrased your concern suggests that you don't think it's good enough. Afaik it's very widely used.

It might be worth mentioning the delay in setting up the homework just to clarify how long the students have to finish it.

Minime85 · 11/11/2013 20:27

in my experience my maths widely used for homework in schools. my own children have it for yr1 and 4 at school too. I think teacher should know targets etc and I would raise concerns with HOD or SLT re staffing, if at all, rather than single out teacher personally.

bigbuttons · 11/11/2013 20:27

My maths is VERY widely used, it's a brilliant program too. Give the guy a break. He sounds fine.
What do you want to say to him " Hello, I know you are trying your best but frankly I am concerned that you won't be good enough for me and my ds"?
I think you are about to make a tit of yourself, don't do it.

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