year 3 (first year juniors to the oldies like me!)

[cutekids]

My 7 yr old daughter's new teacher had a "quiet word" with me the other night to let me know that she was going to be having "catch-up" lessons with a "trained person". This is apparently a "very positive thing they are doing for a few of the kids"-two out of my daughter's class,her being one of them and two out of the opposite class. Thing is, when I asked her teacher how her reading seemed she replied that she couldn't tell me herself as, obviously, she hasn't really got to hear her as yet. She was actually following up something that her previous teacher had written down about her. This was something that - i know i'm her mum but i wouldn't say it if i didn't mean it- we don't agree with as she is actually a very good reader! Her spelling, on the other hand, is not so good but when she brought her homework home the other day she managed all her spellings first time round;she did a wordsearch absolutely spot-on;she corrected a sentence that had deliberatly been written wrong.These were all the things that all the other children in her class were doing so I can't see why they've singled my daughter out. To add insult to injury I actually heard her telling her dad that I did all her homework for her...! I absolutely did not!!! I sat and watched her with no coaxing towards the correct answer at all! But if she tells her teacher this , she's just going to think I'm a liar!!! Thing is, her new teacher doesn't really want to know my opinion. I told her the other night that I think my daughter's problem was a confidence thing, not an ability thing if you see what I mean! She kind of switched off at that point and made out she had something else to be getting on with!What's worrying me is that my daughter's being used as a guinea-pig for a new "thing" they're starting up and I don't think it's fair. (Believe me, I am not one of these Mums who thinks my kids are perfect in every way. I just don't like the idea that she's been singled out simply because they needed to experiment on a chosen few.)Last night, her teacher shouted to me-in a teacher-voice....!-"by the way, she's been brilliant today". When i replied that I was proud of her, she piped up,"Yes, she's a prime candidate for catch-up."!!!!!

anyone? i thought of these:
Do you personally think she isn't a good reader or has this been a follow on from her previous teacher-who incidentally we (me,her Dad, her Nanna who's the most critical person in the world!)didn't agree with?
Could this be a confidence thing as she told me that you accused her of reading like a robot last week, even though she can read a proper story to us?
Can different teachers make a difference? Last year, her teacher alternated with a "fill in" teacher twice a week. He raved about her and couldn't understand why the other teacher had ever put her in that category! (Should I actually put this to the teacher or am I just going to look like a moaning old cow?!)
I've never been good with authority. I usually cower down and can't ask the questions I want heard. My hubbie is coming with me-he's very confident but I don't know whether he's going to get the message across. I know you all probably think I'm a right moaning minnie but I can honestly say that I think the teachers have got hold of the wrong end of the stick!

?

Calm down dear, it's only a booster group!!

Ok - if your dd has done SATs you will have been given the reults with her year 2 end of year report (it will be in terms of levels and will tell you your chil's levels compared to the other yr2 kids. You'd expect a year 2 child to be level 2 if they are average. Levels are very wide so include a big ability range.

If your dd's teacher wants her to have some one to one it is for a good reason. Schools do not have the resources to single out children on a whim. It may be that she is struggling in which case you would probably have been given some indiction of this by your yr 2 teacher. It may also be that she is happily tripping along OK but the school feels that she has more potential that could be brought out one to one. It may be that she is getting help with a particular area (such as spelling) because she is not doing as well in that one aspect of her work. If nothing else, you say she is unconfident. A bit of extra attention may be all she needs to boost that confidence so she feels better able to manage in the whole class situation.

Whatever the reason is - one to one or small group attention is GOOD! It is very difficult for one teacher to cater for 30 different children's learning styles and needs. It is absolutley normal primary practice for children to work in small groups for any number of reasons and there is no stigma attached to it at all. It is not just the 'special needs' children.

Please don't worry but go into the school and find out if she has done SATs and how she did, what she's working on in her group and how you can support this work at home.

Good luck!

My 15 year old in year 11 bught home a letter about a simular scheme for high school. Some University students are going to come in as mentors to some of the young people and provide help and input to help them study and release their full potential in thie GCSE's. My first thought was why does my daughter need this. but then I decided it would be good for her to have this help. The university students are trained.
So I would welcome this help for your daughter.