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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

We got the teacher everyone dreads for Y3! Advice please.

53 replies

bowerbird · 10/07/2012 20:02

This is NOT a teacher bashing thread. At all. I feel we've been extraordinarily lucky for three years in my DD's teachers who have all been different, but have all been wonderful and committed professionals. But please let's acknowledge that terrible ones exist.

Everyone in our Y2 class is freaking out! Checking around from people who have kids in upper years, I've had nothing but looks of pity and sympathy. The best I've heard is "uh, she's very very strict". The worst I've heard is "a bad teacher and she hates children". I hope that it's not as bad as that, but if it is....

Does anyone have any advice on how to cope with a bad teacher? How to get through the year (IMO Y3 is a critical year, too)? How to worry less over the summer?

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JWIM · 10/07/2012 20:06

Wait and see. Why assume the worst and anticipate it when you don't have any direct experience of said teacher?

Original poster

bowerbird · 10/07/2012 20:09

Yes, I'll try and do that. But it's difficult as all the feedback on her has been so negative.

Also, this is just me, but I actually cope better by assuming the worst and figuring out how I will cope. Then if it does happen I'm prepared, and if it doesn't happen, then I get a thrilling sense of relief and happiness.

OP posts:

GrapesAnatomy · 10/07/2012 20:15

Ha! My dd had a jobshare this year, one half of whom was a teacher like the one you described. While dd prefers the other half of the job share, she doesn't mind the teacher and the teacher was full of praise for dd at parents evening so I would ignore the other parents and make your own decision in September.

I would also (am a teacher) disagree that year 3 is a critical year. All years are important but I wouldn't rate year 3 as any more important than others.

pointythings · 10/07/2012 20:16

Well, fwiw DD1 changed maths teachers after the autumn term in Yr6. She started out with a very popular recently qualified teacher who was very good at explaining and whom everyone liked. This teacher could not deal at all with the very very disruptive children in the group and refused to prevent them from disrupting DD's learning (i.e. kicking her chair, throwing her pencil case on the floor, pulling her hair). In fact when DD1 complained about these boys she was marked down as 'disruptive in class. I might have believed that - she can be chatty - were it not for the fact that none of the other teachers mentioned her being disruptive, at all, ever.

After h/t the school decided to set after all, at which point DD was separated from these children and allocated the teacher everyone feared - very strict, highly experienced, reputation for flying off the handle.

She loved having him for a teacher because he was fair, did not allow disruptive behaviour, explained extremely well and really challenged her. Reputation is often coloured by perception - I'd see what happens, chances are if your DD normally behaves well and works hard she will probably be fine. You can always act if not.

TalkinPeace2 · 10/07/2012 20:17

In year 3 its the biggest thing in the world
by year 9 you'll look back and laugh
its only 198 x 6.5 hour days

3duracellbunnies · 10/07/2012 20:18

Maybe strict is good to get them used to junior school. Hoping dd1's new teacher will care a bit more if she has only written one sentence for homework in yr3.

learnandsay · 10/07/2012 20:19

See how it goes.

wigglesrock · 10/07/2012 20:23

Agree with wait and see view, my daughter has just finished P3 in NI (she just turned 7) and last September there were lots of intakes of breath when her new teacher was announced. People mentioned she was very strict, not a people person , not big on feedback etc.

But my daughter is my eldest - first at school, so I had no experience of the teacher at all and my daughter really enjoyed this year, her reading just went from strength to strength, her writing - stories etc really improved. The teacher was fine, not a big chatter, at worst you could say aloof but my daughter loved this year and really liked the teacher.

There was a lot of huffing and puffing from parents but tbh I thought she did a brilliant job, not someone I would want to have a drink with but thats not her job

JWIM · 10/07/2012 20:24

Well if you want to assume the worst and then find it is not so bad listen to the gossip and then think about the children that have had this teacher - have they done badly, been traumatised? If yes, then you may have cause for concern. If no, then is this teacher really a 'bad' teacher - whatever bad means to you? If strict - then your DC will need to understand what the behaviour standards are. If the teacher hates children - then it is one year - your child may still learn and survive, having learned some life skills in how to interact with difficult people.

Sittinginthesun · 10/07/2012 20:26

We had a teacher with a strict reputation for year 3 this year, and were all pretty nervous this time last year.

She has been fabulous! Best teacher ever.

Just see what happens...

VivaLeBeaver · 10/07/2012 20:29

I'd much rather a strict teacher than One who let's the class descend into chaos.

MarysBeard · 10/07/2012 20:29

DD1 will be with an NQ teacher next year in Y3, they have mixed up the classes but she is still with a boy who is often disruptive, I'm slightly worried about how an NQT will cope.

RackandRuin · 10/07/2012 20:30

There is nothing you can do to prepare, just wait and see how the year pans out. I've had problems with teachers everyone else raves about and really rated others who nobody else liked. Just wait and see

withgreatpower · 10/07/2012 20:32

Next year my DC (7) will have the strictest teacher in the school. And I am so happy about it. I do hope this teacher makes DC concentrate and work hard. I heard that the teacher shouts. Oh well, I hope she shouts at the right moment and for the right reasons. There are a few naughty children in the class. A bit of fear is good!

HandMadeTail · 10/07/2012 20:34

DD2 had "the teacher everyone hated" for Y1. She had even taught some of the parents, who had bad reports about her.

Said teacher did not put up with any crap. She could be a bit unsympathetic with parents who forgot to send reading books back, or send letters in. She always "knew best".

Well, she was a fantastic teacher for DD2. A trained reading recovery teacher. (DD2 is dyslexic.) She always booked a double length meeting for me on parent evenings to ensure there was long enough to discuss all the issues. One of the best teachers my DCs have ever had (and I have liked most of the teachers the 3 of them have had.)

Obviously I don't know what your DD's teacher will be like. But don't assume she won't be any good, because she may be really good

FallenCaryatid · 10/07/2012 20:36

'Does anyone have any advice on how to cope with a bad teacher'

Decided already? What are her results like?

If she's strict, ask your DD to keep the rules, do your best and don't be cheeky.
Try and be positive but if something goes wrong, meet with the teacher and ask for clarification. Make up your own mind rather than listening to gossip. Or at least if you do, pin her detractors down to specifics rather than 'Ooo-er, she's strict'

TalkinPeace2 · 10/07/2012 20:36

I had a year 1 teacher who was SO scary and memorable that when I went to a school reunion there aged 19 and she appeared and said "hands on heads" we all did - and spilled white wine from the glasses we were holding down our backs. WONDERFUL woman

snowball3 · 10/07/2012 20:38

I'm the teacher from hell! I'm very strict, quite loud ( naturally as well as when I need to be) and don't accept any excuses ( especially of the "my mum forgot my homework" kind!) Generally the first week or two are pretty tough ( and I had "death threats" last week from my new class! ) But after a while they begin to realise that I'm strict on those that misbehave-which means the others can get on with their work, loud but once it's done, it's done and generally have the view that my class is the best in the school and should behave and be treated as such! After a couple of years they quite like me

FallenCaryatid · 10/07/2012 20:40

I'm so pleased that the majority view seems to be that strict and fair is a good thing in a teacher.
It doesn't always have to be rainbows and unicorns and a voice of less than 30 decibels. Sometimes children prefer a bit of rigour and a few clear boundaries. (Speaking out for Old Bats Everywhere)

Original poster

bowerbird · 10/07/2012 20:40

Thank you all for reassurance. BTW I have no problem with "strict" as I'm a bit that way myself as a parent. But I find that "strict" is often a euphemism.

Interesting Grapes that you think Y3 isn't a critical year. Glad to hear that.

OP posts:

FallenCaryatid · 10/07/2012 20:40

Talkin!

Original poster

bowerbird · 10/07/2012 20:43

Rainbows and unicorns?

OP posts:

HeathRobinson · 10/07/2012 20:44

One of mine had the 'dreaded' teacher in year 6. He was one of the best teachers she had, even though all the parents were hoping for the 'nice' teacher. Not only did he teach well, the class played cricket most afternoons in the summer and they loved it.

In the event, the 'nice' teacher was off sick for three quarters of the year, with relatively inexperienced stand-in teachers instead.

Things don't necessarily work out the way you think they will.

TalkinPeace2 · 10/07/2012 20:45

Fallen there were 'girls' at that event in their 30's. We were all in hysterics afterwards. I presume she has now died but the then head is still alive and pretty darned scary too!

cybbo · 10/07/2012 20:46

I hate parents gossiping about teachers, most of it chinese whispers that has come from some child that was bollocked for misbehaving and moaned to their parents

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