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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU - 4YO School Chart

21 replies

MrsDarlingGirl · 09/11/2018 07:17

In a nutshell my son started school in September he is 4YO in reception. We had a parents evening 6 weeks in and his teacher produces this huge complicated chart for his behaviour during carpet time. There were many icons for different behaviour. For example:
Clicking his tongue
Humming
Not sitting straight
Lying down
Etc etc
The teacher records everything he does. He is one of only 2 children in a class of 35 on this chart. She did not talk to us about it first, she says it is to support him. Problem is I can’t see how it is supporting him with concentration? He doesn’t know about the chart. So why is she doing it? It’s meticulous. I know (because I asked to see her this week) that in yesterday’s literacy lesson he clicked his tongue 3 times! I am trying to think reasonably and assume that this is some way to support him to have better concentration, but it’s hard as I feel like he obviously hates carpet time. But they seem to do loads of it. I’m wondering if this is something his teacher learned in her training and she is just very through? She has been teaching for 1 year (this is her 2nd) so she is probably very thorough.

I guess I am asking AIBU to hate this chart?! I feel like my DC is being constantly watched and discussed but I’ve never been called in or asked to make an appointment.

OP posts:

Whyohsky · 09/11/2018 07:23

There shouldn’t be 35 in a reception class!

Blanchedupetitpois · 09/11/2018 07:25

35?! I’m amazed she has the time to notice all the clicks! Is there a full time TA?

I think the chart sounds pointless if it isn’t being used to develop strategies to help him concentrate.

CalamityJane10 · 09/11/2018 07:29

I think you need to ask the teacher what the purpose is!

Perhaps it’s to monitor his progress through out the year? Possibly it is an internal procedure so the teacher can get more support internally for particular activities if it is a very large class and a couple are struggling.

Either way, have you had a chat with your DS about carpet time and how he needs to keep very quiet and not disturb others?

Scotinoz · 09/11/2018 07:34

Sounds a bit crap, and completely useless!

My daughter is nearly 5 and in reception (there's 31 in her class). As far as I'm aware, they don't do a massive amount of teaching as a whole class. For example, 8 kids do phonic/literacy/etc with the Teacher or TA, while the other kids 'explore' the different 'areas' of the class (I had a lengthy explanation this week, but my almost 5 year old that they 'explored' 'areas' 🙄).

They do have a reward scheme, online stickers in a sticker book, but I'm not aware of the teacher nitpicking. My daughter has reported that X didn't get a sticker and that their name moved to a less good colour on the behaviour rainbow, for stuff like walking about when they should be sitting.

In all honesty, I'd ask the teacher what purpose her chart serves, and remind her that he's 4!

bruffin · 09/11/2018 07:45

I think the chart sounds pointless if it isn’t being used to develop strategies to help him concentrate.
Why dont you think its not being used to do that

youarenotkiddingme · 09/11/2018 07:50

Recording behaviours is usually part of a bigger picture.

Out of context clicking tongue 3 times is nothing and seriously a non event.

But coupled with other concerns about not being able to sit still, not concentrate, struggling with noise, people, space it etc it builds up a picture.

Ask what it's for and what they are going to do with the information. Say knowing he clicked his tongue 3 times is useless as just having the information and not really as a stand alone bit of information that unusual for a 4yo!

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 09/11/2018 08:03

Ask her how she intends to use this info going forwards and why she decided to start doing this. Reception do an awful lot of learning how to sit, how to behave etc as well as the reading and writing, what you need to know is why she's felt the need to do this for your DS as opposed to any other wriggly 4yo.

That said, I would hope her other records are that thorough too. If teaching doesn't work out the KGB probably have openings.

IceRebel · 09/11/2018 08:08

I still can't get past 35 children in a reception class. Surely that's not correct?

IntoTheDeep · 09/11/2018 09:22

I’d want to know, firstly, why she decided to start observing his behaviour so closely. Is his behaviour very different to that of the other children? Does he need significantly more support than the other children? Are they concerned that there may be an underlying issue?

Secondly, what do they intend doing with the information from the observations?

How are they going to use this information to support your child? Are they considering some sort of intervention based on this?

And finally, if they’re concerned enough about him to make a special chart, why haven’t they discussed this with you before? Whether to inform you it’s happening, to ask if you’ve noticed similar behaviour at home or to talk about you and the school working together on strategies to help with whatever it is they’re concerned about? Why wait until parents evening?
And are they planning on communicating with you about this going on?

Original poster

MrsDarlingGirl · 09/11/2018 09:36

Hi All,

Thanks for replies. I really don’t want to be a precious mum about this. I asked her why she was doing it and she said to better support him, but no support strategy has been discussed with me. I’ve never been called into the school to discuss the charts, or my DCs behaviour or anything.

Yes I’ve talked to my DC about carpet time and appropriate behaviour - I really hoped he was getting better....

And yes 35 in class the teacher tells me and a FT TA I believe.

OP posts:

puzzledlady · 09/11/2018 09:42

35 in a class?! That’s insane. And how has she managed to hone in on yours and one others behaviour out of 35? Does this mean that they are the only two misbehaving/disrupting ( according to her chart) that she had to write it down? I will assume she’s done the chart to make sure you are aware and also to help your child. I don’t think she would have done it for fun. There needs to be better communication though, with 35 students I see how that can be difficult.

IntoTheDeep · 09/11/2018 10:40

I don’t think it’s being a precious mum to ask for more details about this.
And if they’re concerned enough about his behaviour to be singling him out for a behaviour chart like this, then they really should be communicating better with you about it anyway.

I think it’s likely there’s some sort of support plan in place, or at least one being considered - a chart on its own would seem pretty pointless.

ThatWouldBeNO · 09/11/2018 10:58

Not the point of the thread, but..... We have always had a minimum of 30 pupils per class in primary school - biggest class was 37. 1 teacher, no teachers aides. Occasional volunteer parent. I have trouble with my 1 child often, I cannot begin to see how teachers manage.....

30birthdayholiday · 09/11/2018 11:08

I am a teacher and like others have alluded to, I would only collect this detailed information if I was trying to build up a picture about the child to make some sort of referral. The behaviours listed are quite specific, so I would ask her what she is observing these behaviours for and who she plans to speak to about this chart.
With this information, a teacher would then be able to go to an educational psychologist for example, and say, "I have observed .... please can you come and make an assessment. "

Ask her if she thinks it's ADHD, Autism or a another concern?
Have you noticed any similar behaviour when at home with you?

slappinthebass · 09/11/2018 11:15

Sounds really bizarre. My only random guess is she possibly suspects Tourette's? Clicking tongue is a common tic, and ADHD is often co-morbid with it?

Aeroflotgirl · 09/11/2018 11:17

He is only 4 fgs, still only little. There is a reason why some countries don't start formal education until 7. Ask them the purpose of the chart, and what strategies are they using to help him. How is the rest of school, academics.

ReverseTheFerret · 09/11/2018 11:23

Total overreaction from the teacher. DD2's a fidgetty squirmer... it's part of her SN issues in terms of her dyspraxia and sensory seeking (and she is taking in the lesson input despite all of this - she can retell it to you clearly) - and the carpet stuff was solved with just giving her a wobble cushion to sit on and a tangle to fiddle with. So she can sit there, arse going squirming like mad but still "still" for the rest of the class... problem solved.

HoppingPavlova · 09/11/2018 11:34

Ask her if she thinks it's ADHD, Autism or a another concern?

I see what you are getting at and I think it’s great that teachers are vigilant with potential signals. However, he’s a 4yo boy. Nothing in that list struck me as unusual for a 4yo boy.

My (now adult) child has ASD and ADHD and would have had those issues at 4yo but so did most other ‘average’ 4yo boys.

OP, has the teacher noticed something about your 4yo boy that is considerably different to the other 4yo boys in the class or not (irrespective of the chart).

smithsally884 · 09/11/2018 11:40

Total overreaction from the teacher. DD2's a fidgetty squirmer... it's part of her SN issues

Irrelevant because your kid has been diagnosed with SN.This kid hasn't and the teacher is collecting evidence

LauralovesLuke · 09/11/2018 11:49

Hi,
I'm a child psychologist so hope I'm not overstepping the mark. I would ask to have a meeting with the school SENCO and the class teacher. In the meeting, I would ask what the purpose of the chart is. If it is to make a referral, as others have suggested, I'm not sure how ethical that is to do without parental consent. I also agree with what others have said around this being within the realms of normal 4YO behaviour - he's learning! The concept of school is incredibly new to him and he's trying his best.

How does your DS feel about the chart? Where is the chart kept? If it's out in the open, I would be concerned as to how this looks to other children and your DS being labelled as naughty or different by his peers.

I hope you get some answers as to what's going on.

Witchend · 09/11/2018 12:10

I would say she's observing him for potential referral with that level of detail. I would go back and ask directly.

However my ds had a book in which his behaviour was recorded (although not to that extent) because he was struggling, so they could praise a section of the day and move on quickly after a bad section so he could feel that even if he'd mucked up at one point, he could then be praised later.

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