How to handle parents evening with Maths teacher

Firstly stop bitching about s professional in s what's app group if you have concerns about your child speak to the teacher

Your DD definitely doesn't need to be present for this appointment.

Do not mention any slagging off on social media or anything any other parent has said.

Do say that your DD struggles with his teaching style, she lacks confidence and is concerned about being picked on to answer questions and what does he suggest? See how he approaches it (understanding or total dick) and maybe go from there.

How is she getting on in assessments?

Do report kids being called thick and slow to the HOD, that's not acceptable.

I would also be speaking to the Head of Year to say my child was scared due to the name calling of other children. It’s really not on at all!

I absolutely agree. Whatever you think of this teacher (and you admit there's been no specific incident with your daughter), you should feel ashamed of this. No wonder teachers are rapidly leaving the profession. Want better teachers for your child? Don't gossip about them on social media. The day I find out this is happening to me is the day I walk out of the job.

An awful lot in your posts is about gossip and rumour about the teacher. You need to take all of that out of the equation as it's clouding your judgement.

The top set for maths in secondary school is fast paced. You've admitted that maths isn't your DDs strong point. She had daily intervention at primary school and now has a tutor to keep up. No wonder she's struggling and feeling anxious.

The first question I'd ask is how he thinks your DD or performing. You might be surprised. But if the class is causing her anxiety and she needs a tutor in Y7 just to keep up, something has to give.

I'd ask to move her down a set so she can learn at a slower pace. If that's not possible this year, at least you can make sure it happens for Y8.

Ganging up against him on Facebook or WhatsApp is horrible and a witch hunt, based on nothing more than gossip. Please don't do this or refer to this in your meeting. Listen to what he says firstly. Then explain that your daughter lacks confidence. What can you and she do to help? Do not mention the situation with other pupils as that isn't appropriate. Your daughter will encounter many teachers who have very different teaching styles. You can help her deal with that.

Hmm tricky. I wouldn't want her moved out if set 1 if I could help it. Maybe talk to Head of Maths first.

Re parents evening take some notes of things you want to ask.

Your DD can step out of the room for your talk with the maths teacher although having your child with you is massively beneficial for this one time and this one subject I would perhaps not have her in front of the computer.

I would probably say she lacks confidence in maths in year 7 and feels she cannot put her hand up to ask for help in class and you would like his help going forward. Prepare what you are going to say, we always had post it notes attached to the screen so we could read it off without it looking overly prepared.

Sadly there will always be teachers who she doesn't get along with or like their teaching style and year 7 is always a massive transition anyway, lots of new teachers, different styles of teaching and new subjects. So even in that she is doing well. Keep working on her self belief, she is coping with the work and now knows how to use the calculator. There is usually a talk through of the calculator functions as it is new to all students.

Is there anyone with an older sibling at the school who might want to do some peer on peer teaching? It helps cement their knowledge too.

Just seen your update on name calling, I would be all sweetness and polite in the face to face meeting with him but I would be wanting to talk to the head of year. I failed maths GCSE due to an abusive derogatory name calling teacher. Passed on a resit and I am still angry about it decades later.

There's a huge shortage of Secondary maths teachers. School will not rock the boat, the teacher will not change. It's a shame about linked sets at your school, my son is still in top sets for English and Science. He gave up asking for help in lessons, I think the teacher just expected the brightest children to follow without needing detailed explanations. My son was even too afraid to go to homework club, in case vile teacher was on duty.

Does he call the pupils retards? At dd1's school a number of parents complained about a maths teacher and after investigation he left with no notice.

A tutor is a good idea. I feel for you as there is no easy answer.

The school will be judged on the progress dc make from their year 6 SATs. As you coached her a lot in year 6 and she got excellent SAT results, you could continue coaching her or use tutoring to help her keep up with her expected grades.

Why don't you wait and see what he says about your dd? He might not be a nice teacher but your dd's anxiety might be creating an issue where there isn't one. You say he hasn't done anything specific to her. If she is struggling suggest she moves set. If he brings up that he's like her to put her hand up and ask more then say "She's too self conscious to do that, maybe you could check in with her as you move around the room? If that doesn't get you anywhere then by all means go to the head of year or head of department.

It's called grinds in ireland

If you've coached her through year 6 maths, you might need to continue this for her to keep up with the standard they are expecting her to be.

I loved maths in primary then had a terrible maths teacher for years 7&8 and my progress really suffered. It put me off the subject so badly that I still find myself saying "I'm bad at maths" to this day, when it isn't true. I just have such bad associations with it.

I can't say for sure but I think I would have done better if I'd been moved down a set to work with a better teacher.

Bluntly, the guy is a twat and couldn’t give a shit about your dd. I would not rock the boat - your dd will pay the price and become his new person to pick on. It’s all un-provable and the school will either close ranks or try to do something ineffectively. The guy won’t change.

Carry on quietly with the tutoring and just get through to the end of the school year.

If you really feel you need to bring it up you could say you know she worked better with encouragement. It sounds obvious but I do think some teachers forget. However your DD does need to get her head around working with teachers/lecturers who have different styles. They can't all be happy and charmingly wonderful throughout their learning career, unfortunately, so maybe do that alongside to grow DDs resilience.

@BoundaryGirl3939 what is grinds? Do you mean tutoring?