Very scary maths teacher

That would rather depend on the question.

Miss, how do you factorise this? Would not warrant an eye roll.

Miss, is it nearly lunchtime yet? Much more likely to.

Kids also need to learn to shut up and listen to the teacher, rather than gobbing off. It’s a short sharp lesson in the first few weeks.

There is good reason many teachers work using the ‘don’t let them see you smile until
Christmas’ method.

I have 3 year 7 classes and will be half term before I learn all the names - child is a gender neutral way to address a child (and yes this is an issue).

I have probably rolled my eyes after the 20th child in class asked if they could remove their blazer - I had told the whole class they could. Should I underline the title?. Do I write this in my book? What is the date (big letters on board). Takes a huge amount of patience and we have to be strict.

If your child feels unsettled speak to the head of year.

Reassure your daughter that she is a good girl and this teacher should come to recognise this. Even if this super strict teacher gives her a negative or a sanction you absolutely won't be upset with her because you know how conscientious she is and some teachers are just grumpy. This should help her feel less anxious.

I'm a teacher and totally get what you are saying. I don't have behaviour issues but I can manage behaviour without scaring the kids into submission. I listened to a colleague bore a new class shitless with a 40 minute lecture on her expectations, I had to move rooms so I couldn't hear them.

When my well behaved Dd met her new GCSE chemistry teacher she came home and told me she hated her, she was strict, shouty, and sarcastic
.
All she talked about for weeks was how much she hated her and she didn't know how long she could stand it.

As the time passed I noticed she was complaining less about her but had started repeating things that "Miss" had told her.

By the end of the course she was saying she was an excellent teacher who really cared about the students.

I took her in last month to collect her results, she did amazingly and managed to exceed her expected grade by two grades and according to Dd this was all due to the teacher.

When we collected the results her chemistry teacher came up to Dd to find out her result and was over the moon for her, gave her a big cuddle and told her how proud she was of her.

So basically what I'm saying is first impressions can be wrong just give it a bit of time

I reckon it’s more of a “Go outside and sort your tie out” situation.

This is good advice. The best thing can do is to encourage your daughter. Don’t feed into her fear or suggest it’s justified.

Eye rolling is hardly something to get upset about.

It is if it’s in response to questions. How are the kids expected to learn if they can’t ask questions?

She will not have their names memorised and they are children. So calling them child makes sense. Not something to get upset about.

I doubt she’s sneering, but it’s something to watch.

Eye rolling is hardly something to get upset about.

I’d tell your DD to give it a chance, but if there are problems she must come to you with specific examples/incidents. Not vague ‘she’s mean’ statements - you need chapter and verse. In a few weeks you can assess.

i had a terrifying chemistry teacher. She could make a grown 6th form rugby captain cry with just a few words. But she was amazing and by the end was hands down my absolute favourite.

No one should feel terrified at school.

I taught secondary for many years and at some point in the first week most year 7ms cried.

They were in a new environment, secondary is not as fluffy as primary and they are often worried about the other kids (the year 11's are adult size but still act like 8 year olds at times) and the teachers.

I've had year 7's come in late because they got lost and burst into tears before I've even had chance to say anything (and what I say it I got lost lots on my first week, don't worry about it you'll get used to it).

If all you actually have to complain about is that this teacher is calling students "child" and being sneery then it is likely both the class and the teacher will get to know each other and as your child settles down she will be fine.

She sounds utterly shit.

People are going to say ‘it’s high school etc’ but my school was a high achieving school and the way they did that was awful. I have some horrific memories of some awful teacher behaviour. We accepted it back then, I wouldn’t accept it now and nor would my mother if it was me going through it now. This was only 20-30 years ago and it was terrible. No child should be feeling like your child is.

I would tell your daughter to give the lessons a go and if she still feels this way then contact the head - children should be allowed and encouraged to ask questions, no matter how ‘silly’ they seem. Some teachers are terrible end off and shouldnt be teaching.

No one should be feeling terrified at school.

I do think your DD may eventually prefer these lessons over the softer teacher lessons, as she will not allow any inappropriate behaviour from other classmates.

My DD was really afraid of getting told off or getting a detention and she really struggled at first.
I basically had to tell her that she is always very good (ASD) and if she does get told off or given a detention then it’s not the end of the world and to just accept it and then speak to the teacher in private if she feels it was unfair.
She ended up getting a detention in year 9 for losing her pen and she was sick with worry but as soon as she had it, she realised it wasn’t that bad and wasn’t as worried.

I’m sorry your DD is already feeling so worried.

Explain how some students do have bad behaviour and this is the teachers way of getting control over it.

Tell her if she does get told off or get a detention to not argue/try and explain at the time but just accept it and apologise and then speak to her afterwards.

Are they just sitting in silence or are they supposed to be doing work? The teacher is actually sending children out of the class for getting a question wrong? Is that what's happening?

DD had a French teacher she was TERRIFIED of in year 7. I was not as sympathetic as I should have been until the parents evening when I was also left feeling pretty shaken. she really was a formidable character... but no one ever messed about in her class and she got tremendous results.

DD found that after the first few weeks though she did get used to her methods and actually grew to like her over time although she did once say she got quite good at French because she was too frightened not to be

But I could absolutely understand DD's initial reaction after the parents evening

No child or teenager should feel terrified at school. Or an adult at work for that matter.

This approach is a very dated way of looked at teaching. There can be mutual respect in the classroom:

I would suggest that you tell your daughter to give it a few classes. Two of the best teachers I ever had terrified us in our first classes but actually turned out to be two of the most excellent teachers I ever had.

They basically showed that they would take no nonsense in class.

I find it difficult to believe this teacher is sending repeated numbers of pupils out of class for having a wonky tie! If this is the case, they will be sent somewhere for a member of SLT to deal with which it seems unlikely.

Eye rolling, she needs to just ignore.

The teacher will, I'm sure soften slightly but she's setting out her stall and I can't blame her. She has to control and teach 30 11 year olds. That is hard work.

This will help with your DD building resilience. Secondary is not primary and neither should we want it to be.

How many lessons have they had ?

It really doesn’t sound like she’s that bad and you are accepting what your child has said about sneering and eye rolling which may or may not be an exaggeration. I think you need to give it a few weeks and see how it goes .

I think you need to take a step back.
Teachers in secondary are less fluffy and more straight forward. You haven't given any clear reason for her fear and it may simply be a case if getting used to a different style.

Eye rolling ? She wouldn’t want to be in my class

Is every single other child also terrified?

It can take a few weeks for the kids to get used to new teachers, especially In the move to senior school. I’d try to reassure your Dd and encourage her to give the teacher a chance, it may settle down in a week or two.

It must be upsetting and if it doesn’t settle down I’d definitely follow it up.

Maths teachers are hard to recruit

What kind of teacher behaviour Is your resilient child scared of ?
Is the class behaving or are there one or two kids pushing the teacher’s buttons so the teacher is being Ms Trunchbull to everyone ?