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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to suggest teachers watch YouTube video to improve their teaching methods?

60 replies

BettyFlour · 26/09/2013 08:15

Before the summer we attended classes at DS's school and had taster sessions in phonics I.e to pronounce the letter M as 'mmmm' not 'muh'. It was excellent.

We have since moved and have started DS at another primary (Reception) and the teacher pronounces S as "suh" not "sss" etc.

The correct pronounciation of phonics can be the make or break for some kids in learning to read.

I have found a youtube video which teaches the correct pronounciation very well. I'd like the Reception teacher to watch it. How do I approach this with the Headteacher? WIBU to even think of suggesting it? I feel IABU however, I want the best for DS. Other children would obviously benefit too.

OP posts:
BrokenSunglasses · 26/09/2013 08:17

I wouldn't suggest that you do approach this with the head teacher. Going into a school and suggesting that a qualified teacher watches YouTube to learn how to do their job will not go down well.

How do you know what the teacher does in phonics sessions, have you sat in on one of her lessons?

CadleCrap · 26/09/2013 08:17

YABU - what a condescending thread title!

YANBU - it should be pronounced correctly.

Original poster
BettyFlour · 26/09/2013 08:23

Yes I've sat in on the lesson. Sorry for condescending thread title. Didn't know how to word it sorry. I agree it's sounds completely condescending. I don't want to offend anyone (you guys or the teachers, or the school).

I appreciate it sounds awful. But her pronunciation isn't the best way to teach phonics.

OP posts:
Original poster
BettyFlour · 26/09/2013 08:26

How about I buy some phonics DVDs and anonymously leave them at the school? Grin

It's a tiny school so they'll also know it's me creating a fuss which wouldn't be great for DS!

OP posts:
Roshbegosh · 26/09/2013 08:29

How are you such an expert on teaching? You only sat in on a few taster sessions fgs. Your DC is only in reception now so you have many years of knowing better ahead of you. I think you should back off.

Suddengeekgirl · 26/09/2013 08:29

Speaking as an ex-teacher :)

If you bring it up outside of a meeting/ discussion about phonics then you run the risk of pissing off the teacher. Some will be fine with your suggestion. Others will think you're a meddling old bag!

I've seen that video (or a similar one) at an inset day. It was a revelation for everyone who had never taught phonics. :)

BrokenSunglasses · 26/09/2013 08:30

It doesn't sound awful that you are concerned, I agree with you that there is a right and wrong way to teach phonics, and if the teacher is adding an 'uh' to letter sounds then she is doing it wrong.

But you need to think very carefully about how you approach this, and I don't think that suggesting a YouTube video is a good idea.

I think I'd talk directly to the teacher and ask her how you are supposed to support it at home because you are confused about how the sounds should be pronounced as you and your ds have learned differently before. I know you know the answer, but honestly, playing a bit dumb will come across better than telling the teacher shes doing it wrong. Hopefully that should get the message across and improve her practice. Make extra effort to do it correctly with your ds at home.

Roshbegosh · 26/09/2013 08:31

You could offer to take the class while the teacher sits in Grin

ArgyMargy · 26/09/2013 08:32

"Correctly", Cadlecrap? Is that not just a matter of opinion/fad?

VodkaRevelation · 26/09/2013 08:36

Was it definitely in the context of a phonics lesson? The letter name is 'ess' or 'suh' and it makes the sound 'sssss'. So the letter can be referred to as 'suh' but the sound must be referred to as 'sss'. Could she have been referring to the letter name rather than the sound?

BrokenSunglasses · 26/09/2013 08:36

No, it's not just a matter of opinion. Children can't learn to blend sounds to make work ds when they aren't blending the right sounds.

Some children will be able to get over the 'uh' thing relatively easily,but for others it can really put a block on their learning to read and make it so much more difficult for them. It really does need to be done properly.

Trapper · 26/09/2013 08:41

I fail to see how this is a condescending title - professionals in other industries have been using (and benefitting form) guidance from peers posted on YouTube for years.

MiaowTheCat · 26/09/2013 08:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GladbagsGold · 26/09/2013 09:01

Dear Head
You are probably already aware of this phonics video so do feel free to ignore this email- but I was sent this by a friend and as a parent I have found it really useful. I wondered if you think it worth including a link in the school newsletter so other parents could benefit too?
Kind regards
OP

Original poster
BettyFlour · 26/09/2013 09:23

Again I'm sorry if I've been condescending or offended anyone or stupidly used the term "teachers" as a whole.

Thank you to those of you who have helped me try to find a way to approach this. I realise jumping in all guns ablazing will get everyone's backs up and that's the last thing I want to do the teacher is lovely.

Thanks Gladbags - great idea on the email!
BrokenGlasses - this is exactly what I mean. Saying it correctly is really important.

OP posts:
ArgyMargy · 26/09/2013 09:27

Seriously? No-one learned to speak normally before phonics was invented? Fad, IMO.

Spinkle · 26/09/2013 09:28

I think they'd give your meddling suggestion more credit if perhaps you yourself did teacher training.

You will run the risk of being seen as a bumptious fussy arse.

Teachers work incredibly hard. They get enough crap from Gove.

mrsjay · 26/09/2013 09:29

yes go and tell the teachers to use you tube to teach Hmm that is going to go down great phonic sounds are different for everybody they do not all say the M sound the same I think it is to do with accents , I think YABU

TooTryHard · 26/09/2013 09:33

Actually I'd say yanbu. I was given no phonics training as part of my PGCE and patchy training since. I only know the correct sounds because of the YouTube video.

How you broach the subject is a different matter. Perhaps you could say ds has been insisting it's suh not sss and you've been teaching him sss because of videos you've watched. Please could she clarify what she wants you to use? Link to the video you've been using and ask if any other sounds are incorrect. Obviously if she says suh then you ignore her. hopefully it would plant the seed.

Original poster
BettyFlour · 26/09/2013 09:33

Thanks Brokensunglasses a good idea on how to approach it.

OP posts:
Original poster
BettyFlour · 26/09/2013 09:38

tootryhard- great suggestion!!!

I'm a University lecturer if that makes a difference- so I do teach. But I think Primary and Secondary teaching is harder and more important (ie primary education is laying the foundations for the future).

If phonics is done properly then accents shouldn't come into it.

OP posts:
quoteunquote · 26/09/2013 09:41

Can we have a link to the youtube clip?

treas · 26/09/2013 09:44

Our primary actively encouraged parents/carers to send in suggestions to support the pupils learning either in or out of school.

I think an email suggesting that you have found a really helpful tool to aid all the pupils, as per Gladbags is definitely the way to go. That way you are not seen to be having a go at the teacher.

Original poster
BettyFlour · 26/09/2013 09:47

ArgyMargy phonics is not a a method for learning to speak. It's to aid learning to read. No-one is saying that people couldn't read before phonics was invented. However, there is a worrying number of illiterate people in this country. The English language is not a phonetic language by nature so it makes reading difficult. There are lower percentages of illiteracy in countries that have phonetic languages (Italian for example).

Phonics have shown to make reading easier. And phonics has been around for years. I was taught it as child over 30 years ago. It's just been brought back into teaching in England.

OP posts:
Mammybee · 26/09/2013 09:50

Yes link please.

Perhaps send it to the teachers school email from an anonymous account...