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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

No help given in lessons

21 replies

ShepherdMoons · 20/10/2022 17:51

Dd is in Year 4, she struggles with Maths and her confidence is low with it. Her teacher at school does the input then gives out worksheets and then the children must do the work alone. They are not allowed to ask for help and if they have their hand up they are ignored (in the teacher's words 'they are in Juniors and expected to work independently).

Dd has queued up with the other pupils before to talk to the teacher about it in lesson because she just doesn't understand what to do sometimes! The teacher won't help them and dd says they often get tired of waiting for help and go back to their seats. She then loses some of her lunch hour because the teacher will quickly mark the books at the end of the session and if you don't do the work you lose break/lunch time. This is now impacting her friendships as her friends are in the playground earlier than her.

AIBU to think that children should be helped during the lesson? I understand the children need to work as independently as possible but in my day the teacher would walk around the room while we were working. We'd often get help if we were stuck. The class isn't massive, there are 25 children in the class.

OP posts:

Untitledsquatboulder · 20/10/2022 17:57

YANBU - if true (I'd double check before going in all guns blazing) that is utterly unacceptable. At the point I found out it was true then the guns would blaze.

Original poster

ShepherdMoons · 20/10/2022 18:02

I spoke to their class teacher at the school gate and she said they do a 'T' sign with their hands to show they need the toilet because if they have their hand up they don't get help from the teacher. She says she goes through the work with them after the lesson if they get a lot wrong or if they don't manage to finish.

OP posts:

eddiemairswife · 20/10/2022 18:03

If a child doesn't understand it is the teacher's job to explain.

Plumbear2 · 20/10/2022 18:05

Even my year ten teen gets help in class. The teacher is a disgrace.

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 20/10/2022 18:08

The teacher actually told you she would ignore any pupil with their hand up and she does not help pupils? Or was this on one occasion during an assessment?

Jackie246 · 20/10/2022 18:08

I’m a year four teacher and this is categorically insane!!!! Totally totally unacceptable, as in, what is her actual job other than to help??

Littlefish · 20/10/2022 18:08

Make an appointment to speak to the teacher. Explain what your daughter has said, and hear the teacher's explanation. It may be different to your daughter's interpretation.

WunWun · 20/10/2022 18:10

I would speak to the teacher about this and if she confirmed it was true I would speak to the head.

misskatamari · 20/10/2022 18:10

If this is true it is a massive issue. I would be speaking to the class teacher to clarify what is actually going on, and if she actually won't help pupils who need it, I would be meeting with the head. It is completely and utterly unacceptable

Original poster

ShepherdMoons · 20/10/2022 18:10

I think the class teacher is training to be a head teacher, is the SENCO and also is the deputy head. I wonder if it's too much? Like she is wearing too many hats so can't offer the children help in lessons because she is busy preparing for something else. Dd said the teacher is on her laptop in lesson time or writing notes on a piece of paper.

We did some homework last night and dd was crying because she lacks confidence in Maths and really couldn't do it. We are considering getting a tutor for her but I am a bit annoyed that she can't get help at school!

OP posts:

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 20/10/2022 18:13

Well as 27 years as a teacher, this is NOTgiving independence. The teacher is not using differentiation here which is the key to all teaching.

She shoukd explain to all. Those who understand can get on, but the rest go through it with the teacher again. Ad infinitum until all of them understand it.

Then they have the independence to do it. Very poor teaching and misinterpretation of independence.

Curta · 20/10/2022 18:14

25 actually is a big number. How easily can you deal with 25 different people at once? Independent practice tasks will be after scaffolding/modelling/explanations and timed, and children often waste time not working, by asking for further explanation or for teachers to 'check' so far. The teacher needs to know what has been understood and can be done by the child, not what they can do when fully prompted or guided.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 20/10/2022 18:14

I think you need to discuss this with the school again. If what you are saying is true, then it's totally unacceptable- the teacher should be offering help and support to students in lesson, or scaffolding the content so they can access it independently- if she's doing neither, and expecting them to, what, sit in silent and not understand? Then that's insane.

I'd ask for a meeting with the teacher in the first instance, and if this really is true, I'd be prepared to make a formal complaint.

Pixiedust1234 · 20/10/2022 18:14

it happened to my DD and I didn't realise how bad (and true) it was. I thought she wasn't trying hard enough to speak to the teacher after lessons, and every parents evening was told my child needed to ask for help. I really regret not believing my child.

Funny how her marks suddenly improved the following year with a different teacher, and she ended up in top set 🤔

StrangerOnline · 20/10/2022 18:15

Definitely speak to Head about this, as teacher has already confirmed what your daughter told you
Also this is impacting other kids (not staying in line) who maybe are not as sensitive about it as your DD but still struggling?
And do tell the Head what your DD said about teacher being on laptop - it DOES sound like she has taken on too much

eddiemairswife · 20/10/2022 18:20

25 is a pretty good number to have in a class. Most KS2 classes have 30+.

Russell19 · 20/10/2022 18:29

Curta · 20/10/2022 18:14

KS2 classes can have 35-40 legally. There are no limits. 25 is small, even at KS1 age

Jennybeans401 · 20/10/2022 18:33

My dd had a similar problem. The teacher also was supposed to be using a time out card for a little boy with autism who cried all through the lesson. She just shouted at him instead, awful.

I would ask to speak to the head.

Ponderingwindow · 20/10/2022 18:36

Dd had a math teacher who was similar last year. The entire year was a struggle and she had previously been excellent at math. New math teacher this year who has a relatively hands off approach, but it is implemented quite differently. Dd is back to doing well

Choccyoclocky · 20/10/2022 18:40

DD year 4 class had 31 children and DD was always supported. Her teacher was amazing, I loved her a lot.

DD is in year 5 now and during parents evening, her teacher said she often needs extra explaining with maths so she makes sure she circles around to check everything is okay.

I would definitely speak to someone because its not fair on your DD or anybody else in the class!

PumpkinPie2016 · 20/10/2022 18:42

I'm a secondary teacher and think that's awful 😲

The teacher's job is to teach, help and support.

I can hand on heart say, except if they are doing a test, I am never at my desk during lessons (head of a core dept as well so not like I have nothing to do).

I wander checking/assessing/supporting/modelling/reteaching as required.

I would make an appointment to discuss with the Head.

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