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Original poster

Feeling annoyed about school and need to rant!

363 replies

november90 · 06/10/2021 18:54

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!

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Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 22:14

@Hulkynothunky

I’ve already said this so many times - the diary isn’t evidence they’re being read to, or that they’re not being read to.

No but it will give some indication for some pupils. And even at just a basic level the log encourages parents to read to their children (so no need to be marked) - so what exactly is your problem with it? I'm still not clear - you think they are pointless or you think they should be marked?

I think they’re pointless unless they provide targeted feedback, yes.
Hercisback · 06/10/2021 22:14

I would hear them read to me less often without the diary as a reminder. I know lots of other busy working parents like this too.
I read to my child daily (yet plenty don't) making this explicit to parents isn't a bad thing.

TheGrumpyGoat · 06/10/2021 22:14

You have a real issue with reading diaries. I’m not sure why.
I am happy to fill in a reading diary for my children. As someone who spends a lot of my spare time reading with children at school, reading diaries are useful to me.
I don’t really have anything else to say about them.

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Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 22:15

@TheGrumpyGoat

You wouldn’t read with your child without a reading record to fill in?

Yes I would. But using a reading diary enables teachers to identify children who aren’t being read with.

I can’t think of any other way to ask this: what do you do with that information though? Surely you have a better idea of their reading ability from class work?
Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 22:15

@TheGrumpyGoat

You have a real issue with reading diaries. I’m not sure why. I am happy to fill in a reading diary for my children. As someone who spends a lot of my spare time reading with children at school, reading diaries are useful to me. I don’t really have anything else to say about them.
I just think they’re pointless.
Hercisback · 06/10/2021 22:16

They aren't supposed to be for targeted feedback though. That's not the purpose. The purpose is to identify the students who don't get read to/heard read at home, and to encourage reading at home.

Sherrystrull · 06/10/2021 22:16

Please be aware that even if the children isn't reading their individual book to a teacher they are still undertaking daily phonic lessons and regular reading lessons throughout the week.

I cannot hear children read. I have a massive class with a massive range of needs. Children who cannot work independently and those who require a high level of supervision. I cannot just abandon the class to hear one reader at a time. I'd love to do it but it's impossible.

We used to have parent helpers to hear readers but due to Covid this stopped. I had a wonderful granny who came into school for an hour each day to hear children who weren't heard at home. It made a massive amount of difference.

Hercisback · 06/10/2021 22:17

The reading diary isn't to measure ability. That would be like me using homework as a measure of ability (no point).

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 22:17

@Hercisback

They aren't supposed to be for targeted feedback though. That's not the purpose. The purpose is to identify the students who don't get read to/heard read at home, and to encourage reading at home.
This is so frustrating - what do you do with that information though? Surely you know from their class work what their reading is like?
Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 22:17

@Sherrystrull

Please be aware that even if the children isn't reading their individual book to a teacher they are still undertaking daily phonic lessons and regular reading lessons throughout the week.

I cannot hear children read. I have a massive class with a massive range of needs. Children who cannot work independently and those who require a high level of supervision. I cannot just abandon the class to hear one reader at a time. I'd love to do it but it's impossible.

We used to have parent helpers to hear readers but due to Covid this stopped. I had a wonderful granny who came into school for an hour each day to hear children who weren't heard at home. It made a massive amount of difference.

Are you in England?
Evesgarden · 06/10/2021 22:17

@november90 I'm going to disagree slightly with everyone else. My dc went to a private school. In reception they were heard to read every day and a comment would be written in the book, and ticks, stars and stickers given frequently*

There were probably a quarter of the class number 😳🤦‍♀️

I agree with @november90. My kids are in prep and it gets acknowledged every time.

It shouldn't matter if there is a quarter of the kids, when the teacher reads the diary she should acknowledge that there is dialogue. It takes a few seconds to write something.

The issue is a lot of people expect very little from their child's school. Maybe you shouldn't.

TheGrumpyGoat · 06/10/2021 22:18

I can’t think of any other way to ask this: what do you do with that information though? Surely you have a better idea of their reading ability from class work?

I’m not a teacher, so no I don’t.
I read with children at school. Their reading diary allows me to see what level they’re reading at, what books they’ve read, what issues they’ve had, whether their parents think they’re finding their reading material too difficult/too easy/just right. I can see where in the book they’ve got to so I know where to start from with them. I can use this info to chat with them about the story so far.
If they haven’t been read with, I can feed this back to their teacher.

Hercisback · 06/10/2021 22:18

The purpose is to identify the students who don't get read to/heard read at home, and to encourage reading at home.
THEY AREN'T FOR ASSESSING ABILITY TO READ.

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 22:18

@Hercisback

The purpose is to identify the students who don't get read to/heard read at home, and to encourage reading at home. THEY AREN'T FOR ASSESSING ABILITY TO READ.
SO WHAT ARE THEY FOR?
Maudey · 06/10/2021 22:19

I am a teacher and would support you in trying to ensure your child is comfortable in either joggers or shorts. I would discuss this with the teacher and explain that your child is having sensory issues and feels uncomfortable and see what agreement you can come to. I'm pretty sure that once he's in school and busy and occupied he isn't having a problem with it, but if he is, it is something they can be sorted.

With the reading record issue, there just isn't the time to sit and comment in all of them. It is very likely the TA or even a parent helper is checking the reading records and doing book changes as reception staff are extremely busy teaching and engaging with thirty 4 and 5 year olds all day.

Hulkynothunky · 06/10/2021 22:19

I think they’re pointless unless they provide targeted feedback, yes.

Once the teacher has heard the child read to they can comment. How would a teacher commenting on the comment a parent provide useful feedback?

The op's child has been at school one month - the comments parents will be writing will be things like "sarah enjoyed the story" especially as at this age the majority won't be reading yet themselves.

What feedback could be given on a parent's comment about reading the teacher did not hear that actually aids progress? I would suggest none.

Not everything needs written feedback. The teacher or ta may have had a chat with the child about their reading at home.

Hercisback · 06/10/2021 22:20

The purpose is to identify the students who don't get read to/heard read at home, and to encourage reading at home.

TheGrumpyGoat · 06/10/2021 22:21

Children who are regularly read to at home show greater progress in their reading. Encouraging that can only be a good thing.
To be honest I’ve spent longer arguing with you on this thread than I have filling in my child’s reading diary this year (and I fill it in every day). I know which is a better use of my time.

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 22:21

@Hulkynothunky

I think they’re pointless unless they provide targeted feedback, yes.

Once the teacher has heard the child read to they can comment. How would a teacher commenting on the comment a parent provide useful feedback?

The op's child has been at school one month - the comments parents will be writing will be things like "sarah enjoyed the story" especially as at this age the majority won't be reading yet themselves.

What feedback could be given on a parent's comment about reading the teacher did not hear that actually aids progress? I would suggest none.

Not everything needs written feedback. The teacher or ta may have had a chat with the child about their reading at home.

So if the teacher is commenting once the child has been read to, why do the reading diary?

Feedback could be ‘needs to work on -ou sounds’.

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 22:21

@Hercisback

The purpose is to identify the students who don't get read to/heard read at home, and to encourage reading at home.
Oh god - but why? What do you do with that information?
BoredZelda · 06/10/2021 22:22

Aww well it's nice that a lot of you think these are none issues but at the same time it's not your child that is having sensory issues with their uniform so my child not feeling comfortable wearing his trousers and screaming about it for an hour in the morning is an issue for me.

This. Some people just don’t get it. We have some uniform issues and an agreement we can wear non uniform things if we need to. If the school went back on it that would piss me off as we aren’t doing it just for the hell of it. I would ask the teacher what her concern is, then remind her he won’t wear trousers. If he’s happy in shorts in winter, that’s fine. There are many schools that have boys in shorts in junior school all year round. Have a chat just to sort it out.

The reading thing is more of a non issue. You’ll need to pick your battles if you have a child that needs some adjustments made for him, and this isn’t one of them.

Pumperthepumper · 06/10/2021 22:22

@TheGrumpyGoat

Children who are regularly read to at home show greater progress in their reading. Encouraging that can only be a good thing. To be honest I’ve spent longer arguing with you on this thread than I have filling in my child’s reading diary this year (and I fill it in every day). I know which is a better use of my time.
They absolutely do! But a reading diary isn’t evidence they’re being read to, or not being read to.
crimsonlake · 06/10/2021 22:23

My son wore shorts right through primary school regardless of the weather at his insistence. It was never commented on by anyone ever.

Hercisback · 06/10/2021 22:23

Kids that don't get read to at home, get more chance in school.

Encouragement to read leads to loads more progress through the whole education system. The more you can encourage reading, the better.

I'm not sure what else a teacher needs to do...

TheGrumpyGoat · 06/10/2021 22:23

They absolutely do! But a reading diary isn’t evidence they’re being read to, or not being read to

In my experience, it is. The children who don’t have their reading diaries filled out usually tell me that they haven’t read with a parent at home. The ones who have it filled out usually tell me that they read regularly with a parent at home.