Teacher treating children too young

[Someonehelpmeagain]

My child is in a year 3 class, the teacher now sings a song to get them to sit on the carpet and has organised a book advent for this week. The children are 7 and 8, I feel they are far too old to be sung to sit on the carpet. Aibu to talk to the headteacher?

I sang to my 11yo yesterday. She appears mainly unscathed by the experience.

Are you the same parent that was at my kids swimming lesson on Sunday and when they got out the pool asked their 5-6 year old what marks they would give themselves and when they said eight said "I'd say more of a six, you didn't try hard enough"

I'm a pushy parent but even that was bonkers.

There are plenty of things to moan about in schools, without that.

Ooh, I don't know! Be careful!

DH and I regularly sing to the dog. She's 7 but still behaves like a demented puppy most of the time. Perhaps the singing is doing more harm than we thought! 😬😂

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius she was joking......(@Arseynal that is)
😁

Yes, you go and tell the HT about how the qualified teacher with a knowledge of the actual chldren invokved should be running her class, and then come back here and tell us how it went for you!

All normal. I work in a Year 3 class and our children sit on the carpet, as they do in Year 4 too! The teacher knows the class, and what they respond too. If a song is the best way to do it, then it really doesn't matter.

Just so you know, songs continue throughout secondary. It's a great way to get facts into a child's head.

One of my favourite moments from my teaching years is running down to wish my year 11's good luck as they went into an exam and catching them quietly running through a rendition of the Electromagnetic Spectrum Song.

Stick to your lane, OP.

100% this.

Teachers know their kids. What works well with some classes doesn't with others.

You use what you have in your arsenal.

It sounds entirely age appropriate.

7/8 is still very little. Plenty of time for being more “grown up” later.

Context - dd is 16 and very independent so I haven’t ended up infantilising a child but letting them be a child ages 7.

Year three and year four children were heavily affected by Covid around the time they were at nursery and starting school. This means that they missed out on much of their crucial early education, which is much more than reading, writing and maths. They missed out on the fun and socialisation and this is a very important part of learning. I have always found that if you can make learning fun for small children and, yes, possibly make yourself look a little silly, they remember what they have been taught much more easily. Actually, this applies to anyone, really. I am a piano, violin and viola teacher and often use silly words and phrases to help with rhythms. It works and the rhythm is understood far more quickly. As for sitting on a carpet and listening to a story (is this what is meant by the Advent books?), it is a lovely thing for anyone. In today’s fast paced, highly visual world, modern children need it more than ever before. We remember special teachers. I would imagine the children in your child’s class will have fond memories of being in Mr. Jones’s class for the rest of their lives.

It is perfectly age-appropriate. HTH.

@StaunchMomma a few years ago we had to do some "research" in my school on retrieval practice. Because my own DDs had been there, I suggested comparing classes who had learned the ElectroMagnetic Spectrum song with those who hadn't, some 2 years down the line. I went into the 6th form centre and asked for anyone who wasn't taking Physics A level if they would mind writing out the EMS in order. It was entirely anonymous apart from I asked them to write the initial letter of the surname of the teacher who taught them GCSE Physics. Without exception, everyone who had been taught by the 2 colleagues who used that "epic" piece could write it out correctly, despite not having studied Physics for 2 years. Around 40% from the other teacher's class got it right.

Before anyone criticises my Maths, at that point kids did GCSEs in y10 and I was talking to y13s.

As a secondary school music teacher, I bloody love it that a teacher has the confidence to sing to their class. I love it that a kind person has made a fab video of one of the GCSE set works with a rap of all the key information. Music is such a wonderful mood enhancer and way of transitioning between phases of a lesson.

OP stop being such a fun sponge and let your kid enjoy her childhood. Teaching y3 all day every day is extremely hard work; perhaps you should cover her for a few days as you obviously know so much better.

My child’s Year 4 teacher sings ‘loads’. In yr3 it was just for maths sometimes apparently. She absolutely loves it. Singing beyond memory rhymes is very age appropriate for lower KS2, probably even upper KS2 really?
I’m sure it’s not maths or science songs you’re complaining about as I’m sure everyone had to sing them on occasion in secondary school!

I'm a teacher. I don't think the headteacher will care. It's just her method. If the kids think it's babyish one of them will tell her, or pull a face and she'll know.

“I would of thought”? And you’re a university lecturer, you say? OH, PLEASE.

I'm in child mental health and I would very much advocate for singing teachers.

Due to Lockdown, some children are very young for their age especially in terms of social skills.

However I wouldn't have seen an issue with this prior to Lockdown. Y3 is a year group that can sometimes need coddling a little. I wouldn't expect this with Y4 but have no issues with it for a Y3 class. Some of these kids are only just seven.

Op
You absolutely need to contact the head about this. Explain that the kids are not getting any younger and you as a university lecture know what is required and they need to crack out. Point out that at 8, they're years too old to be singing a song.

Oh dear...

I sometimes sing part of Total eclipse of the heart when I want my year 11 to face the front. I'll have myself struck off forthwith.

Think you need to grow up!!!

Is it the singing or the sitting on the carpet? I sometimes sit on the carpet at work to sort my paperwork when I have lots of bits and not enough space on my desk. Come to think of it today I did this while singing along to the radio, and I'm 41!!!

Are songs only for toddlers then? WhT is wrong with a song? You should complain. The teachers could do with a laugh.

Oh dear.
Give your head a wobble

Get a grip, seriously

Singing a song to signal carpet time is great behaviour management?! Its a clear signal which can be heard above general classroom din, but doesn't involve the teacher needing to raise their voice or shout which lots of children don't like. What on earth do you think is wrong with it?!
Teachers use a variety of excellent methods to signal to pupils, ive heard some who use a chime bar, or singing, or playing music.
Would you rather they shouted crossly OP 😂