How does your dc's teacher communicate with you?

[mychatnickname]

I have no clue how ds is being taught. I have some specific questions too for the teacher.

We have had a newsletter from her with some basics about when she will send homework home and PE but that's it.

No reading books home so far (year 1) and they've been back since the 1st Sept so two weeks, no communication about how they teach reading or maths or anything. Ds is quite smart and according to last year's teacher "way, way ahead" so I'd like to know how they will approach this too.

Am I expecting too much to be told a little about the way she is doing things? I have no idea at all what ds is being taught, how etc.

Parents' evening seems a long way off.

I think you will probably have to ask the teacher.
In my ds school they have a weekly news letter which does contain lots of useful things but for other stuff I talk to the teacher. If it is just a quick question they are happy (in our school) for you to catch them at start/end of school day. If however you want a more detailed discussion (as it sounds like you might on this occasion) then it is best to set up an appointment so they can set enough time aside to give you full attention.

I suppose they have been assessing them all and that might be why they haven't sent books home. Not so crucial as we do have books at home but a bit odd.

When does the settling them in/ assessing them all phase normally go on until?

We've been back since 6th, but have had half termly curriculum leaflet detailing what they'll be up to subject by subject, plus a parents meet the teacher evening. Also books in book bag every day. Not sure if that's normal or not, but definitely means we can't moan they're not telling us anything!

as little as possible, as far as I can tell....and if I speak to her, she looks mildly irritated

Should have said, but teacher said with our lot that they're working in ability groups from next week, so some sort of assessment's obviously been completed.

In Yr 1 ds had a reading diary which we used for all communications. We also had a curriculum meeting a week into the start of term. This year (Yr 2) we have a separate homework diary that ds fills in and we are supposed to sign (I didn't realise I had to sign until it was written in red ink ). We also have a curriculum meeting tomorrow (term started last week).

Now Smee that's what I'd like. It sounds fantastic and surely that bit of upfront investment of time telling parents things saves time overall as they'll be fewer ad hoc questions.

At ours there's been this one newsletter. No reading diary home, no home school diary thing, no nice meetings to hear about what they'll do. Nowt. AIBU to want at least a bit more about what they do in there?

We get a newsletter each half term but for the last couple of years in September each teacher holds a 'meet the teacher' session after school one day. If you can't make it, you're more than welcome to fix a time to chat individually to the teacher.

That said, we are a small rural school where pretty much everyone from the head down is on first name terms.