Primary teacher here ask me anything...

[Bearnecessity]

Reception to Year 6 fire away...

@Bearnecessity please keep the thread going, I don't think that anyone read all of Derrys response.

We've been doing loads and loads of Maths as our DS was in the slowest group, he's been doing really well and is able to do SAT questions now which is pretty good as his 8th birthday is next week. Do you think that the teacher will notice that he's better now? I emailed the school but they didn't reply.

BTW, I meant the key stage 2 exam questions for year six.

My DS is currently Y5.
Do you think the current year 5's will be sitting their SATS ( when in yr6 ) next May?

DS is nowhere near where he needs to be in order to do well and I'm actually really upset that his teacher hasn't spoken to me about how much help DS actually needs.
It's only through helping him at home daily that I've realised I've been living with blinkers on.

There is considerable pressure for the Y6 tests not to go ahead next year, for obvious reasons. If schools still aren't 'fixed' in September, that will add extra weight to the argument - see also the new Reception assessment, Y1 Phonics check and Y2 teacher assessment.

Feenie, my comment was to support Bearnecessity; and at no point did I advise any parent on anything... I gave a teacher point of view on what “planning” actually entails.
I hope this clears it up for you.
Folks, let’s all chill out and relax our wee attitudes. Sometimes on text, without the help of voice tone, we can come across as a bit of a Karen.
Feenie, this is a really anxious time for many people, I hope you’re doing ok. How are you doing?

Unless there is a massive backstory here, @Feenie, you're being bizarre and unkind.

Feenie, my comment was to support Bearnecessity; and at no point did I advise any parent on anything... I gave a teacher point of view on what “planning” actually entails.
I hope this clears it up for youI

I think you need to read upthread a bit - Bearnecessity has taken exception to your post, not me.

I think it's 'bizarre' to pretend you are a teacher and then actually tell other teachers off for helping other parents on your thread, Fabulously.

Hello My Reception child - only just turned 5 last week so one of the youngest.
He's very good with numbers but has no interest in reading or writing. I read to him everyday. I brought some phonics books but even sounding out the smallest words he is just not interested. He can write, we tend to write the word and he can copy but he doesn't seem to pay attention or soak in what we're saying. He's more interested in play. He was often upset and clingy on taking him to school so as yet I've not returned him, afraid the different environment will unsettle him further. I just don't know the best way forward. Keep working with him, it will come, or risk sending him back to school, where from what I'm told their not really learning any more than the online stuff.
Any Advice appreciated.

Bear; I honestly think that you are a little over sensitive here, my response was in reply to the comment about why exactly planning needs to take some time. I did say sorry for jumping in, but as a teacher, in these times, I’m pretty sick of the criticism of teachers. I’m not off work, I’m working from home. In no way was I criticising you... but you seem convinced that I was. Hey, that’s on you.
I’m out of this thread now.
Have a lovely Saturday everyone. It’ll all work out in the end.

Hello My DC was born 31 Aug 2016 prematurely with his estimated due date being early Oct. DC has no SEN and is fairly bright with decent level of focus. He has a place to start primary this sept but we are unsure whether to defer his place to next yr. school/LA ok with doing this if we wish.

Any advice from your own experience? Do v late summer children really catch up? os there a benefit for late summer premature children to be placed in the year they were due to be born in rather than the yr they were born in

Really appreciate any advice!!

How long do you think schools are going to remain open? What is your impression of the standards children are at now they have come back from lockdown? I am assuming you are a primary teacher back at school at the moment and have been assessing the children on their return.

Hi it's not really a question for you but more looking for your opinion. As a primary teacher do you believe classroom based education is essential post covid 19 SOCIETY? I'm taking part in a functional skills English course and our talking topic this week is that exact question and i wanted a teachers point of view.

Do you think following a curriculum is necessary? I realise teacher needs to provide lessons for whole class, but my DS has both strengths and weaknesses. He finds some lessons extremely hard (he needs help with handwriting and writing structure) and some extremely easy (and boring). I would like to tailor his lessons myself tbh but don’t want to step on teachers toes.

Hi, I m desperately worried about my son 8 in Yr 3. According the last report we received, before Christmas, he is very behind on reading and writing. He was assessed as only just entering yr 2 for writing and reading and therefore he is really struggling with the Year 3 work being set. He can't do the comprehension exercises set as it takes him a long time just read the text, never mind understand the question and formulate an answer. We read something together everyday and I ask him questions on what we have read, but his reading never improves.
Our school don' t seem to care much, I think they accept that some children won't reach the accepted standard and concentrate on the higher ability ones. I have asked for help but they have just told me to keep reading. I don't know what to do and I feel like such a failure. I can' t teach my own child to read.

@marie3877 I’m not a teacher, but my youngest ds is/ was similar. At the start of last lockdown he was still on the same level reading books he’d been on in nursery. He couldn’t do the worksheets (even maths) without help as he couldn’t read the questions (numbers were ok, but everything had words too). He could sound out letters/ graphemes etc but the blending wasn’t there (nor was the confidence to try). He loved me reading to him, and would grudgingly read his reading books to me pre lockdown but wouldn’t do any extra as he “worked all day at school already”
We ended up ignoring school work except maths and instead read chapter books (horrid Henry, Roald Dahl). At first I read and he had to do the bits in speech marks (these were infrequent and generally simpler). Once he was into a story we started alternating sentences (one for him, 2 for me; then one each) then paragraphs. I’d then reread each page myself as it was easier for him to take in the story in my voice he said.
Harder books with better stories motivated him to try harder.
At the start of the new school year in September his teacher said he couldn’t tell he’d ever been behind in reading (though he still couldn’t spell at all!) This lockdown I’m sitting with him while he reads his work and he’s copying words from text/ checking spellings with me. He’s nearly caught up in English now but can only spell to around y2 level (he’s year 3). He’s learning fast though and his teacher and I hope he’ll be up to speed by the time they go back.
Based on my experience I’d say take a step back from set work and focus on reading/ confidence. For DS his lack of confidence in reading was holding him back. Once it clicked he started catching up really quickly.
Not sure if this helps but just thought I’d let you know we’ve been there too.

Does online learning- a live lesson or video followed by a worksheet- actually teach them? Or are we just going through the motions? If your school is setting decent online provision and children engage- attend the lesson/ do the worksheets- is this preventing them falling behind? Is there a point to all this?
Do you think we should repeat a year if schools are closed past February half term?