How do you approach/deal with a teacher who shouts to get the classes attention?

[ShoutyStyle]

I have a child who is displaying signs of emotional immaturity, neuro-diversity etc. They are in the process of being assessed/receiving EHCP. We are getting them to school but not in every lesson. Several teachers are very shouty and this destroys their confidence. They are not being shouted at - the class is, but from a sensory and emotional point of view they can’t stand it. SENCO/pastoral care are helping but as a parent would you raise any issues directly with the teachers to help them understand how their shouting is undermining all the work we are doing to get our child into school/lessons? I am obviously and clearly biased but could do with an unemotional response as to how I can help to resolve this. They actually went into school ok today but have come home very upset and now not wanting to go in tomorrow. An adult would not stand being shouted at in the workplace - why do children have to endure this? Please be kind as I am very upset and just want a happy child to go into school as best they can without being afraid of their teachers.

That is a key question. In primary schools teachers ring bells, raise hands or do countdowns (though this still sometimes requires a loud, firm voice). Children are used to these kind of cues to stop talking and pay attention. I haven’t seen anyone ring bells etc in secondary - one of my teachers used a bell for our GCSE class 30 years ago and the pupils laughed at it.

Ringing bells would probably set off another sensory issue or something, and countdowns would be seen as stressing the children out by putting them on a timer. Honestly they just can’t win. They just can’t.

There is a huge knowledge gap in the teachers at my DS' high school around SEN needs. Some actually try to disagree with medical professionals which shows a huge arrogance.

Not every teacher shouts and some of the non shouty ones get the best results. What lesson is the issue? Can your child be given an opportunity to do something else during that lesson or visit the SEN team?

@ShoutyStyle

How 🤔 on earth can a teacher be assertive in a classroom when children are being a bit noisy or being boisterous or not listening properly then?

Well just be thankful it's not victoriana times era and corporal punishment has not being in existence for some time...

Do you think the teacher should whisper sweet talk children / young people constantly 🙄

I can really amagine a bit or very noisy boisterous or unruly children pupils are going to really listen and respect a teacher talking like that all the time...
😄

I'm.a teacher. I have had pupils say to me, "don't shout at me' when I am simply talking in a firm way. We are fostering a generation of pampered princes and princesses. It seems everything we say is scrutinised

@ShoutyStyle

Noise happens in life,

Can't escape it all the time ...L.o.l 😂

@BCBird

I had a kid scream at me last we ‘stop shouting, stop shouting’ when I was just reading a chapter of a book out loud to the class. I wasn’t shouting. The rest of the class kept telling him I wasn’t shouting.

So he called me a bitch and started drumming on the table so loudly that no one could hear the reading. His parents thought it was funny.

And to answer your question you don’t ‘deal with’ a teacher raising their voice. You let them discipline their classroom and support them in that.

@Naptrappedmummy

Agree with you on that comment parents need to get on being fully onboard with that idea theme...

Is it that some of her classes are rowdy and therefore the teachers are having to raise their voices more, rather than the actual teacher? Could she change groups?

I really do my best to talk in a quiet voice, and I would say 90% of the time that’s what I do. It’s the best way to get them to listen. But sometimes, and with certain groups, just to get them back on track a loud, firm voice (not shouting) is what’s needed.

If you can identify which subjects are the issue, maybe see if a class move would help.

Buy them some loops which are like discrete ear defenders.
I'd recommend you change your approach to this. You seem to be coming at it like the teachers are doing something wrong. They aren't. They need to use a firm loud voice at times. It isn't shouting. Your child is just perceiving it as shouting because of their sensory issues.
If you approach the school with an attitude of 'how can you help my child to cope with school' you're likely to get further than going in with an attack.

I have an autistic daughter in year 6. She sometimes complains that I'm "shouting". I've realised over the years that she can't distinguish between angry shouting, a raised voice, projection and someone expressing emotion through their voice such as excitement.

We have watched a LOT of Tracy Beaker trying to address this! Drama lessons have also helped.

I think the ear plugs, ear defenders or sitting by the door and being allowed a 5 minute time out is the way to go. If she uses her time out card regularly, it will get easier.

It is, unfortunately, difficult to meet the needs of 20 or 30 individuals at once, especially when they've got a high baseline discomfort with being in a group at all.

It might be worth asking for the thread to be moved to SEN board.

One of my dc has similar issues for similar reasons. I think the problem is that teachers cannot win because if they don't control the class then the students become too noisy and disruptive which is also upsetting. Some good therapy helped a little to work through the issues from primary school. Understanding that the teachers are not shouting at them specifically helped too. It sounds as if the school are being supportive, sometimes it just takes time.

Everything you’ve written here breaks everything in the Equalities Act.

Would you expect someone with a broken leg not to use a stick or a wheelchair.

Such ignorant bigoted comments. I hope my ASD Dd never comes across you or your like in her life.

I have this with my middle child but he is still small. I go in being collaborative , I ask a lot of questions, I take the position at first that we both want the best outcome for my child, I don’t accuse anyone of shouting I focus on my sons experience and feelings - seems to work out ok, everyone has engaged with me to varying degrees of success.

Yabu peoples voices are all different, people can't change their voices and would be unreasonable to ask. My DC are always saying that people are 'shouting' and I keep telling them, they aren't, they are raising their voices, but not shouting...shouting is when you lose control.
At school there was one teacher whose voice I absolutely hated, set me on edge, it had a timbre that was harsh, she wasn't shouting, was just her natural loud, grating voice and to suggest that teachers should have to learn to use a different voice is quite insulting imo.
Another teacher who was softly spoken, had zero control of the class and frequently stood there waiting for quiet, which could take 5-10 mins each time, and in that time, no-one was learning which is a lot of a 50 minute lesson.

Special or disabled? Isn’t ASD as disability….?

Only read the thread title.

Ooh great idea. Let’s try to fit all the square pegs into the round holes 👌
One size fits all. 🙄

Sometimes people have to put up with a bit of discomfort to be part of society and enjoy the benefits that come with that

Its a disability not discomfort. Would you expect someone with a visual impairment to put up with a bit of discomfort to be part of society?

Since when did severe anxiety, ASD and sensory processing order become a ‘bit of discomfort’ to tolerate? Because it’s invisible?

A visual impairment is completely different. With that you run the risk of serious harm through falling or walking in front of a car, for example. It’s a physical tangible disability.

You seem to agree that the conditions l mention are hidden disabilities? So not worthy of consideration.

Why are they less worthy than a physical disability?