I'm a primary teacher AMA

[MoleMummy]

Primary places have recently been allocated for September. As an Early Years teacher, happy to answer any questions about children starting school. Or any other primary related questions to see if I can help!

With all the worries you hear nowadays about school being "all work and no play", is this true for early years, is there time in the day for classroom games? (And if so, what are your favourite ones?) I remember with fondness games such as guess who's speaking in a funny voice; is there time for such games now?

If a child starts school having reached all early learning goals and alrwady above age related expectations what happens?

My sons 5 year olds reception teacher told me that they arent allowed to go above age related they have to stope at a certain level where as senco told me they can move them up to the next level.
I have a 4 year old starts school in September whos nearly meet all early learning goals already.

@wanderings Early Years is all about learning through play. So a lot of what the children do during the day is child initiated. Some schools plan according to the children's interests (eg if a large number have expressed an interest in Dinosaurs, the EY staff will plan the learning for the next week around a dinosaur theme. This means that they aren't learning about dinosaurs per se, but that in maths for example they will count dinosaurs, or in English they will focus on a story involving a dinosaur).

There are lots of games that are played in the Early Years. During the child initiated play the EY staff will often be led by the children in what they want to do/play with.

Does that answer your question? Or can I explain anything further?

@Harleyisme, from my experience, what the reception teacher has said isn't strictly correct. If a child has reached all the early learning goals and they are at the 'expected' level at the beginning of Reception, we would certainly be stretching them further. For example, if they can confidently complete the ELG for Number, an example next stage would be to get them to work on 'word problems'. So being able to use their number knowledge in a more practical sense. There aren't any 'levels' though to move them up, the EY staff would be just giving them opportunities to widen and strengthen their understanding. Assuming that the class are ability grouped for English and maths, the children in your DC's group will be doing work that will reflect their level. Does this help at all?

@molemummy that does help thank you. I was very worried i would send dc to school and end up with a year of complaints as he gets very hardwork when hes bored and not challenged.

Do you enjoy your job? Pros and cons?

I have one child in reception and one due to start in September. The school is ok but few teachers in and am concerned ds will fall behind. What could I do to help ?

My cousin is a primary teacher in an inner city school and she said that she can tell a marked difference in the children who read at home and those who don’t. Would you agree?

Hello OP,

Nearly all the primary school teachers I have met speak in a high voice. Is this to get all the children's attention or is it just picked up on? I ask because from teaching at a uni, nearly all lecturers and professors speak with low and somewhat authoritative voices. But now when picking up the DC, I've noticed the stark difference. Do you think that there is anything in it?

I know a teacher assistant who feels unappreciated, is this really the case? Surely teaching assistants are really important members of the school?

What would you say to someone who is thinking of becoming a primary school teacher? I have my degrees and career in a science/healthcare related field, but keep coming back to my desire to teach. Everything - I mean everything! - you read online is about how teaching is in crisis, and “don’t do it”.

Secondary question, do you have your own children, and how do they fit around teaching?

Hello

It seems from here and real life that many people feel their children are gifted and talented. How many children do you reckon actually are fifteen and talented, and of those how many of them achieve test results which bears this out?

I think you do an amazing job, esp when the Govt is literally running schools and teachers into the ground so thank you

^gifted and talented! And I ask as I believe that many who are labelled are just clever, and truly g&t are far rarer than perhaps many think. And also that some children who are phenomenally intelligent do not necessarily get the highest marks in sats as they are not testing intelligence but more performing by rote. I am happy to be corrected on any or all of my assumptions

Can you advise what questions to ask when looking around a primary school?
DS is an August baby and I’m so nervous about him starting and feel terribly guilty that he’s likely to be the youngest of the year. Do you have any advice please?

What are the best ways for parents to show their appreciation? My children have some real super star teachers and I always feel inadequate in trying to express that to them.

I just want to point out i wasn't saying my dc is gifted and talented. Yes hes clever but by no means is he gifted and talented.

Harlyisme I am so sorry I hadn't even seen your said that, it's just I see a lot of threads on here and know many parents who claim that about their children (only have one left at primary now) yet know only one child who had managed to pass the 11+ and get places at the next borough grammars. So either years aren't a good measure of ability (which I believe) or the kids aren't quite as exceptional as their parents make out. So sorry if you felt I was getting at you, absolutely not my intention

^tests!

@Chartreuser haha no i didnt think you was getting at me i just saw 2 post about g&t and wanted to clarify i wasn't saying my dc is g&t as they certainly arent.

molemummy My DD will start September and she is summer born (she will be 4 the week before she starts). Her preschool teacher feels she is ready, however I am a bit worried about her as she just seems so young still! She can recognise numbers up to 10 but can't form them and struggles to count beyond 12 but is getting there. She can recognise some letters and their sounds and can recognise her name (but struggles to write it) Some of the preschool children she will be starting with have very intense parents who have already taught their children to read so think my perception is skewed by that! Is there anything we should work on before she starts? I don't want her to feel behind right from the get go!

Btw, nothing wrong with teaching kids to read before school (my mum taught me!) I just mean these particular parents are quite full on and competitive with each other and are actively making their DC sit down and learn this stuff in readiness for school.

Do teachers discuss parents in the staff room?I mean I know they will to some extent but is it like tbe gossipy style of other work places.

Eg, Ben's mum always forgets to do such a thing or the office staff saying Olivia's mum is always late paying dinner money. Sophie's dadonly has them once day a week and spends half of it in the pub having "Sunday lunch"

Etc

@takemeouttonight teaching isn't for everyone and I know a lot of really good teachers that have left the profession because of unnecessary admin.

Pros

• working with children (if you like children!)
• seeing something that you have taught be understood by a child
• seeing progress
• helping a struggling child (whether emotionally or academically)
• continually learning something new
• some of the hilarious things children come out with

Generally if you have a love of children then teaching is a great job

Cons

• unnecessary admin that does not benefit the child
• challenging parents
• strict guidelines on what you have to teach
• if the teacher in the class before you has inflated progress, you have to inflate further- a child can not be seen to be making less progress.
• working with mostly women can be a difficult environment

@Chilledout11
I would say first and foremost reading to your child as much as you can. Make learning fun at home at this age. Some examples:

• count the number of peas/carrots/pasta on your plate
• with some washable markers write their name or words they are learning on the bath during bath time
• when out and about try and spot familiar words on signs.
• number plate game when driving - can you add the numbers on the number plate (5+6 say)
• give your reception child a newspaper or magazine and a highlighter. Can they spot and highlight all of the phonemes and digraphs they have learnt in phonics.
• letter formation in different media (paintbrush and flour or finger in rice for example. Draw different letters and practise their name

And non academically:

• putting on their coat and zipping it up.
• tying shoelaces
• getting dressed and undressed (this helps for PE!)
• sitting and concentrating on an activity for a set amount of time (I would say minimum 10-20 mins for reception age)

@Faster

Yes I would. But I think that comes from the fact that parents who read with their children regularly tend to be the more hands on parents generally. IMO as a teacher you can tell which parents show support at home and don't just think it's the school's responsibility to educate their children.