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Primary education

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Original poster

How would you tackle this?

24 replies

SaharaMerchant · 05/03/2012 19:53

DS1 is in reception. He was totally enthused by school, teacher 'got' him, he came home brimful of what he'd achieved, wanted to write stories and show us what he'd learnt. Really progressing with reading, doing great.

New teacher comes in, who is lovely, but all of the above that he was doing has stopped completely, in fact I would say he was going backwards. No enthusiasm, writing gone downhill, hardly ever read with at school, nada.

What can I do?

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HoneyandHaycorns · 05/03/2012 19:56

Have you asked him how he finds the new teacher?

Tgger · 05/03/2012 19:57

How long has new teacher been in? Could take a little while to build a relationship with new teacher? Not that long until next change of teacher.... not being very helpful, sorry! Maybe he's having a bit of a lull in his learning- they tend to go in spurts, well DS does, so maybe in a week or two he will be back doing again? If not can you do some activities together at the weekend to motivate him. Something he can't resist as it's so much fun but is actually practising some of those lovely skills us parents love to see .

Original poster

SaharaMerchant · 05/03/2012 20:02

Yes, he's pretty non-comittal, says he likes her..and she always makes time to chat to him when I drop him off.

He loved his other teacher, I mean really loved her. He still can't quite believe that she's not coming back and quite often says stuff like 'I used to do xyz when Mrs X was there, but we don't do it any more'. Or we'll do some phonics and he'll say 'I can remember how to do this from when Mrs X used to teach us'.

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Tgger · 05/03/2012 20:04

What happened to Mrs X? I can imagine my son (Yr R) being miffed if his teacher left, they do form strong attachments don't they!

Original poster

SaharaMerchant · 05/03/2012 20:05

Hi Tgger. She's been there for a couple of months or so. I've been doing some reading at home with him. I'm just gutted really. New teacher is really nice, but DS just doesn't have the same 'bond'.

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Original poster

SaharaMerchant · 05/03/2012 20:07

She moved to a different school.

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mrz · 05/03/2012 20:16

Could he just be missing his old teacher and needing time to get used to change?

Original poster

SaharaMerchant · 05/03/2012 20:22

It could be that mrz. The whole system seems to have changed. He's rarely reads to someone now, for ex, his reading log for the first 3 months had 5 pages of comments, and his books were changed regularly. Since the new teacher came in, there is only one page of comments and he hasn't read to anyone for a month.

I mentioned it before and he read to someone that day, but nothing since. He used to bring letter sounds home, which he really enjoyed, but that's gone too.

I can't say whether he does them in school because he doesn't tell me. I really don't want to go in and spout off about it TBF, as I'm sure she has enough on her plate settling in etc.

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Tgger · 05/03/2012 20:28

Is there a TA that was there for old teacher? I wonder if you could gently hint to said person that some of those things that used to be there and enjoyed would be appreciated (or new teacher versions of)? I would be miffed if that happened to DS- they don't get much to take home, but the sound sheets and the reading just keep them (and you) ticking over IMO.

EverybodysSnowyEyed · 05/03/2012 20:29

I think he may be suffering from his first heartbreak! Why don't you get him to send MrsX a card saying thank you for being a fab teacher, he can draw a picture, do some writing etc and say goodbye

I think you need to mention it to the new teacher - I'm sure she's busy but she should be able to win him round

Tgger · 05/03/2012 20:30

Maybe you could find something to be mega enthusiastic about about the new teacher and see if that rubs off on him (would help if there was something you are genuinely enthusastic about ).

Original poster

SaharaMerchant · 05/03/2012 20:39

I'm not really sure who the TA's are TBH Tgger. I was going to see the head, but decided against it in the end, I'm not too sure what it would have achieved, and no doubt I'd have ended up in tears, which wouldn't have helped anybody! I've got some sound books at home, and Biff/Chip books of varying levels.

I agree Everybodys, I think he is suffering from his first heartbreak (aside from when I took away his DSi!), and it's breaking my heart in the process. He did write a card etc when she left...but I think he didn't really understand that she wasn't coming back..

I really don't want to mention it to the new teacher, I'm not sure it would help, or it might make her feel 'lesser' than his previous teacher.

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Original poster

SaharaMerchant · 05/03/2012 20:41

I do try to 'big up' the new teacher. Told him she's my most favourite teacher ever, and that she thinks he's special, but he stands there like this !

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EverybodysSnowyEyed · 05/03/2012 20:43

Please don't worry about telling the teacher. It is perfectly normal for kids to get attached.

DS is in reception and over christmas we were talking about moving into year 1 and the teacher he would have. he burst into tears because he doesn't want to leave his current teacher! I would be quite cross if his teacher left halfway through the year - it is their settling in time!

I'm sure the new teacher could deal with it. Just gently mention it. have you got parents evening coming up?

Original poster

SaharaMerchant · 05/03/2012 21:07

I was cross, really cross...but obviously nothing I can do about it. I might mention it at parents evening, I'll see how it goes.

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Feenie · 05/03/2012 21:15

I would be quite cross if his teacher left halfway through the year - it is their settling in time

Cross? Teachers have the right to further their career, you know - or even go off and have a baby. Ds's Reception teacher went on maternity leave - he was affected, and I was a bit disappointed for him, but cross?

EverybodysSnowyEyed · 05/03/2012 21:16

Just mention that he had been really enthused about reading and writing in the first term but seems a bit deflated now and doesn't seem to be getting as many books back which he finds demoralising

EverybodysSnowyEyed · 05/03/2012 21:17

I think it is bad planning on the schools part - not the teachers! I would assume the teacher has to give notice that would have enabled them to decide on staffing for the year. Reception is such a new time and I think it is important to have the same teacher for the whole year. In some countries they keep the same teacher for the first 3 years!

Feenie · 05/03/2012 21:20

They would have to give 6 weeks notice, that's it. If the right job comes up somewhere else, they may have to go!

EverybodysSnowyEyed · 05/03/2012 21:21

Only 6 weeks? In my line of work we have to give 3 months!

Well I would still feel cross - even if there isn't actually anyone to be cross at! (to caveat - I don't think cross is a particularly strong emotion - probably a grumpy version of disappointed)

Original poster

SaharaMerchant · 05/03/2012 21:59

I was cross, but of course, I understood that she can't put her life on hold for my DS, I wasn't saying that. I wasn't cross with her necessarily, more cross that he liked her so much and she was going.

Everybodys...I'll bring it up, but I'll have to be very careful how I word it. I hope I don't get a case of foot in mouthitis! Or cry, God that would be mortifying (PFB, still, hoping it wears off soon...or at least by the time he's 30) .

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Tgger · 05/03/2012 22:02

Ok, maybe try the "business point of view tack" (recommended when feeling emotional). Just have a word with the teacher in regard to the sound sheets and the reading. Don't worry about a thing other than your son's best interests. Be straightforward, positive and to the point. Something like "DS seems to have lost his initial enthusiasm for reading and writing and I wondered if you could send home some x,y,z (sound sheets etc etc) as he enjoyed these". Try this at drop/pick up and if that's not enough make appointment (5 mins will do) to chat to teacher. Be heard!
Good luck!

Original poster

SaharaMerchant · 05/03/2012 22:09

Thanks Tgger...thats a great idea. I'll try to keep it short and to the point (have a tendancy to ramble). I'll work out what I'm going to say and hopefully avoid the waterworks!

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Tgger · 05/03/2012 22:20

Good luck!

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