Any primary school teachers willing to give some feedback on DC school report

[Sheyllablum]

Hello,

We've just received our DD's (Y2) half year school report (she's in a private prep). I'm a bit underwhelmed by it considering that the teacher always says she's doing amazing and does not need to work on anything, just carry on doing great work.

I grew up in a different country and our schooling system is very different. Would someone with teaching experience be willing to read the report (it's not long) and give some feedback on whether this is standard/good and how to address different things on parents meeting. Nothing will be outed, but I'd like to send it in private.

A report should not have any surprises in it. The week by week teacher commentary and advice is what you need to be looking at.

Thank you, that's how I feel.

I thought the message was pretty polite .
I’m not a teacher,
but the ones I know were focused on getting to 5/6pm today knowing it was half term and they are knackered, so I can’t imagine many would be enthusiastic to answer this tonight, maybe by Thursday someone would be more agreeable.
but I think you should just post the report sections you are querying rather than expecting DMs etc .

Why reply then 🙄

It's not like Uber, where any kids doing a decent job will get a 5.

If you have specific concerns (the spelling one is the only one I'd want to follow up to see how I could help at home) then contact the teacher. But a 4 is fine. I'd wait for a parents evening to ask for what she needs to do to achieve a 5.

I wouldn't be concerned at all, that sounds like a very good report. I were told by the principal not to give top scores in younger classes unless the child was absolutely outstanding in that area, as 'there was nowhere to go but down' and some children (parents really) would be discouraged if the score fell from an 'excellent' one year to 'good' the next as the work got more difficult. I'm in Ireland so different system/scoring system but maybe it's the same sort of approach in the UK?

*we were told, I meant to say!

Are your expectations top marks for everything for her entire school career?

Those are really big expectations

If you're paying for private school then surely you can ask for them to discuss?

Absolutely not, but spelling is important! Plus I would have expected the school to address a slight regression or lack of progression, not put it in a report 1.5 terms later.

Yes of course, I'll email the teacher after half term. Got the report late afternoon today.

When I was a teacher, “pleasing progress” was a phrase used of excellent children.

4/5 on a mid year report is also to be expected. It gives them somewhere to go to show they have improved in the rest of the year.

No one ever says “please”

Maybe not in your impolite world but the rest of us usually do! (Most of) The rest of us were raised with good manners

Then why did you describe a 4 - still an above average score as an issue? It's normal for kids to fluctuate a bit sometimes, teachers manage those without a running commentary to parents.

It's only really a concern if they make really sudden dips in performance which this really isn't.

Have you thought it's a cultural/language issue? In my language we don't really say 'Please' in that context, I thought I was being polite by saying 'Would anyone be willing....' Can't believe some people keep going on about it being 'very rude'. I think I've said thank you enough times and I'm genuinely grateful for any constructive feedback.

What's wrong with satisfactory? It's satisfactory! That's... Satisfactory....

Sorry, 4 and 5 were scores for Learning habits and skills like: Perseverance, Collaboration, Organisation, Growth mindset etc etc.

For Academic Subjects (Maths, Reading, Writing, Science) they have Requires Improvement, Satisfactory, Good & Very Good.

My main concern was Spelling which came under Writing area. Hope this makes sense.

But she's doing fine . ...

So your child won't work independently to improve her score... Doesn't get an improved score. Shock horror.

I thought the school would address it? If she comes with something from her teacher, she'll do it.

She's doing fine. She's doing better than fine. You're in for a rough ride if you expect the teachers to justify it every time she gets less than full marks.

This and the poster who recommended speaking to the teacher concerned.

Writing generally. A parent usually only knows their child, possibly a few more.

We all love our children and think they are brilliant. We rejoice in their every success and achievement.

A primary school teacher has seen 30 children every year of their career and is in a better position too judge whether a child is a 4 or a 5.

But speak to the teacher, explore how you can help your daughter - and stop worrying, it can be catching.

In some countries they don't have a habit of saying please. We might find it rude but the poster doesn't necessarily realises this. But she ought to have gotten the message by now 😄

Sigh. I’m a primary school teacher. We do interim reports. I don’t really give ‘excellent’ grades at this stage of the year because they’ve not covered the curriculum. With spelling, it could be that she is making elementary mistakes in her writing which would show that her understanding of spelling rules isn’t completely embedded? Very common in Y2 as the level of challenge is much greater than Y1. It’s very easy to get hold of the Y1/2 spelling list and check these with her I’d have thought. Spelling needs lots of practice to get right.

The report makes sense. But your reaction to it doesn't.