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Original poster

Do you think this is strange too?

35 replies

Eggrules · 23/02/2012 12:35

There are a group of very competitive parents attached to my DS's Reception class. Up until now children take their coats off then go through the cloakroom into the class. Since going back after half term, some parents are asking their DC to come back out and hand them work to give to the teacher. I thought it was odd but didn't think much of this until today. A mum I now quite well joined in today so I asked her what was going on. Some parents are sending examples of work in for parent's evening/consultation next week. Teacher/ TA did not ask for examples.

Isn't the point that children demonstrate skills independently?
Why not put work in homework diary/ book bag?

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SunflowersSmile · 23/02/2012 12:41

Try not to panic! Sure teachers will be more interested about what work is produced in class. You can always ask teacher if you are worried you should be 'doing more'. I'm sure teacher will reassure you. Hopefully these parents will calm down as they go through school!

Iamnotminterested · 23/02/2012 12:55

Hi again Eggrules! Another bizarre display from what sounds like a hilarious bunch of women!! Why do you think they ask their DC to come back out to get the work, rather than putting it in their book bag etc? So that EVERYONE ELSE WILL SEE IT.

Keep 'em coming, OP, keep 'em coming.

blackeyedsusan · 23/02/2012 12:59

you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

wwork done at home will only impove them to the point where they are working at the full stretch of their ability, and it may put the poor little buggers off school quite early.

children will be assessed on what they produce independently. sending wwork in is not going to help. discussing concerns with a teacher may help... but not just sending work in.

imnotmymum · 23/02/2012 13:01

That is so funny they really do that .?? they have way too much time on their hands my kids do not have time for extra work as erm playing !!! Wow I am such a bad bad mother

PastSellByDate · 23/02/2012 13:18

Eggrules:

4 things occur to me.

First: Class R is clearly about learning through play. Sept - Christmas is all about adjusting to being at school and giving staff time to learn about each child's strengths and weaknesses. After Christmas 'work' does pick up usually - and you start to see progress with concepts like phonics or counting - but still a large part of learning is through play.

Second: To get a outside perspective visit Campaign for Real Education and see their curriculum documents for Class R children ages 4/5. Link here: www.cre.org.uk/primary_contents.html

Third: Elsewhere in the world children start school the year they turn 7 and many of these countries our out performing the UK at A Level age - so starting early and working them hard may not necessarily be working.

Fourth: I'd be more concerned to ask the Class R teacher the following questions (although I'm not certain if this is your first parent/ teacher meeting or not).

  • Is my DC settling in well?
  • Are you happy with my DC's behaviour in class?
  • Are you happy with my DC's progress with phonics/ reading?
  • Are you happy with my DC's progress with writing?
  • Are you happy with my DC's progress with numeracy?
  • Do you have any concerns? Is there anything you'd like us to work on at home to help support school?

I think if you treat the Class R teacher as a professional you are consulting for opinion they'll appreciate it. You may disagree with her observations (for example she may not feel your DC can count by twos but you've observed it at home) - but this may be explained by a lack of opportunity to observe this with 30 pupils at once. We do have the advantage as parents to work one on one with our children.

I would ask yourself these questions. Is your DC happy at school? Do they seem to enjoy school work and participating in class? Do they seem to be settling in well socially? At 4/5 - these really should be the concerns. There are two more years in KS1 and certainly the work should progressively be more challenging as time goes on in KS1 - but right now, I don't think you should panic because others are doing a lot with their kids. I think the issue is whether your child shows good potential to be taught and to work hard. They're spending this year training your child to be a good learner and to be positive about the school environment. That is worth a lot long term.

Finally I'd agree with the comment from imnotmymum - it sounds like the parents sending in work have too much time on their hands. I can understand they want the best for their children - but that has to be balanced with allowing them to develop other useful life skills, like co-operation (playing in groups/ working in groups), emotional intelligence (offering comfort/ support to friends in class) and positive experiences of school (don't under-rate the power of feeling school is great - it will help a child believe a teacher when they're saying learning algebra will be fun!). I have no problem with high expectations but at age 4/ 5 this has to be balanced against the child's social/ emotional development.

Original poster
Eggrules · 23/02/2012 13:19

Hi Iamnotminterested. I am still hoping this nonsense will calm down. I suppose it is the first Parent's Evening. Hmm

SunFlowers Blush I admit I did think for a split second 'OMG. I have never done this, how will they know he can x/y/z..?' I have had a word with myself.

blackeyedsusan It must be better that the teaching staff see things for themselves rather than have kids coached to produce a specific result. Poor kiddos.

I think I will ask the teacher about this next week. Homework tends to be reading, specific learning target or over the internet. There really is no point that the children are displaying work like this. The kids don't seem to be excited.

I am not competitive by nature and Reception is baffling. thread about previous example of competitive nonsense

ffs.

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Original poster
Eggrules · 23/02/2012 13:39

Wow. Thanks PastSellByDate.

My DS went to the school nursery for 9 weeks at the end of last year and really struggled. He has settled into Reception really well - what a difference a year has made.

This is the first consultation. I am confident that feedback will be positive but will use your questions.

There are 10 minute time slots allocated for each child. We have one of the last appointments. Children can't get into the classroom because some parents stand in the way so they can talk to the teaching staff. WE have texts asking people not to do this. I know time will overrun and expect it will be by quite a bit. If I feel rushed I will ask for another appointment.

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DeWe · 23/02/2012 14:01

Are you sure it's work not cards/pictures made for the teachers? Dd1 used to choose to spend half her evenings doing "gifts" for her poor teacher. They has a noticeboard at the back they displayed them on before being recycled regularly

They usually had a picture and "Dear Mrs. Teacher. I love you and I love pink. Love DD xxxx". I'm sure she treasured them. Wink

However once one little girl had done one they were all doing them, so half the little girls would be going in with love notes for the teacher.

Original poster
Eggrules · 23/02/2012 14:11

They aren't cards or pictures. I think gifts sound sweet.

I haven't been paying attention; it looks like parents are sending paper with examples of how children are meeting EYFS targets. For example - the mum this morning had written the numbers 0 to 30 on a piece of lined paper and her son had copied them underneath.

I also think if it is extra work that has been agreed with the teacher, it would be in the child's bookbag.

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Haberdashery · 23/02/2012 14:17

That sounds completely nuts, Egg. And surely it will make absolutely zero difference to how the teacher thinks they are doing anyway, assuming the teacher is averagely competent?

Original poster
Eggrules · 23/02/2012 14:22

I hope it will make zero difference.

It is disruptive at drop off.

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Tiggles · 23/02/2012 15:18

I could be completely wrong, but doesn't the EYFS scales go on 'what a teacher observes a child doing independently' so it makes not a jot of difference what they do either governed by a parent, or by the teacher for that matter.

Original poster
Eggrules · 23/02/2012 17:40

School is a big secret as far as DS is concerned. I was looking forward to seeing some of his work.

Hopefully the teacher will say something at parent's evening. This madness needs to stop.

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Fairenuff · 23/02/2012 19:06

What children can copy from their parents or can do with 1-1 adult support has no comparison to an assessment of what they can do independently in class.

I feel sorry for the poor teacher who will have to explain all this to parents who will demand expect admiration and praise from the teacher for the amazing abilities of their brilliant offspring Hmm.

Original poster
Eggrules · 23/02/2012 19:31

I wonder what the teacher is making of it all? It has got progressively work over this week. Tomorrow, I will pay more attention to what the teaching staff say - if I can get near the door.

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fuzzPigwickPapers · 23/02/2012 19:41

The whole point of parents evening is for the teacher to tell you what your child is doing at school I thought. So it's a bit daft odd to send work in from home, simply so the teacher can tell you what the child can do based on work from home, as clearly you'd know what it was!

Keep 'em coming, OP, keep 'em coming.

That.

CamperFan · 23/02/2012 19:48

This is Reception??? Sounds utterly bizarre to me. If I have anything to say to the teacher of that nature, I write it in the message book in his book bag - I don't want to broadcast what my DS can or can't do, and wrt parents evening I would be expecting a report from the teacher in her professional capacity, not the other way round.

Great post sell by, very useful to a school novice like me.

usualsuspect · 23/02/2012 19:51

Sounds very odd , I'm sure the teachers know what the children are capable of,withour looking at work they have done at home helped by their pushy parents

CecilyP · 23/02/2012 20:13

The poor teacher; it must be a bit of a nightmare to be inundated with all this stuff every morning.

Original poster
Eggrules · 23/02/2012 20:34

I'm determined not to be sucked into this madness. IT IS ODD.

My DS is an only child and things are very different from when I went to school. I am keen to be interested and supportive but it feels like I am wading through treacle. For example - never heard of World Book Day until this week Blush. A lot of parents were expecting an announcement and have been planning costumes. A theme was announced and this has put a spanner in the works.

PastSellByDate I am working through your link; real food for thought. Thanks I am delighted to see the book recommendations. I especially like Ted Hughes and The Iron Giant is one of my faves. I may give this a whirl and will look for this on my Kindle.

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Iamnotminterested · 23/02/2012 20:41

Eggrules Report back to us tomorrow, won't you? Actually, take some photos and put them on your profile !!

Love it.

Sittinginthesun · 23/02/2012 20:47

That is just hilarious - just shows you how the competitive thing can sweep through a group of patents.

Don't be dragged into it in any way. I'd live to be a fly on the wall of that staffroom!

Sittinginthesun · 23/02/2012 20:48

Parents!

Original poster
Eggrules · 23/02/2012 20:48

Maybe I will ask if teacher wants us ALL to bring in examples. Really loudly.

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Sittinginthesun · 23/02/2012 20:49

And "love", not "live" (must check before pressing send!).