Ds expected to “help” another pupil with work in class

[LostFrog]

Ds is 9 years old, just started Year 5, first year of new school (middle school system here).

He tells me that when he has finished his own work in class, he is required to help a boy who sits next to him. This happens every single lesson, and he says that the boy is reluctant to work, won’t write anything, gives up quickly and mutters all the time that he doesn’t get it, etc. From asking around, this seems to be the standard on every table in the class - there is one or two pupils who are “learning mentors” who have to teach the less able ones.

Is this a) normal, and b) reasonable? It’s not like ds volunteered for this role. If he has finished, Shouldn’t he be offered an extension task whilst the teacher or TA (there is one, I checked) help the ones who are struggling? I have emailed the teacher to ask them to clarify what’s expected, but has anyone else come across this?

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if you don’t like peer support. It’s being used all over the world because it’s a tried and tested, researched method that works.

One could equally argue that it doesn’t matter if you do like peer support, what matters is whether the students like it and whether they think it works for them. On the evidence of this thread - with some exceptions the majority are not keen and don’t report positive experiences.

So it really depends what you think is more important: the teaching philosophy you picked up at training college, or your students.

Fortunately I can afford to pay for schools that don’t indulge these practices, but others are not so lucky. I feel quite indignant on their behalf.

I hope the OP manages to sort the matter out with the school, but if she does the job will likely just be shunted onto another child.

@TatianaBis

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if you don’t like peer support. It’s being used all over the world because it’s a tried and tested, researched method that works.

One could equally argue that it doesn’t matter if you do like peer support, what matters is whether the students like it and whether they think it works for them. On the evidence of this thread - with some exceptions the majority are not keen and don’t report positive experiences.

So it really depends what you think is more important: the teaching philosophy you picked up at training college, or your students.

Fortunately I can afford to pay for schools that don’t indulge these practices, but others are not so lucky. I feel quite indignant on their behalf.

I hope the OP manages to sort the matter out with the school, but if she does the job will likely just be shunted onto another child.

Private schools in Britain will, without exception, be using peer support. I can tell you that for a fact.

What the parents on this thread think of peer support is also irrelevant. It works, and we know it works.

I can tell you for a fact it was never used in my schools and it’s not used in my kids’ schools.

Can’t speak for all the private schools in the country, and there are some rubbish ones that aren’t worth paying for. But broadly parents paying £££ for education are far less tolerant of students rather than teachers ‘supporting’ their kids or being ‘supported’ by other kids.

Generally - if Leo is struggling, either extra tuition is provided by the school or the parents pay for external coaching or both.

@TatianaBis

I can tell you for a fact it was never used in my schools and it’s not used in my kids’ schools.

Can’t speak for all the private schools in the country, and there are some rubbish ones that aren’t worth paying for. But broadly parents paying £££ for education are far less tolerant of students rather than teachers ‘supporting’ their kids or being ‘supported’ by other kids.

Generally - if Leo is struggling, either extra tuition is provided by the school or the parents pay for external coaching or both.

It absolutely would have been used in your kids schools if they were educated in Britain in the last ten years or so.

People pay for private school to make sure their kid gets the best education they can. Private school teachers are trained in exactly the same way as state school teachers. And all teachers follow broadly the same curricular aims, and are subject to the same inspections. They absolutely use peer support.

@TatianaBis

I can tell you for a fact it was never used in my schools and it’s not used in my kids’ schools.

Can’t speak for all the private schools in the country, and there are some rubbish ones that aren’t worth paying for. But broadly parents paying £££ for education are far less tolerant of students rather than teachers ‘supporting’ their kids or being ‘supported’ by other kids.

Generally - if Leo is struggling, either extra tuition is provided by the school or the parents pay for external coaching or both.

I’m always wary of giving away too much of myself online @TatianaBis but I was in private schools for a long time, and I can promise you, you’re wrong.

What the parents on this thread think of peer support is also irrelevant. It works, and we know it works

So arrogant - of course what the parents think is key. They can see whether your methods are working for their children. If you don’t listen to parent and student feedback, what are you even doing this for?

Peer support is one thing but doing it instead of extension exercises is another.

@TatianaBis

What the parents on this thread think of peer support is also irrelevant. It works, and we know it works

So arrogant - of course what the parents think is key. They can see whether your methods are working for their children. If you don’t listen to parent and student feedback, what are you even doing this for?

I think the overwhelming point of this thread is that people don’t understand peer support, yourself included.

@Tinpotspectator

Peer support is one thing but doing it instead of extension exercises is another.

What extension exercises work better?

I was in private schools for a long time, and I can promise you, you’re wrong.

I’ve been in private schools for a long time and I can tell you I’m not.

@TatianaBis

I was in private schools for a long time, and I can promise you, you’re wrong.

I’ve been in private schools for a long time and I can tell you I’m not.

You are though.

If you were correct, you could tell me what they use instead of peer support.

I think the overwhelming point of this thread is that people don’t understand peer support, yourself included.

We understand it perfectly we’re just giving you feedback you don’t want to hear so you tell yourself you’re misunderstood.

@TatianaBis

I think the overwhelming point of this thread is that people don’t understand peer support, yourself included.

We understand it perfectly we’re just giving you feedback you don’t want to hear so you tell yourself you’re misunderstood.

I said already, the feedback on this thread makes no difference. Your option on your poor understanding of what peer support is doesn’t stop it happening.

*opinion.

If you were correct, you could tell me what they use instead of peer support.

What twaddle. There are many different types of teaching strategies. It’s not either/or they just don’t use that one.

@TatianaBis

If you were correct, you could tell me what they use instead of peer support.

What twaddle. There are many different types of teaching strategies. It’s not either/or they just don’t use that one.

What do they do instead?

I am going to be massively unpopular here but I have 2 mathmatically able DCs, this was used extensively in yrs 5&6 in primary for both of them. I think it's lazy teaching tbh, my DCs cannot understand for example why their peer cannot tell the time in yr 6 when they have been able to since yr 1 or 2 (real example), being mentored or mentoring something you have just "got" will consolidate the learning. Trying to explain a concept like time or times tables when you are 8 or 9 is not helpful.

Again, we all understand it perfectly well @Pumperthepumper your claim that we don’t is just self-defence.

My DC's tutor taught them algebra in yr 5, trigonometry in yr7 instead of getting them to teach less able students.

@TatianaBis

Again, we all understand it perfectly well *@Pumperthepumper* your claim that we don’t is just self-defence.

In what way is it self-defence?

@traumatisednoodle

I am going to be massively unpopular here but I have 2 mathmatically able DCs, this was used extensively in yrs 5&6 in primary for both of them. I think it's lazy teaching tbh, my DCs cannot understand for example why their peer cannot tell the time in yr 6 when they have been able to since yr 1 or 2 (real example), being mentored or mentoring something you have just "got" will consolidate the learning. Trying to explain a concept like time or times tables when you are 8 or 9 is not helpful.

It is helpful though. There’s loads of information on this thread on why it’s helpful.

@TatianaBis

Again, we all understand it perfectly well *@Pumperthepumper* your claim that we don’t is just self-defence.

And you very obviously don’t understand it, you think it’s one child teaching another. It isn’t.

Sorry trig in yr 6 ( just pythagoras)

What do they do instead?

It’s not either/or, instead of x they use y. Most teachers have different strategies in their toolkits to use for different levels, different kids, different subjects if they teach more than one.

How can it be helpful ?
If you can tell the time, you can tell the time, there isn't any deeper understanding to be had. My Dd did this day after day in yr 6.