I'm a Reception Teacher - ask me anything!

[Danceintherain2018]

Happy to answer any questions anyone has. I understand that I cannot prove I am who I say I am (happy to try if you can think of a way) so I completely understand if you don't feel happy replying to this thread.

If you do, feel free to ask anything you'd like! I'm happy to answer and I hope I can reassure you!

Gileswithachainsaw - oh gosh yes! We get parents like this every year. You tell a parent that X was witnessed hurting another child and they don't believe it, come back the next day and tell us what X said (I.e. They didn't do it) so we must be wrong! Those sort of parents get a reputation and we make the head and new teacher aware so they can be prepared.

Maisypops - you'd be amazed how far they come in a year.
I am currently teaching my class to write stories and we are focusing on punctuation and adjectives... a long way from the mark making they all used to do when they arrived last September!

It sounds amazing dance. I don't know how you do it.
I still think it would be good for all teachers to get into different phases and see how things are done. I'd love to spend a week down in reception.

Can you give them a cuddle if they hurt themselves and are crying? my dc said the other day that their teacher doesn't. It made me a little sad as a quick cuddle usually sorts out a scraped knee and a few tears.

DS1 is due to start in September.

He's (I think) generally a good, polite kid, takes turns etc. However, sometimes when things don't go his way, he just kinda shrieks. .

I suppose what I'm asking, is how much do you help with the social stuff? Other than the obvious ones like pleases and thank yous. We're of course working on it at home, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere.

Do the children find it hard adjusting to Reception when they start? Do they still get to do much playing?

My eldest will be starting Reception Sept 19 and I’m already feeling nervous although she loves school nursery.

My ----PFB DS starts Reception in Sept and he’s v anxious, despite attending nursery since he was 1. He’s a shy kid and none of his nursery will go to his school. How do you find they get on with making new friends particularly the shy ones? Are you able to help with the social skills side? There will be 90% kids from the school nursery moving up so he will be one of only 7 “newbies”. It’s the “big kids” in the playground that seems to be worrying him. And I’m ashamed to say I’ve turned very helicopter and I’m also dreading him starting albeit making an effort not to let on to him

Myotherusernameisbest - yes we can. I know all schools have their own policy but we are allowed to.
I probably get 20+ hugs a day infront of parents (from the children at drop off etc and am more than happy to hug them back.)

Doje- we do lots of work on social skills all year, particularly the first half term. The first half term is devoted to settling them in, teaching them the rules and routines. Lots of work on turn taking, listening to others, lining up etc. We also work with children in much smaller intervention groups who need extra help with sharing etc 

MoonriseKingdom - yes we do still play. Most of their learning is through play. The thing that they seem to find the hardest is adjusting to the rules of school. Things like sitting on the carpet, going to assembly etc are non negotiable so even the politest "no thank you" doesn't cut it with me. They learn pretty fast! They really do thrive on the rules and routine and settle very quickly.

Thanks Dance - you sound lovely and patient!

HariboHippo - he'll be absolutely fine. They make friends so quickly at this age, within a few weeks it will be like he's always been with the rest of them. Sometimes the children who came from different nurseries partner up and make friends, but that's usually because the parents have palled up. I always try and make sure they meet other children at transition events and then make a point of saying to parents, X really enjoyed playing with Y, let Em introduce you to his parents. It's nice that I've been at the school for 9 years so I know the majority of the families and people know my name before they even join my class so I am more than happy to introduce parents to each other to help friendships form amongst the children etc.
please don't worry, your ds will be fine and love it! We do lots of work on social skills and bonding as a group etc when they first start.

Thank you

MoonriseKingdom - thank you :)

Can you please tell me what my daughter should be able to do for starting reception?

Anytime Hippo.

Strugglingmumma - in a ideal world? It would be amazing if all the children joined the school being able to manage their own needs in the toilet, zip up their own coat, recognize their name, have good fine and gross motor skills, be able to distinguish the different sounds in words (no need to recognise them, just be able to hear the sounds!). Recognizing numbers and being able to count objects with good 1:1 correspondence would also be a bonus too!

This leaflet is helpful too.

www.pacey.org.uk/Pacey/media/Website-files/PACEY%20general/Steps-to-starting-school.pdf

When you write things like 'Johnny is very confident in expressing his opinion in group settings" do you really mean "Johnny is a motormouth who'd do well to shut up for at least 5 minutes "?

OhHolyFuck - sometimes! Depends on the child!

How do you cope with having to make the day stimulating for say a really bright September born versus a maybe not as bright, or yet to develop, August born? Isnt there such a huge difference at that age?

Jellycat1 - we plan challenge into all of our activities so a more able child (whatever their age) will be challenged appropriately. The difference between Autumn and Summer born can be massive or completely non existent...it really depends on the cohort.

Is there really any benefit to "stay and play" afternoons for parents to see their child in class? Do you judge parents who don't attend such afternoons?

Eggysmom - I don't do stay and play afternoons!!! So no judgement from me!

:)

I have so many questions

I have a 5y old and im stressing about us moveing to the uk. Is it possible that i can private msg or email you? We don't have reception classes in south africa and our ciriculam is behind yours

Of course, send me a private message, I'm
happy to chat.

I dont know how

My daughter will be moving into year 1 in September to a new school and area.
What do you recommend to help make her transition as comfortable as possible for her?

Montanasky - at this age a lot of it will come from you. Introduce yourself to the other mums, arrange play dates etc and get dd socializing with the other children. Join any local Facebook groups for parents and if there is a class Facebook/whats app group - join it!