Feeling annoyed about school and need to rant!

[november90]

I'm sure most will read this and think I'm being unreasonable... maybe I am but I just need to vent!
My son is 4 and just started reception. Like most his age, suffered a lot due to the lockdowns etc and is having some difficulty adjusting to school. He is finding his uniform very difficult to wear as he doesn't feel comfy. It's mainly the pants. I put his issues with certain textures on his nursery transition form, i mentioned it on the pre school meeting, the home visit and also the phonics meeting 2 weeks ago. I just want assurance he's ok to wear his shorts which they have always told me he is. Anyway, dropped him off today and the teacher was really abrupt with me about wearing his pe shorts and not joggers... they way them to go into school wearing both at the same time. I felt so embarrassed and also annoyed.... why tell me one minute he's ok tk wear shorts but the next she wants the joggers and shorts?!
Also, the reading book annoys me. I made ds feel so proud about himself last week for doing a reading session everyday and he watched me fill the book out and when it got send home after being reviewed not so much a sticker or well done comment! Completely blank!
I've spoke to my family about this who say I'm expecting too much from school... but I just feel sad that we're like 6 weeks into school and o feel so distant from it all!
Anyone else have a new school child and feel the same? I know teachers are stressed and restricted due to Covid, but as a parent I'm finding it hard!

Phonics, word recognition, sight words, practice, active learning, the usual.

So if they’re reading the same page over and over for weeks or months, how would you assess their progress?
Are they actually learning to read or have they just memorised those few words in that page?

@toocold54

Phonics, word recognition, sight words, practice, active learning, the usual.

So if they’re reading the same page over and over for weeks or months, how would you assess their progress?
Are they actually learning to read or have they just memorised those few words in that page?

Why would they be reading it for weeks and months? I’ve already said (and I’m surprised you don’t know this) memorising words is really important in learning to read. Especially for words that can’t easily be blended (phrasing) or for words with tricky graphemes (throughout).

How do you assess your learners’ comprehension?

Firstly, your son hasn't missed out on anything! God knows what you'd have been like if you'd been in my shoes last year.
DD started reception last September with no teacher home visits, nursery transitions or open days.
I had no clue who her teacher was, what her classroom looked like, what her class group was going to be like... literally nothing.
I had to drop her off on that first day, with a stranger lady, and stranger kids and hope for the best.
We had nothing brought home, no reading books/artwork/schoolwork.. and parents evening was over Skype; so I genuinely didn't know of any of the work she did until the end of the year when we were given her work books.
That's being PROPERLY kept in the dark.

Secondly, DDs reading log has 4 pages of stickers in the middle of it for the parents to place in the journal, are you sure yours doesn't? Your comments on the log are the most important, plus the praise you give your son.
DD has one comment on her log so far.

And lastly, speak to the teacher again and ask her to clarify.
Say to her that she said shorts were okay, what's changed? Maybe your son is saying he's cold? Is he uncomfortable in the shorts? What's wrong with the joggers?
Can he not wear jersey school trousers? They're very soft.

On the first two problems, I agree with your family (they are non-issues) and you really need to get a grip, else you are in for a rough ride.
I can understand why the last one is a pain though, so you need to speak to the teacher again.

Surely the books build up too, so introduce new vocabulary

Anyway, I'm tired and ive just realised I've misread boredzeldas comments, which I'm sure she will jump all over.

Apologies Zelda. Too tired.

Anyway, this conversation is going no where. We have different opinions and no one is budging. Good night all

@toomuchlaundry

Surely the books build up too, so introduce new vocabulary

I don’t understand what you mean by this.

For all this encouragement of reading and it being fun @pumperthepumper has disrailed the whole thread to constantly demand answers about reading diaries.you may know about education but you dont know about empathy towards worried parents

OP asked for support about her childs sensory issues with his trousers and was se expecting too much to have a comment in the book. She said she has a child at school and a new baby.
It would have been nice for her to have some supportive comments not a 1page argument about the use of a reading diary ffs.

I thought memorising words was frowned upon, it’s all about the phonics when you start reading

@Needcoffeecoffeecoffee

For all this encouragement of reading and it being fun *@pumperthepumper* has disrailed the whole thread to constantly demand answers about reading diaries.you may know about education but you dont know about empathy towards worried parents

OP asked for support about her childs sensory issues with his trousers and was se expecting too much to have a comment in the book. She said she has a child at school and a new baby.
It would have been nice for her to have some supportive comments not a 1page argument about the use of a reading diary ffs.

I’m not the only one in this conversation you know!

'Phrasing' is easily decodable for a children competent with phase 5 (end of year 1)

@toomuchlaundry

I thought memorising words was frowned upon, it’s all about the phonics when you start reading

Not at all, phonics teaches them the sounds but there are loads of words you cant blend phonics easily, so we teach them to recognise them by sight - words such as: the, could, should, and so on.

Why would they be reading it for weeks and months?

You said you let them choose what page they want to read - that you’d never make them read from where they left off. That there’s no point writing in a reading diary as you wouldn’t read it because you would let them choose the page.

That’s great if you have unlimited time but they need to progress through the books and understand there’s a story.

So at what point do you say let’s move on to a new book?
And how do you teach them comprehension and about stories (which they’ll need to eventually write) if you don’t make them read from where they left off? Do they just read a few pages and then you move them on to a new book?

@Sherrystrull

'Phrasing' is easily decodable for a children competent with phase 5 (end of year 1)

It was just an example. Can you think of another one?

@toocold54

Why would they be reading it for weeks and months?

You said you let them choose what page they want to read - that you’d never make them read from where they left off. That there’s no point writing in a reading diary as you wouldn’t read it because you would let them choose the page.

That’s great if you have unlimited time but they need to progress through the books and understand there’s a story.

So at what point do you say let’s move on to a new book?
And how do you teach them comprehension and about stories (which they’ll need to eventually write) if you don’t make them read from where they left off? Do they just read a few pages and then you move them on to a new book?

I’m happy to tell you but first I’d love to know how you assess your learners’ comprehension?

@november90 you've probably not got this far in the thread but amongst it has been some advice.
Dont worry about the reading record just keep encouraging and reading. Our school claims they are a "dialogue between school and home " in reality it's a one way streak but thats fine. You can always have your own reading sticker chart if that will help
For the joggers/shorts issue I would contact the school and ask when would he a good time to discuss this with the teacher. Drop off or pick up are generally not the best but perhaps you could meet after pick up or the teacher would be able to call you or make an appointment for you to explain the issue and find a solution

I can think of many. I just thought 'phrasing' was an odd example.

Can I ask if you're a class teacher @Pumperthepumper?

OP asked for support about her childs sensory issues with his trousers and was se expecting too much to have a comment in the book. She said she has a child at school and a new baby.
It would have been nice for her to have some supportive comments not a 1page argument about the use of a reading diary ffs.

You are absolutely right!
I have fed into the PPs petty game and taken up a lot of the thread too so I apologise OP.

Remember OP just because someone says they work in a school on here doesn’t mean it’s true and some posters were very rude.

Teachers/TAs don’t often write notes back to parents in the reading books and you should absolutely contact them regarding your sons shorts/trousers and explain the situation and clarify so you don’t feel like you’ve done anything wrong.

@Sherrystrull

I can think of many. I just thought 'phrasing' was an odd example.

Can I ask if you're a class teacher @Pumperthepumper?

I am, yes.

@Hulkynothunky are you ok?

I’m happy to tell you but first I’d love to know how you assess your learners’ comprehension?

😂😂 I love how you don’t answer anyone’s questions properly.

There’s a movie character who always speaks in riddles and answers answers with questions and you remind me of him but I can’t think what he’s off.

[quote Needcoffeecoffeecoffee]@november90 you've probably not got this far in the thread but amongst it has been some advice.
Dont worry about the reading record just keep encouraging and reading. Our school claims they are a "dialogue between school and home " in reality it's a one way streak but thats fine. You can always have your own reading sticker chart if that will help
For the joggers/shorts issue I would contact the school and ask when would he a good time to discuss this with the teacher. Drop off or pick up are generally not the best but perhaps you could meet after pick up or the teacher would be able to call you or make an appointment for you to explain the issue and find a solution[/quote]
Very helpful advice. I apologise op for my part in this silly thread. I hope you get the trouser issue sorted.

@toocold54

I’m happy to tell you but first I’d love to know how you assess your learners’ comprehension?

😂😂 I love how you don’t answer anyone’s questions properly.

There’s a movie character who always speaks in riddles and answers answers with questions and you remind me of him but I can’t think what he’s off.

I’ve asked you three times and still no answer. Why? Why so reluctant to tell me how you assess your learners?

@toocold54

Why would they be reading it for weeks and months?

You said you let them choose what page they want to read - that you’d never make them read from where they left off. That there’s no point writing in a reading diary as you wouldn’t read it because you would let them choose the page.

That’s great if you have unlimited time but they need to progress through the books and understand there’s a story.

So at what point do you say let’s move on to a new book?
And how do you teach them comprehension and about stories (which they’ll need to eventually write) if you don’t make them read from where they left off? Do they just read a few pages and then you move them on to a new book?

Here you go:

I move on to a new book when they’re ready to, when they can demonstrate an understanding of the book. I’d argue that understanding does not come from not being able to tell me where they left off, so I’d let them choose where to start from. I teach them comprehension. And no, to the last question, they have to demonstrate an understanding and a competency.

Now, for the fourth time: how do you assess your learners’ comprehension?

My DC are in a small school, max 20 per year, so the TA does listen to them read and make comment most days. However it's completely normal for them not to comment on what has been read at home. They do read it though because if we get part way through a book I write which page we got to and they pick up from there. Don't let it put you off reading with your son though, it'll be helping him massively.

Personally I don't think they should be making an issue over the shorts/joggers. My DD will wear a pe skort in all weathers as will lots of others. If your son is comfortable in shorts that should be that. I'v found that my DC are comfortable having bare legs on days where I'd be cold. We're doing 2 pe days a week - assuming you're similar.