Teachers - are your 6-8 year olds this rude?

[WhaleBlue]

I work in lots of different schools working with small groups of children aged between 6 & 8. More recently I’ve noticed the level of interrupting when I’m speaking, not listening to instructions and generally thinking what they have to say is far more important than what I have to stay really off putting.

I’ve been doing the same role for over 20 years and never had any real issues, but over recent months am becoming more frustrated with this. Is it just my area or is it the same across the UK?

God only knows how their class room teacher copes with about 30 of them at the same time.

This is also something that they have expressed an interest in which their parents are paying for.

I'm shocked at the amount of teachers on here unable to grasp the effect on social development of Covid, lockdowns, limits on mixing, mask wearing and social distancing on this cohort of children.

So what are you as a parent doing/have you done to counteract the negative effects of lockdown?

Has anyone looked to see what is happening in schools in other countries, some of which had far more stringent lockdown restrictions?

Is that really a bad thing?

Yip! It's called pupil voice. They have it in spades. It's the norm even here in Scotland.

And actually it's actively encouraged here!

This. Parents not parenting, never saying no, always jumping to the defence of the child and blaming everyone else even when they are clearly in the wrong, making excuses for their poor behaviour and expecting schools to do absolutely everything. These are the 'iPad kids' who sat with screens in pushchairs and trolleys, never had to be bored or wait for a second. Is it any wonder they are so badly behaved.

Is that really a bad thing?

Yes it's a bad thing.

It would be fine in a class of four children but I can't stop teaching to be told I haven't put the lid back on the whiteboard pen or that did I know that their Grandma has a blue and yellow budgie called Pete. Not with twenty nine Grandmas pets to be discussed I haven't got the time. I've got the time later, in the playground or even we are actually working at the tables, but not when I'm actually teaching.

The 'what are we doing now?' drives doo-lally as I would absolutely love to tell everyone what we are doing now but I can't, because someone is asking me what we are doing now instead of sitting down when they come in. I can't do it on a one to one basis.

"Yep, because parents are being held responsible for every negative feeling their child encounters, it’s made out that if your child has MH problems in future or as an adult then it’s because you personally failed. It’s hardly surprising."

I don't recognise this at all. Held responsible by who? I'm a parent of four and feel that firm boundaries are fundamental to secure MH. It's removing all obstacles, challenge and exposure to normal levels of worry that are creating MH issues imo.

Pupil voice is important but it isn't about kids interrupting lessons a million times with off-topic comments.

For interruptions, I'm quite strict unless a child has a difficulty. I refuse to have children interrupt or talk when I'm talking. I wait for silence until they stop. I lay my expectations at the start of the year.
Not in a nasty way, I just say if everyone talks, no-one is heard.

Pupil Voice is nothing to do with it. Pupil Voice is carried out at certain times, it's not a free for all where they give their opinion on any old thing whenever they want like they are at home or at a party.

You give children the opportunity to give their opinions at other times, they continue to do it, at home at school. It's not cut and dried.
Pupil voice has everything to do with it including the rights of the child. I've had it quoted by my own children!

@HonoriaLucastaDelagardie

I've done lots with my own children as a parent.

I also volunteer many hours a week with scouts to support other people's children.

Thanks for asking. X

"For interruptions, I'm quite strict unless a child has a difficulty. I refuse to have children interrupt or talk when I'm talking. I wait for silence until they stop. I lay my expectations at the start of the year.
Not in a nasty way, I just say if everyone talks, no-one is heard."

With respect, that's what we all do isn't it?

No. I've been in many teachers class and they don't. It shocks me.

@Macaroni46

You do sound like someone who does understand what's going on in this age group so obviously not the subject of my post.

I have no desire to teach. Never have. I work in a sector which is important and also experiencing shortages of staff. I will stay there thanks.

Is the ‘it will be because of Covid/Lockdown’ excuse going to be trotted out for the entire duration some kids are at school ?

If you look at some of the research being shared at the Covid enquiry yes it will.

It's had a truly significant impact that will likely last for a generation.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65903392

CN I ask what you do for a job? Desperate to change but still keen to work with children

I’m a freelance instrumentalist. It’s great as I can teach school hours, get all the fun parts of teaching (the kids overall are fab despite the interrupting 😂) haven’t got any of that extra pressure class teachers have to put up with (waste of time meetings, tick boxes, red tape, marking, meeting targets etc).
only problem is as I’m self employed I have to save hard when I’m working as I don’t earn much at all in the holidays (I can only work for 38 weeks out of the 52 due to all the holidays and not working first week of September & last week of term in July), but do bits of private work & gigs when I can.

That's shocking and so sad!

I agree with you; I’m a parent of 3. I am talking about the level of external pressure on many parents, many of whom haven’t had the confidence in their own parenting that you and I are lucky to have. Maybe from their own upbringing and schooling?

Yes, and I expect the denials that it could have caused any problems at all to continue for the same amount of time.

If we accept that the covid experience will follow these children for many years, then it is even more important that parents learn how to say no, set boundaries, discipline, accept that their children can be exposed to normal levels of challenge and worry. That their child doesn't have to be 'happy' at all times. I think most parents already do all of this btw, just that the numbers who don't have increased significantly.

I agree with you.

I totally agree with the previous poster about the way children access media is different. I was raised in the 80's by 2 working parents (my mum had 2 low paid part time jobs around the school run) and we were pretty much left to our own devices most of the time. No homework or clubs, parents never knew what happened at school, gosh I barely remember talking to them! Was it better? God knows.
I do try to raise my kids in a more 80's style, lots of playing out, bike rides, beavers and sports. We don't allow phones, YouTube, any social media. TV can only be watched on the living room TV. No tablets. Literally we were one of the only families in holiday in the dining hall without a tablet.
I was on mat leave during covid and he was at school during the second lockdown as I'm a teacher. I'd say he wasn't overly affected by covid.
Any still my son can't sit still! Excelling academically but like a Duracell bunny. Cycling 23 miles at age 5 type of energy. Some might look at him and say bad parenting, tablets, lack of engagement etc but that is categorically not the case. As part of my role I do parenting sessions. I'm a bloody strict parent and yet the result is still the same.

We always see a big difference when kids come to reception from a private nursery rather than a school nursery. Much less ready to listen and follow instructions, have had much less 'teaching' but also spend 10 hours a day being cared for by some of the lowest paid and trained staff who deal with 8 children each. That has got to have some impact.