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!

DryAsThingysFootwear- could just be settling in, or could be something to watch for. Does it behave that way out of school too?

Carecomplet - I don't think you realize exactly how precious these children are to their parents until you have one of your own. They're trusting you with the most important thing in their entire world and that's a big responsibility. And it also made me realize that the little things matter, so if X's mum rings up after school to say she can't find his waterbottle, of course I'll spend time looking for it and then when I find it under a unit in the corner, I'll wash it out so he can use it again in the morning.

I am female and yes males do seem to progress more quickly. There's only one in my school and he's only just done his NQT year so has a way to go yet!

Sometimes it's glaringly obvious to me that a child has ASD but it's very difficult to broach this with a parent who doesn't see it.

Why do you assume you know better than the parent? Do you take into account the parents own educational background and consider they might know more about ASD (and their own child) than you? A recent study indicated that by the age of 8 13% of children diagnosed with ASD were found to no longer meet the criteria for ASD. This was just one small study of course. Other studies indicate the figure is more like 25%. Given the fact that experts misdiagnose, what special training do you feel you have that allows you to make a correct diagnosis? Do you feel you could actually be doing much more harm than good by flippantly saying Sometimes it's glaringly obvious to me that a child has ASD when in fact you’re just a school teacher and you really have no idea?

Iwasjustabouttosaythat - never claimed to be an expert or diagnose anyone. Just that sometimes there are glaring obvious signs. But that is another reason we don't discuss with parents as like you say, we are just school teachers and it not our place to diagnose nor would we try. We just to support and work with what we see and experience.

Iwasjustabouttosaythat - I should have been more careful with how I worded it. Reading it back does make it sound like I'm going round diagnosing when that was not my intention at all. Sorry for any misconception or any offense caused. I should have added may To my first statement rather than as you rightly put it, my flippant statement. Sorry.

I’m sorry too, OP. Had a bad experience with a kindergarten teacher. FWIW we had DS assessed because of it and he’s definitely not autistic. A lot of children are coming out of the same place with supposed “behavioral problems”. I call it being a 3 year old. I’m just glad I had the money to throw away get him assessed. I feel sorry for other parents who have this seed planted by over zealous teachers and aren’t able to get it cleared up easily. Obviously he’s at another kindergarten now...

So, when you say you don’t discuss ASD suspicions with parents - surely you have some sort of professional duty to tell a parent if you think there’s something amiss with their child’s development?

I mean, yes, a parent may know loads about ASD etc, but equally they may know nothing about ASD and not have enough experience to identify what you would consider a glaringly obvious sign.

FWIW, I have a DC who was diagnosed with autism partway through Reception.
He was referred for assessment following his school’s advice - the nursery teacher said that they thought we should ask that DC be referred to a paediatrician for assessments because of [list of unusual behaviours in a child that age], but they refused to make any sort of speculation about what sort of SEN, if any, they suspected. Just repeated that they weren’t qualified to make a diagnosis when we asked what they thought was up with DC.

Hi Op
Would you say you can spot which kids will have the most academic ability in the future at this age? Or a particular talent like sport or music?
Asking as I was a very dreamy reception child who displayed very little potential but ended up being very academically successful.
My Dc are past reception age but I’ve always wondered what the age is when their talents become apparent to teachers.

OP, I don't have a question but just wanted to say publicly how much I appreciate your work! I am a teacher too and used to teach reception, but honestly I couldn't hack it so I now work with year 5. It used to drive me crazy when people said things like 'aw, reception must be so nice, much easier than the older children, no behavior problems and they just play all day' Personally I find year 5 much easier! Reception is like a herd of kittens, except they don't get to play all day, you have to teach them to read! Anyway, didn't want to derail your post, just wanted to say how much I appreciate your work, especially now that I have a DC in reception myself.

What's your opinion on home education, for this age group?

Have you had any children starting Reception with little or no English? Just curious about how quickly they pick it up (I always imagined very quickly).

How do you cope with differences in ability, e.g a child who is a free reader and another who can just recognise a few simple words?

I'm quite in awe of anyone who can cope with 30 small children!

Do you have favourites and if so do you tell the parent(s)?

What is your favourite gift to receive at the end of the year?

I'd also like to know if you have favourites. And if so, what kind of children do you like the best?

4GreenApples- we address it but don't try and diagnose anything. :)

mammmamia- I think some children show an obvious flair for something e.g.numbers but it's often too early to tell who will be great at anything like music and sport etc. children really blossom throughout the Reception year and I love seeing how much they change and grow in confidence.

MrsTeachy - thank you for your kind words, they are much appreciated.

BigFishy- I think it depends on the type of home ed you're offering. For me personally, it was always something I thought I wanted to do for my own D.C. but seeing how beneficial school is to children at this age (the personal, social and emotional side as well as the academics), I completely changed my mind.

GhostsToMonsoon- yes sometimes. You're right though, they do pick it up amazingly fast, faster than I thought possible until I saw it happen.

All activities are planned so that they challenge and extend the most able e.g. With the reading example you gave: the child recognizing a few words might play a phonics game during guided reading, where as a free reader might be working on comprehension skills.

Boglin- I wouldn't call anyone a favourite no. They are all lovely on their own individual merits. If there ever was a favourite, the parent would categorically not be told! I once told a parent that their child was working above age related expectations in maths and they interpreted that as 'the brightest child in the class' and was boasting to everyone that I said their child was better than anyone else's!

What is your favourite gift to receive at the end of the year? - the thing I treasure most in a personal message in a card from a parent telling me how I've helped their child in some way or how much they've enjoyed being in my class. I've kept every card I've ever received and I look back on them sometimes, I love them.

stationthirteen - I love all the children I teach but I would say it's easiest to like those children who are keen to learn, keen to help and kind to others.

I also love a child with some spark. Some might call those children cheeky but they tend to have something very endearing about them!

Thanks for answering

You're welcome :)

We're just moving this over to AMA.

Sorry for the delay in picking this up, I added it to things I want to read in future, but now have a question @Danceintherain2018

Our Nursery encouraged forming letters via copying over the top, dd can do this and so Nursery asked her to start writing by herself. But when writing herself without copying she forms letters a / d / p by doing the circle bit and adding a line (up, down and off). Do I continue to pull her up on this and get her to try to focus on where she starts the letter and keeping pencil on the paper - or just go with it and the proper form will come? She doesn’t see the difference in the two at all, and questions how I know she’s done that!

2 questions! My daughter is bright and able, we are told, yet got "emerging" across the board at the end of year in her report. They basically said she lacks focus. Should I be worried? Do many kids get emerging as opposed to expected across the board?

Also... My son has Asd and will start reception next year, in your experience how kids with a 1 to 1 cope in mainstream when they have asd? I don't know whether to push for a specialist school...

Just a quick question, my granddaughter came home from school today she is 5 and in reception, her brother is in year 3 and 7. He said to his sister why was you in my playground walking around with a teacher,? My ears pricked up and I asked her why she was walking around with a female teacher that wasn't one of hers, reception and nursery are together, and Year 3/6 are separated for obvious reasons , her reply was the female TA in reception playground had told my granddaughter to tell the Ks2 teacher that the reception TA loved her, am I nuts for thinking this so not appropriate. And something is very very wrong ? I want to complain but I don't want my granddaughter to suffer just in case they take it out on her, any advice please , thanks x

Apologies as I haven't RTFT yet but are the differences between winter and summer born children glaringly obvious?