DH is going in to see teacher tomorrow, opinions please?

[TotorosOcarina]

DS(5) is in yr1.

They have a time each day where they can 'show things' they have brought in.

DS is really sensitive and also shy and we are trying to build his confidence (teacher knows this).

On the way to school DS2(4) wanted to pick leaves to show his really lovely reception teacher.

So DS1 also collected eache colour of leaf he could find and some red helicopters (those seed things) which he was really excited about as he had only seen green, brown or yellow ones beofre (his words)

So at bedtime DH was giving the DS's their 'ticks' on their chrats and he draws them a little picture, because of this morning he drew leaves on DS2s and 'helicopters' on DS's.

DS then starts to cry and told DH that his teacher, upon seeing the seeds told himto put them in the bin as he wasn't allowed to 'show' them in class.

DS was upset and put them back into his pocket (he really treasures things like that)

The teacher then went on to tell him that from now on you can only bring things in to show you have 'won' like Karate belts or horseriding medals.

Now first of all, DS doesn't do anything like that. We are a very low income family and cannot afford for them to do any lessons like that and its not something DS would want to do for now anyways.

So this leaves him unable to ever bring anything in.

Its upset DH because he feels that:

A- its crushed DSs confidence unnecessarly(sp?!)
B- its unfair to say to kids you can only talk about costly activities
c- DH thinks its a really good thing to talk about anyways! nature / changing seasons etc!!

I know people will be reading this and thinking 'get a grip' but hes only 5 ffs, why put these limitations on him already?!

It was the same thing with books, all last year they were encouraged to bring in books from home to be read from the class.

DS got excited last week and brough his very favourite book in only to get a stern 'put it away - we only read classroom books'

Arghh, im really starting to dislike this school.

we are poor too and iti is really not very expensive.

BTW YANBU re: the incredibly insensitive teacher.

I hate Show and tells. Ds is in y4 now and I cannot believe they still have them. Half the kids bring in the same old toys

How very boring and narrow the teacher's interests sound, and how unaware of the Awe and Wonder part of the curriculum.
My Y6 are currently bringing interesting rocks as part of our science focus.
Red helicopters may well be from a maple rather than just any old sycamore tree, higher sugar levels and it's autumn. What an interesting task that would have been to set the class, observe and report back.

Damn just written lovely long post and deleted it

Basically ditto Beavers

Plus there is plenty of free stuff to get involved with. DS has a lovely big Summer Reading Challenge certificate from the library to show. Always stuff going on :)

Beavers is a great idea - subs around here are about £20 a term. Could you afford that? Or there's Woodcraft Folk is that's more your scene - they do lots of outdoor activities.

The teacher does sound tactless but, as others have said, go carefully. There may be bigger issues ahead than the ground rules for show and tell.

I think it was rude of her to be so dismissive and mean. How hard would it have been to say "how lovely, ds has brought in these seeds. Tell us where you found them and what you think they'll grow into?" 5 minute chat, ds thrilled. Job done.

In my dc's school , the children can bring in anything for a show and tell.
I agree with those who say that you should tread carefully, my dd does tend to exaggerate things a bit even though she is not exactly lying. I would ask your dh to ask the teacher to explain what happened, before responding.

Good thing his teachers don't have my DD. She took an orange seed on Friday, gave it to her teaching assistant and asked how she could grow an orange tree (said seed now in school green house potted up but no idea what will happen to it)

It shouldn't just be about high cost activities, it should be about their interests whether that be leaves or ponies

lol dilemma, my dd is just the same and her nursery now have 5 apple trees growing in their garden! they were very impressed :)

op, :( for your boy, the teacher should have shown an interest

I agree the teacher seems to have handled this insensitively.

But I also agree re other activities. I think show and tell can't really be just about anything tho nature stuff could be a nice lead-in to an intersting topic...

Why not do Beavers, or maybe see if there are free things on at yr local museum and DS could take in a Roman clay pot he has made (for example)?

Whatever happened to spontinaety? It's autumn, and a chance to discuss the changes in nature that are taking place, while at the same time giving your hild a little boost. Ten minutes later the children have learned loads. If it's not on The Daily Plan - so what?? By the way, your DH sounds lovely.

How did your dh get on speaking to teacher.

Where I work for show and tell in 1st class (6-7year olds) the teacher let them show whatever for first few weeks then had to begin with certain letter, which made it interesting and children wouldnt bring in same things.

She sounds a bit insensitive and harsh to a young child.

Maybe she should just do it one day a week if she is not interested in what the children have to show.

Also we had nature table so leaves, conkers etc would go on that and be discreety 'tidied' from time to time.

Even the most strict teacher I know, if the child was saying news and had got something new she'd say something nice about it if they had it there like a child got new shoes and she said something like 'are you wearing them, stand up and we'll see them, lovely' or if a child brought in a magazine about animals or something educational she'd read some out and show the pictures.

Maybe your sons teacher is a little inexperienced and may improve

I wonder if the problem was that the teacher didn't realise why your son had brought in the leaves and seeds? In a way I hope so, because otherwise it sounds like such poor teaching.

Your poor son - I think any policy to restrict show and tell to medals and awards is downright nauseating.