Odd pre-school teacher

[Blueotterwhale]

My son started pre-school this year. He has been a bit unsettled but not too badly, doesn't cry going in but does feel nervous about school. There are 60 kids, with 2 teachers and 5 teaching assitants in a big classroom which they share. 30 kids in each class for carpet time but mostly free play. It's very overwhelming and he is only part time. Today we had the first parents meeting for 10 minutes.

The teacher is a bit odd. He is very socially awkward, can't really hold a conversation, takes really long pauses and gets flustered and doesnt seem like he knows what he wants to say.

He joins the call, gets all flustered and tells us that he thought we were later, puts his head in his hands and then has to gather his thoughts as he is surprised. All this takes about 3 minutes to settle and then its like he doesnt even know what to say when he does settle (We now only 7 minutes to have our chat)

He then tells us our son is unsettled, doesn't like carpet time, gets upset when the other kids get picked up (because they are 3 yrs old and they don't separate the other kids who go to afterschool club and so they watch all the other mums/dads come and get their kids which I think is very unfair and no wonder they are unsettled and cry) I asked if they could separate him so they dont get so upset (I think this would be a sensible suggestion for all the kids who are in afterschool club not just him). He tells us he likes to play by himself and not really interact with any of the other kids. Outside the classroom and since he was a few months old he has about 8 little friends he plays with and sees all the time so this is a bit of an odd observation but fine.

I then asked him what positives he has seen in him as I felt it was a bit negative to which he replies he likes the sandpit and scissors and he says he is obsessed with the scissors. Does he play with scissors at home? Like wtf! I just find it such a weird observation.

I just find him so strange, a strange choice for a pre-school teacher, not warm or friendly or inviting or bubbly. He almost seems like someone who struggles to function and maybe got broken by being a high school teacher so has gone to being a pre-school teacher.

Do I raise this with the pre-school head teacher? And if so, I don't want it to be personal, I am sure he is a nice guy but just doesn't seem like the right fit for a pre-school teacher.

In the kindest possible way I think it is important to separate your opinion of this teacher from the fact that he said some things about your child which were unpleasant to hear. The teacher might be new, he might have been having a bad day, or he might, as you said just be a bit odd. All of these things do not necessarily make what he said about your child true or untrue. It can be hurtful when people say things about our children we don't agree with, but if I were you I would try to listen to his feedback about your child in an objective way without letting the his odd personality get in the way.

Perhaps he was awkward and flustered because he knew he had to say some things you wouldn’t like hearing.

I agree it might be an idea to speak to another member of staff, but not to say “our teacher is odd”. More to ask their view of your DS and whether they have any concerns as the teacher had raised some negatives.

@Warriormum1 I'm more than happy to take the negatives with the positives. I do however think they have been at pre-school for 3 weeks and you would also expect a teacher to be prepared. Start with your son is doing great at x, y, z but I would say they are struggling at x, y, z. I shouldn't have to ask for positives, they are 3 years old, not 15.

Every interaction with him is odd. Not just today. The visit to our house, the school drop offs, the pick ups.

@minipie perhaps. Or maybe actually thinking about it now, doing a teachers parents evening when the kids have only been there 3 weeks is too soon for them to know what to actually say.