Page 3 | Two classes in the same year group - very different experiences

Balletdancemum · 2023-10-14T20:02:19+00:00

If you had twins in two different classes, would this bother you? Class A: teacher is like Miss Honey. The classroom is very pretty, the children have the most wonderful experiences, which the teacher documents via photos and sometimes videos and shares with parents regularly. (3-4 times a week).You feel like you know what is going on and it’s lovely to be able to use the pics as a talking point with dc. Class B: Classroom is very garish colours and doesn’t look anywhere near as lovely as class A. The class do the same topics as class A but we get to see very little. The teacher barely updates with pics and the teacher just seems far more negative in general. There’s a noticeable difference between the two. Would this bother you?

Popskipiekin · 14/10/2023 21:37

We have a similar class share app. The younger years’ teachers are expected to share frequently on it, and I think it would be flagged to head of year if one teacher was not updating. But - big but - the expectation is set by the heads of years themselves and it is a fee paying school. I have noticed that most posts made by our class teacher are late evening which does make me worry for them and feel awkward … but this is the norm here. I just hope the teachers know what they are letting themselves in for when they take a post… Anyway, I guess at our school I would say something if we weren’t getting the updates provided to other classes - but if it is the case with your school that one teacher has made a personal decision to post updates in their own time and it is not expected of them to do so, then I would simply be grateful that they do, and not worry about making comparisons between the two classes.

lavenderlou · 14/10/2023 21:37

Maybe Teacher B is busy planning lessons and assessing so they can teach the class better? More photos doesn't mean the kids are learning more.

StarlightLime · 14/10/2023 21:41

"the children have the most wonderful experiences, which the teacher documents via photos and sometimes videos"
It's interesting that you're willing to believe that Class B must not be having these experiences or similar, because you haven't seen photographic evidence of it, op. Why is that?

Qilin · 14/10/2023 21:42

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 14/10/2023 21:07

The only thing I'd wonder is how the hell Miss Honey has the time to be constantly updating parents with pictures - this seems OTT to me and I had no idea it was a thing. Not everybody likes 'pretty'. One person's 'garish' is another person's 'exciting, bold and colourful'.

Teachers are individual human beings with different personalities and teaching styles. You and your children will need to get used to that.

We have an online learning journal and staff have iPads and the app on it. A lot of reception and even into key stage 1 can be evidenced through photographs and videos, so it serves a greater purpose than just sharing with spends. It's password protected so only the parent of that child can see it, if that's the option selected. Almost every parent at my school allows their child's photograph on the class password protected but though too, so sometimes there may be a picture with 4 or 5 children tagged, sometimes the whole class.

I include a photograph and/or video of many of the lessons I teach as I'd be taking them anyway. Parents can't see the skills and assessment aspect of posts but can see the pictures and any comments the teacher makes.

From the start of year 1 the children take their own photographs and tag them with their name and subject area on the class iPads which up.lad directly to the app. We are planning to teach reception to do this later in the year. They are taught key rules for their photographs though - they can't include other children and can only photograph their own work. Staff have overall control of it and can remove photographs if need be.

All children have an individual log in codes which go home. Parents can access them on any device and can use an app or desktop version. All free for parents to use.

Coolbeans2 · 14/10/2023 21:46

Some of the replies here are bizarre!

If you had twins in different classes and one seems less positive than the other, would it bother you?! It would definitely bother me! I'd want both children to have a happy, positive experience.

It could be that both are having equally lovely experiences, but the op only has what she has seen / experienced to go on... and at the moment she feels the experience is better in class A.

junebirthdaygirl · 14/10/2023 21:47

Remember they will have various teachers throughout the time in school so it will all balance out in the end. As long as they are both settling well and happy l would completely ignore the pictures bit as it's more of a young teachers thing and doesn't signify learning in any way.

ErcolSofa · 14/10/2023 21:48

Qilin · 14/10/2023 21:42

We have an online learning journal and staff have iPads and the app on it. A lot of reception and even into key stage 1 can be evidenced through photographs and videos, so it serves a greater purpose than just sharing with spends. It's password protected so only the parent of that child can see it, if that's the option selected. Almost every parent at my school allows their child's photograph on the class password protected but though too, so sometimes there may be a picture with 4 or 5 children tagged, sometimes the whole class.

I include a photograph and/or video of many of the lessons I teach as I'd be taking them anyway. Parents can't see the skills and assessment aspect of posts but can see the pictures and any comments the teacher makes.

From the start of year 1 the children take their own photographs and tag them with their name and subject area on the class iPads which up.lad directly to the app. We are planning to teach reception to do this later in the year. They are taught key rules for their photographs though - they can't include other children and can only photograph their own work. Staff have overall control of it and can remove photographs if need be.

All children have an individual log in codes which go home. Parents can access them on any device and can use an app or desktop version. All free for parents to use.

Show quote history

All contrary to the best practice of the updated 2021 EYFS and the DfE teacher workload advisory recommendations. It doesn't add anything to learning by documenting it endlessly.

You have to feed the pig- not just endlessly weigh it.

Who are you doing it for? Surely you know the children without doing all of that?

lilsupersparks · 14/10/2023 21:48

There’s probably nothing wrong with either teacher but it’s why I opted to have my twins together. Didn’t want to deal with discussions about ‘my teacher is better’ ‘the book we are reading is better’

instead I have to deal with them being in direct completion - but horses for courses!

HoHoHoliday · 14/10/2023 21:48

I don't want my child constantly photographed and videoed. I'd rather the teacher concentrates on teaching and entertaining the children and I'd rather my child be free to concentrate and learn without a camera in their face. I don't need constant updates of their school day.

The colours - everyone has personal preference on colour and decor, that would not bother me.

One teacher is "more negative in general". If they are negative, this would bother me. But in what way do you think they are negative? How do you notice this?

StarlightLime · 14/10/2023 21:51

Coolbeans2 · 14/10/2023 21:46

Some of the replies here are bizarre!

If you had twins in different classes and one seems less positive than the other, would it bother you?! It would definitely bother me! I'd want both children to have a happy, positive experience.

It could be that both are having equally lovely experiences, but the op only has what she has seen / experienced to go on... and at the moment she feels the experience is better in class A.

Op is basing the "one is less positive than the other" on the fact that she doesn't actually see a constant stream of footage from the apparently less favourable one.

She certainly hasn't said her child in Class B is any less happy or is doing less well than the Class A child.

Motheranddaughtertotwo · 14/10/2023 21:56

I used to be Teacher A in my first couple of years. I had great TA’s who used to do my displays and my class always looked beautiful. I soon learnt that adapting a lesson to help my SEND/lower attaining children or finding materials to bring my lessons to life was a much better use of my time and I hardly see TA’’s thanks to budget cuts. I still have a great relationship with my children and they make good progress. But my class is not always pretty.

Fruitandclottedcream · 14/10/2023 21:58

Having worked in EYFS, I would be concerned that teacher A is more concerned about pictures than children's independent learning experiences.
Speaking from experience it's not uncommon for children to be guided a little too much, or have the activity done for them in order to make their finished activity look picture pretty for tapestry/class dojo.

E.g. my room leader used to line all the kids up, paint their hand, make a nice neat handprint and then once it was dry she would draw whatever needed adding onto it. And then arrange the children around the table with their complete "independently" printed hand print for a tapestry photo.

The room leader in the other room posted less pictures, but that was because they were going round the room supporting children to paint their own hand and do their handprints independently.

It's swings and roundabouts

pieintheski · 14/10/2023 22:00

Qilin · 14/10/2023 21:42

We have an online learning journal and staff have iPads and the app on it. A lot of reception and even into key stage 1 can be evidenced through photographs and videos, so it serves a greater purpose than just sharing with spends. It's password protected so only the parent of that child can see it, if that's the option selected. Almost every parent at my school allows their child's photograph on the class password protected but though too, so sometimes there may be a picture with 4 or 5 children tagged, sometimes the whole class.

I include a photograph and/or video of many of the lessons I teach as I'd be taking them anyway. Parents can't see the skills and assessment aspect of posts but can see the pictures and any comments the teacher makes.

From the start of year 1 the children take their own photographs and tag them with their name and subject area on the class iPads which up.lad directly to the app. We are planning to teach reception to do this later in the year. They are taught key rules for their photographs though - they can't include other children and can only photograph their own work. Staff have overall control of it and can remove photographs if need be.

All children have an individual log in codes which go home. Parents can access them on any device and can use an app or desktop version. All free for parents to use.

Show quote history

none of this should be happening, very poor practice. Waste of time for everyone involved. What are you taking photographs on? This is so expensive, and so time consuming, and so pointless, this really should not be happening in any school at all

Qilin · 14/10/2023 22:01

Ercolsofa - for my subject the photographs, videos and/or pupil work directly on the app is my evidence, and usually the only evidence I have other than my own observations. I don't have workbooks, paperbased work, etc.

It gives me absolutely no extra workload. Infact it has reduced it compared to before we used the website/app.

Plus the children like to share with their work with their parents at home. They enjoy taking ownership of their own photographs and uploading them. Some do add more than others.

We started making more use of the site during covid lockdowns and decided to continue with it, where we felt it appropriate. Not all subject areas. And some teachers use it more than others.

If it caused me additional work I wouldn't be doing it. I've been teaching for a lot of years now. I'm not going to be doing lots of extra stuff outside of the classroom when I don't need/want to!

I don't teach reception much but when I do, for my subject specialism then yes - I use it, The reception teachers use it where they feel appropriate - I'm not going to be telling them how and when to do so, they know what works best for them better than I do!

ErcolSofa · 14/10/2023 22:04

Qilin · 14/10/2023 22:01

Ercolsofa - for my subject the photographs, videos and/or pupil work directly on the app is my evidence, and usually the only evidence I have other than my own observations. I don't have workbooks, paperbased work, etc.

It gives me absolutely no extra workload. Infact it has reduced it compared to before we used the website/app.

Plus the children like to share with their work with their parents at home. They enjoy taking ownership of their own photographs and uploading them. Some do add more than others.

We started making more use of the site during covid lockdowns and decided to continue with it, where we felt it appropriate. Not all subject areas. And some teachers use it more than others.

If it caused me additional work I wouldn't be doing it. I've been teaching for a lot of years now. I'm not going to be doing lots of extra stuff outside of the classroom when I don't need/want to!

I don't teach reception much but when I do, for my subject specialism then yes - I use it, The reception teachers use it where they feel appropriate - I'm not going to be telling them how and when to do so, they know what works best for them better than I do!

What do you need the evidence for though?

adjacenttoquiteafewspheres · 14/10/2023 22:05

I've a friend who sends their son to a private prep in London where all the class photos are shared on an open twitter account. Madness.

They block her son's face out with a big emoji but you can still clearly see him in many of the photos.

pieintheski · 14/10/2023 22:05

Qilin · 14/10/2023 22:01

Ercolsofa - for my subject the photographs, videos and/or pupil work directly on the app is my evidence, and usually the only evidence I have other than my own observations. I don't have workbooks, paperbased work, etc.

It gives me absolutely no extra workload. Infact it has reduced it compared to before we used the website/app.

Plus the children like to share with their work with their parents at home. They enjoy taking ownership of their own photographs and uploading them. Some do add more than others.

We started making more use of the site during covid lockdowns and decided to continue with it, where we felt it appropriate. Not all subject areas. And some teachers use it more than others.

If it caused me additional work I wouldn't be doing it. I've been teaching for a lot of years now. I'm not going to be doing lots of extra stuff outside of the classroom when I don't need/want to!

I don't teach reception much but when I do, for my subject specialism then yes - I use it, The reception teachers use it where they feel appropriate - I'm not going to be telling them how and when to do so, they know what works best for them better than I do!

This is so bad for the children, this sort of thing happens in a couple of (private) primary schools locally, and the children who have overused tech arrive at secondary with many skills badly underdeveloped, organisation, planning, etc - they should be using pen and paper.

And what are you taking photos on, and who is paying for that equipment?

Qilin · 14/10/2023 22:06

Do you not have any evidence of the learning in your classes?
Are they some subject areas you don't have evidence for, in any form?

Qilin · 14/10/2023 22:08

Pieinthesky
So you don't have access to any tech in your classrooms?
You don't have access to an iPad or laptop?

Qilin · 14/10/2023 22:10

Not all subjects can be evidenced by a child using pen and paper.

ErcolSofa · 14/10/2023 22:11

Qilin · 14/10/2023 22:08

Pieinthesky
So you don't have access to any tech in your classrooms?
You don't have access to an iPad or laptop?

Very many schools have moved away from taking unnecessary photos of children and yes have dumped the iPads.

ErcolSofa · 14/10/2023 22:11

Qilin · 14/10/2023 22:10

Not all subjects can be evidenced by a child using pen and paper.

But what evidence do you need?

1AngelicFruitCake · 14/10/2023 22:12

mirabella84 · 14/10/2023 21:19

Shame on the first teacher for setting such ridiculous expectations for the other teachers in the school. Pure parent pleasing.

I would be concerned that she's cutting corners in the areas that actual matter to m the classroom.

Shame on her?! Teachers can’t win!
I spend extra time making my classroom look welcoming and celebrating the children’s work and put photos online. It makes me happy to put extra effort in, I can’t believe there could be people criticising that!

PabloandGustheGreySquirrels · 14/10/2023 22:15

Pictures? At actual primary school? Photographs?????? That’s not a regular thing at all. The only time pics are usually taken is if they’re to be printed & laminated onto something belonging to the child or something. Digital photo updates aren’t a ‘normal’ thing in primary school to my knowledge

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 14/10/2023 22:15

If you had twins in different classes and one seems less positive than the other, would it bother you?!

But surely you can see that you simply cannot expect an identical experience between different classes? Think back to when you were at school - no two teachers are the same. You like some teachers more than others - their manner, their teaching style etc. And yes, that can be enough to make you enjoy being in one teacher's class more than in another's. This is an inevitable part of being at school. And it depends from pupil to pupil - not all pupils like the same teachers. One twin being less positive than the other may be partially down to differences between the children, or down to the mix of kids in their class. If the teacher is teaching poorly, then the OP is justified in her concerns. If it's about photos and pretty decorations, she is not.

Two classes in the same year group - very different experiences

Interested in this thread?