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 ?

My kids are early 20s and amongst the first years to do GCSEs graded with numbers.

What you call regimented is literally the National
Curriculum. One of the purposes is to make sure that all kids learn the same things rather than the wildly variable approach that schools taught when my generation were young. (Obviously there’s been political manipulation etc over the years but trying to make the school experience similar around the country is a valid goal)

By the end of year 1 at their state school, they knew some of the simpler times tables like 2s and 5s and number bonds to 20. They didn’t sit at their tables for hours 😂 They had an hour of literacy and numeracy every day but it wasn’t at a desk in silence, it included reading, comprehension, creative writing, phonics… and they did it at a desk, while sat on the carpet, in guided reading groups…. in chunks for 15 minutes or so and increasing every year.

It’s the curriculum though. That’s the expectation for year one.

According to google it’s only 2,5 and 10 times tables in year one, not all of them. And they’re expectations for the end of year one not the start.

That’s still times tables.

It’s not the start of year one.

You can’t not teach the statutory curriculum until the end of the year.

X100

This is madness

Poor child

Please tell me the teacher was able to say all the positives too

Good grief give the kids a break

As for strict teachers who are OTT they are full of shit
It's not ok to be too strict with young kids

I had a fall out with a teacher at my d d school because of how she speaks to my DD and other kids
She is way too strict

Picks on dyslexic kids when they can't spell words out loud etc

I have to call it out
Fck that

Our grandson is thriving 🤷‍♀️ He thoroughly enjoys demonstrating his latest achievement. As he ought to.

Times tables and number bonds to 20 are not even in the curriculum for year 1. What’s the teacher thinking? Is she following the school’s stated curriculum because it’s nuts.

It's utter madness

She is only 5 for gods sake !!!!!

Urgh. You’re annoyed that the teacher, during parents evening, gave you some negative feedback? It’s their job to tell you how your child is doing in class. I’m very unsure as you to why you’re blaming the teacher for your child’s lack of focus and chatting.
Teachers have to be strict, especially now given how awful children’s behaviour is. They’re not there to be children’s friends or enable their disrespectful behaviour. I would be pleased that she has high expectations and cares enough to inform you.

The behaviour in the school is pretty good - there’s a test to get in which my daughter passed. I think she’s exceptionally strict and no other teachers before have commented these things

I didn’t know that , but I guess it’s trying to be pushier than a standards setting

@Amy8
this explains the national curriculum taught in schools, including bonds to 20 and counting in 2s, 5s and 10s
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a81a9abe5274a2e8ab55319/PRIMARY_national_curriculum.pdf

One youngest in year child I know was told at prep if he was a month younger and in the year below he’d not stand out. Aged 5/6 they’ve had about 20% less life than the oldest kids, that’s a huge amount to make up. The gap should narrow in time.

It really is an academic private school if they’re this focused on progress early in year 1… maybe your daughter isn’t a good fit for this school.

Is she in Y1 ? I’d say that’s fairly normal work in year 1. Some children do struggle because it’s far less play based than reception.
I wouldn’t do more learning at home (beyond normal homework set) but I would plan activities that require concentration such as baking, reading or watching a film. Can she sit at a table for a meal successfully? It’s likely she needs more time to adjust as you say she is still young.

Shouty teachers aren’t great with 5 year olds.