Teachers... Is this normal? What do I do, if anything?

[opulentalligatorsalt]

This is not a teacher bashing thread at all. It really really isn't. Please don't let's turn it into that.

Last year, my son (year 1) had a teacher who I didn't ever really get to know due to covid. She seemed fine though and I was very hands off during the year. Only met her once or twice for parents eve and the odd time when my son had misbehaved a bit or had an issue during the day.

His end of year reports was fine. He's meeting expectations or exceeding. I was pretty happy.

But then I got his books back at the end of the year. Every single book has been scribbled on the front of, every one. On some of the books he's written silly things like poo. The work inside the books is pretty shoddy at times, again he's sort of scribbled a bit on some pages. Lots of silly faces written in the corners of pages and at the back of the book.

His work is always untidy, and very few pieces are what I was expecting given that he's apparently at the expected level. He's only ever had a few pieces of written homework to do, but when we do, I work with him to get them neat and tidy. It's an effort for him as he is dyspraxic, but I was still quite surprised at how messy his books was. It looked to me like he wasn't ever really trying.

Only a handful of pieces of work seemed to be marked. I'm not sure if this is usual? Perhaps it is, I just don't know!

He had a folder of worksheets he had done. I would say that 50% of the worksheets, he had just defaced. Either not completing them correctly, just sort of doodling or scribbling on them. On comprehension style sheets he'd answered the questions in a really silly way, with stupid answers like "she did that because she's dumb".

Like I said, this is not a teacher bashing thread. I know full well that my child is the one who is doing this in the first place. He absolutely shouldn't be writing things like this, and he should be trying his best as much as he can. I know a lot of fault is with him.

But equally... Is this ok? Is this what it's like? Is this what school work that comes home is like? Is it normal? He is still only 6 so I'm not expecting miracles, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't shocked and a bit disappointed. It's not nice to feel disappointed in the work your child brings home from school 😟. I made sure we gave him lots of praise for all the decent bits he bought home but they really were few and far between.

I have obviously spoken to him about some parts of it, the doodling and just not doing th worksheets at all. We've talked about what's appropriate and about always trying our best. He seemed a bit embarrassed about it but I don't want to dwell on it too much.

I would like to speak to his new teacher at the start of the year and just say I was quite upset with the state of some of the things he had done. I will not be blaming the teacher, as I don't think it's worth it. She left the school at the end of this year anyway. I more want to know the same thing won't happen again, and that we can work together to help him improve his attitude a bit. I know that a lot of the 'blame' lies with him for doing this stuff in the first place.

But like I said, I'm not a teacher. Maybe I'm expecting too much? Maybe this is normal? It's an ofsted outstanding school but because of the pandemic we have been very distant and only been into the actual building three times during reception. So I feel quite cut off from it all. Cut off from how much I should speak to the teacher, what we should expect, what's normal etc.

I would say it’s not normal that you weren’t informed about what sort of work your son is producing through the whole year. I think if it was me I would ask to have a meeting with the new teacher and say that you hadn’t realised the problem and you’d like to ensure the school are supported in dealing with your son’s school work.

Over the last year, books won’t have been marked in the same way they were before, because of Covid. For this reason, the teacher may not have addressed the issue of him scribbling etc. I presume his scores are based on some more formal assessments which aren’t in the books.

Ex teacher here. This is not good - I would definitely take the folder in and discuss with his new teacher. There is no way that situation would have been allowed to develop in any of my classes - if a child could not complete the work there should have been some support. Drawing on books and writing silly answers should have been stopped. I am not blaming your son, he is six, but the teacher’s job is to provide appropriate learning materials and to monitor what written work is done, not to continually file rubbish.

I think this is odd. I would do as you say; raise it with the new teacher along the lines of: We discovered this, we want to nip it in the bud this year, please let us know if it happens so we can work together to stop it.

Thank you for the replies so far. It sort of echoes what I thought.

He's not a bad kid, can be silly and lazy but pretty average.

I think some of the problem with the worksheets is that they are a bit too easy for him, but he should definitely be doing them!!

Agree that the key is to work together, I know he is at fault here. I'd be happy to have worksheets back home to do if he doesn't do a good job at school.

The class he's in are very very lively and disruptive so I'm a bit concerned that this is happening as a result of the rest of the class being difficult and him just being left

It wouldn't be normal at my school. All our books are regularly taken in by the headteacher and scrutinised. This kind of thing would have got the teacher in hot water here!
Despite covid, we are still expected to mark properly and the presentation of the books and the work within has to be a high standard. I genuinely don't understand how this has happened.

This doesn't sound normal. I'm a secondary teacher so see about 150 kids throughout the week and I'd still pick up on jotters in this state. Even during Covid times.

My kid is six and has also come home with all his workbooks. His def don’t look like this. They’re not perfect but I can see the teacher has expected them to answer to the best of their ability. It sounds like your son’s teacher hasn’t really been checking their class work?

Yeah it doesn't look like stuffs been checked at all really. I get not physically marking much because of covid (well, I accept it but don't necessarily agree with it) but I would hope the teacher would be going round the room as they do worksheets and ensure the kids are doing what is expected? I mean we are talking of lessons worth of worksheets where he has essentially written a load of crap if he's done it at all. Surely the teacher should know if he's not doing things properly or even at all.

He's definitely the kind of kid who do the minimum if he can get away with it. He's obviously worked out not only can he do the minimum, but he can also do absolutely nothing!!!

So I'll talk to his new teacher? Or the head teacher? It's a very large school so not sure how involved she is. Equally, I don't want to get on the wrong side of his new teacher, she might well be brilliant and not let him get away with stuff like this. His reception work was a lot better. But I know they get more support in Reception? I think this has come about because he's expected to work without support a lot. Which is fine, I guess others need the support more. But it's maybe led to him being lazy and silly without anyone noticing.

I'd better more than concerned that he doesn't know what how to answer, he has no support and he's really bored
That's what I would be looking into and assessing what he can and can't do.
What's his reading like?

I don't know think it's helpful to label him at this stage, lazy or can get away with the minimum etc.

Look into what he can and can't do, reading, maths and then go from there with the next teacher.

How many children were in his class?

There are 30 kids in the class I think. I assume anyway. It's an oversubscribed school.

He's pretty bright. His reading is excellent. At home he can and does read chapter books to himself. His general knowledge and love of learning is excellent. He will sit and read non fiction books at home til the cows come home and remembers a lot of what he reads.

His maths is good, above average but not genius level by any means. His writing is ok, but because of his dyspraxia he really dislikes it and finds it hard.

I've always had the view that he's a very capable boy but academia isn't his 'thing' if you know what I mean. He does not like school much, it's slightly better than it was but up until recently it's been a daily battle to get him in to school.

I am also hesitant to label him, but he definitely can be lazy if it's not something he wants to do.

Bloody hell I wouldn’t be happy about this at all. In our school, books are taken for scrutiny every six weeks or so at random. Doodling, unfinished work and silly answers speak to the child not valuing their work. In my class they would get a warning and then it would be straight to the assistant head fur a sanction. Even in year 1. Covid is no excuse for not having sight of all the children’s books and sending them home in that state makes me think that the teacher doesn’t care. I’m sure if you were to raise this at school the teacher would be spoken to. I say this as someone who has taught primary for 20+ years. It’s not acceptable.

Generally, the sheets he doesn't do are pretty simple ones. Simple comprehensions or spot the nonsense style ones. He is definitely capable of doing these. They are probably a bit below his level, he could do trickier ones. But they are not miles off his level, if that makes sense. I can see why they want him to do them. The sheets are things they are specifically supposed to do without supypoort too, they were labelled up in a folder of independent work.

Did he do the scribble and silly words? As a former teacher I've often seen work defaced by other pupils.

Tell him you'll be calling in after school once a fortnight to look at his work, and do it.

Last year was mad and while lots of teachers did their very best, others did absolutely damn all, and it looks like maybe this teacher didn't rise to the occasion.

There's not a lot you can do given that your son will have a different teacher this year anyway, and I wouldn't be "that parent" straight off (usually I AM "that parent"!). Give the new teacher a chance to have an impact, make sure your son knows 100% that you won't tolerate that kind of nonsense again now in year 2, and let things unfold.

If it starts again, bring it up, but give your son - and his teacher - a chance.

The scribbles are definitely his. His poor handwriting is very distinctive.

From these responses I'm wondering if I should go straight to the headteacher? I've been unhappy with the level of support he has recieved for his dyspraxia too but again was hopeful the new teacher might support him better.

@FenceSplinters

Over the last year, books won’t have been marked in the same way they were before, because of Covid. For this reason, the teacher may not have addressed the issue of him scribbling etc. I presume his scores are based on some more formal assessments which aren’t in the books.

I'm a Year 2 teacher...we have DEFINITELY been marking books in exactly the same way. Fully marked, not one piece of work has been missed.

I'm aware that some schools may have had Covid policies about leaving books for 48 hours or other such rules, but many haven't in primary schools...we just got on with our job and marked as normal. Even if they had a 'leave it' policy, the work should have been marked...just a bit later than usual that's all. If they just haven't bothered, it's not acceptable.

OP...you are right...no point now going in as the teacher has left, but I would ask to see a copy of the schools marking policy (they might even have this on their website) and then raise the issue with his next teacher. Take the books in with you, and a copy of his report and ask to see the Year 1 end of year expectations in the areas you are concerned about (writing, possibly maths?). Again, these might be on the school website but you can download them yourself if you google.

Good luck 🤞

@astoundedgoat I am inclined to agree, and I really really want to work with this new teacher. I have utmost respect for teachers and I want to build a good relationship with her so we can fix this together. BUT I'm worried that if I don't bring it up I won't get a chance to see the work - they are in general quite a closed school. We don't really get to see their books, so I wouldn't know if he was doing the same? I feel I want to nip it in the bud, whilst being supportive to his new teacher. Ultimately absolutely none of this is her fault. And she might (hopefully will!!) be amazing.

Personally I'd just have a stern word with your child - look at the books, say how that isn't acceptable. Drop the teacher an email at the start of the year saying that you know your child was doing silly things to his schoolwork last year and you really want to nip that in the bud, so if it happens again at school please to let you know.

Worksheets aren’t great anyway and I’d question how much learning is going on when a six year old is left alone to complete them but that’s another issue. The lack of teacher or TA oversight is what I find very concerning. Yes a child may have dyspraxia and you would expect difficulties with presentation but silly answers and doodling shouldn’t be getting past the teacher. To me it looks like low expectations. Sorry.

I'm not really concerned about any particular area. It's just the shoddy work. I know he's a capable boy and working at a good enough level for his age. But it is hard to see and know that during some lessons he's repeatedly done sweet FA. As @JimmyGrimble said, it's about valuing his work.

I'm really worried the teachers are just so busy with the disruptive and less able children that he gets left to his own devices all the time. I get that he may need less support that some, but surely someone should at least be checking he has done the bloody work?!

When school re-opens I would show the head teacher the class teacher's favourable report on DS and the contradictory evidence in his exercise books and worksheets. Invite their comment.

Probably a stupid question but are you sure they aren't his books from Reception? Our school (for some reason) hands out the books a year late - so we got our Reception books at the end of the term just gone and will get the Year 1 books at the end of Year 2 etc.