Strict teacher

[Amy8]

our daughter is youngest of her year group and academics have stepped up into year one as well as homework, they need to know number bonds up to 20, times tables and read at quite a high levels although a private school - we picked it for its pastoral reputation. Her new teacher is quite strict and very unreasonable - who had a list of negative feedback on DD chattiness and lack of focus and comments that she’s not where she needs to be , how we need to do more work with her etc etc daughter has also said she’s “shouty” at a few in class.

We have since found out she is like this with some other kids with similar feedback, we have stepped up support at home and where she enjoyed learning noticing she’s tired and doesn’t want to do the h/w now. I think is because she’s still so young at 5, so we feel it’s important to keep her fun and engaged , rather than reinforcing routine and discipline and over emphasis on academics.

is this just this teacher and what would you do ?

I’d find out if my child was too chatty and unfocused. I’d also look into whether she was significantly behind her peers.

In short, I’d chat to the teacher.

You’ve chosen a private school and they do usually have a strong academic focus so you may well encounter the same even if she moves classes. Is there another class she could move into to see how she gets on?

If your daughter is chatting in class this will obviously impact her learning.

Teachers do usually feedback where your child is in relation to age expectations. This would happen at all schools.

in many schools reception as part of the eyfs is much more play based, while year 1 is much more transitioning to more written work and sitting down.

there are schools that take longer over the transition but generally not the academic private schools.

It really isn’t an academic private school at all A but we’ve noticed a shift to move towards it

What do you mean she is unreasonable? It's very reasonable to say that your child is chatty and unfocused, if that is the case. Daughter needs to learn to listen and work in lessons. Teachers do sometimes have to raise their voice as well, it doesn't mean they are shouting. Teachers have to have high expectations. Setting routines early is vital, even in reception.

I can't really comment on the academic expectations, maybe question the teacher on why they are doing year 1 work less than a term into reception? What is the school's curriculum for reception? In state school we were given an overview plus sheets of phonics etc that the kids were learning. They should be able to tell you.

Teacher sounds great to be honest. Sounds completely reasonable to me.

Why is the teacher unreasonable? If your daughter is chatty in class, she’s not engaged in her own learning and is also possibly distracting others. She needs to learn to focus and engage with the lessons. The teacher is letting you know of issues there are. That’s not unreasonable.

I would talk to your daughter and explain that she needs to be quiet in class as it’s disrespectful and disrupting other learning.

Why is it unreasonable for a teacher to tell you that your child’s learning and progress is being impacted by the fact that she’s chatting in class? Would you have preferred not to know that she needs your support to foster her learning?

I’d hazard a guess that you’d be complaining if you got to the end of the school year, before knowing about it.

I agree with PPs, I’m not sure what’s unreasonable about telling you your DD is chatty in class? That’s annoying for the teacher and for other children. I appreciate she’s only in year 1, but I wouldn’t expect the teacher to ignore disruptive behaviour.

At just turned 5 ?

Whose job is it to manage chatty kids in a classroom setting ? Just the parents -‘ I suppose I’d expect teacher to support also

i think it’s a teachers job to manage all types of children - and I picked a smaller class environment where this should be the case, we. Absolutely have a role to play on her focus, but she’s still young so I expect a teacher with experience to support and channel also. What I meant about being unreasonable, is she said she wants us to work on it but didn’t say how she is - I’m paying a lot and would have expected a bit more support

She’s five years old, and needs to know all her times tables and number bonds to 20? It sounds like a gulag. Children that age should be learning through play.

The step up to year one is a big one at any school. There used to be some time in the day for independent learning (playing) but that is increasingly rare. It’s not the teachers fault that the expectations are high. Unless the teacher is Michael Gove. There’s even less time if the dc are chatty and can’t get on with things.

I’ve been a reception teacher at a private school and the parents have expectations that they are being taught while they are there. That’s what people are paying for. Sadly, if she’s not conforming you may find that the school try to ‘manage her out’. For want of a better phrase. I sent my own dc to state school.

In year one the children have to be taught to count in multiples of two, fives and tens. That’s a statutory requirement. Number bonds to twenty are recommended but not statutory in year one.

This might be an ‘out there’ suggestion, but did you think to ask her (what she’s doing to manage it)? Or just jump straight on Mumsnet to complain about her? IME, this is very typical of private school expectations, whether academic or not. If it’s not an approach you’re happy with you might decide to save your money.

What gives you the impression that the teacher isn't managing the chatty kids? You said she's a strict teacher, so I doubt she's failing to manage them and just letting them carry on chatting. She's simply informed you that your daughter has a tendency to be chatty. From what you said, she has asked you to support your daughter more at home with her learning, not asked you to 'manage your chatty child in a classroom setting' - you can't do that, as you're not in the classroom.

I totally understand and agree that 5 year-olds still need lots of nurture and play, but the teacher also can't teach if the kids are allowed to just chat over her during learning time!

It seems the teacher IS managing by a) telling you child to be quiet (‘shouty’ to a five year old is probably just ‘stern’) and telling you about it. What else would you like her to do?

She’s letting you know though about your DD’s behaviour which I would see as a positive as you are now aware of it. The teacher will of course be managing the behaviour but equally it’s not unreasonable for you to show support to the teacher and maybe ask how best to support your DD.

You could Google how to do this, but I think it’ll pay dividends if you set off on the right foot and develop a good working relationship between you and the teacher rather than expect that this is too much for your DD to do and that you feel they should be playing more or just having fun. Year 1 is when they start to experience the formal side of learning. With my kids we had a table & chairs they sat at to do some work for a set period of time at home, using praise when they were sitting quietly and doing the work (homework).

So your issue is that the teacher hasn’t told you how she is going to work on improving your daughter’s concentration because you are paying a lot. I’d just ask her, if that’s what you want to know.

As to the shouting - try talking normally in a busy classroom for of 5-6 year olds and you’ll see how staff have to raise and project their voices to be heard. Even if the class is quiet, I still have to project it over the fidget noises as they can distract others easily.

That’s an odd attitude. Do you expect to just not be told about your child’s behaviour because it’s the teacher’s job?

I’d assume she is managing it, but is telling you so you can be aware of what’s going on. I don’t know why you’ve assumed it’s “just the parents”

The teacher IS managing the class, but there are issues with your child’s focus/chattiness so they’re letting you know do that you can support the school by talking to your child, talking about expectations in school etc, etc. it’s about school and home and school working together or haven’t you realised that? Or is it a case of because she’s at private school you expect them to do everything just because you’re paying? Education is the school and homeschooling together whether it’s state or private.

Thanks all
noted