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Original poster

DD has asked to move in class but her teacher is refusing to let her

28 replies

ontheedgeofwhatever · 26/09/2012 17:43

DD has come home upset a few times saying she can't concentrate in class because the girl next to her keeps talking and distracting her. I've spoken to her teacher about this and told her that DD has asked to move and teacher says that the girl isn't doing it on purpose but she always reads out loud as she's not learnt to read in her head and she will eventually. It seems this extends to reading out sums as well as instructions, questions, books etc.

I'm not surprised dd wants to move.She also says the girl works slowly so if dd is trying to work out a question 4 for example the girl is reading question 2 out to herself.

They are in year 2. Is this normal or should I take it up with her teacher again. I am worried as its making DD really unhappy and worriedd about going to school

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EdMcDunnough · 26/09/2012 17:45

I would have another try. It sounds like the teacher knows someone will be distracted by this child wherever she sits.

It's sad for them both but she ought to be allowed a turn at sitting elsewhere if it is making her this upset.

Iamnotminterested · 26/09/2012 17:45

Sorry, read the thread title and thought the teacher was stopping your DD from moving AT ALL Blush.

Carry on...

littleducks · 26/09/2012 17:54

I would be so irritated if the person sitting next to me did that Blush. Surely she can whisper if she has to read aloud??

DD has 'noise levels' in her yr 2 class that the whole class must adhere to they either have to silent, whispering, quiet voices, normal talking depending on the activity

HeathRobinson · 26/09/2012 18:01

She probably sees your dd as a nice, quiet type whose influence will rub off on her neighbour.

Ask again. Perhaps she'll agree after half a term?

LeeCoakley · 26/09/2012 18:07

Most of our year 2 class read everything out loud. If it wasn't this girl then it would be someone else. There will be more than one child on a table reading out loud IME. One of the things we are teaching at the moment is for children to manage distractions (BLP anyone?).

Original poster
ontheedgeofwhatever · 26/09/2012 19:41

Really LeeCoakley? DD's teacher seemed to imply it was unusual. Certainly DD and those friends who've been round here at homework time don't do it (unless they're meant to be that is). You are probably right that its good for her to learn to deal with distractions though its sad to see her so upset and anxious

What's BLP?

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LeeCoakley · 26/09/2012 19:59

Probably the tops don't but everyone else will read instructions etc out loud. BLP is Build(ing) Learning Power that some schools implement. There is a Resilience 'muscle' and one of the 'exercises' to strengthen it is for the children to learn to manage distractions. (I've been on a course this week and it's fresh in my mind!)

Whenever I mentioned to the school about my dds being unhappy with where they sitting although they said there was nothing they could do they subsequently did monitor it and moved them if they felt it was necessary. Hopefully your dd will be moved shortly if it is visibly upsetting her.

auntevil · 26/09/2012 20:30

Could it also have to do with ability sets as well?
DS2 had a problem with a noisy table once - his teacher did move him, but only had the choice of 1 other table as that was the only one working at the same level.

BlueSkySinking · 26/09/2012 23:19

Keep asking teacher. Write a letter if need be.

OrangeLily · 26/09/2012 23:21

Sorry but every child can't be moved everytime they don't like who they sit with! The teacher would have chaos!

EugenesAxe · 26/09/2012 23:25

I kind of feel for the girl next to her... if she found out why she'd moved wouldn't it be upsetting? Would howeverlong it takes for her to catch up really put a huge dampner on your DDs long term educational prospects?

I'm sorry though for you and your DD too though; it sounds a bit rock/hard place.

EugenesAxe · 26/09/2012 23:26

Rubbish grammar and spelling in general - sorry.

sammypaws · 26/09/2012 23:39

If the teacher refuses to listen, can't you speak to headmaster/ mistress? Your child shouldn't have to suffer; harsh though this sounds it's your daughter that is your primary concern, not the other child.

crazygracieuk · 27/09/2012 07:20

My son is in y2 - average ability and nowhere near reading in his head. The most he can do is sound out the next word in his head.
As the girl is reading out instructions rather than chatting to your daughter about Moshi Monsters or something, I don't think moving your daughter is a priority really.
Would you be ok with your daughter sitting with lower ability kids?

3duracellbunnies · 27/09/2012 07:34

Ear muffs? I think in yr2 it is not unusual to read aloud, maybe ask the teacher when she can be moved so your dd knows it is only for a set period, meanwhile say to the teacher that you are sure she won't mind your dd wearing ear muffs etc. My dd2 is quite sensitive to sound, but I see it as an issue we have to help her manage, rather than the classroom itself which is virtually impossible to quieten down.

JollyToddler · 27/09/2012 07:36

Surely if your DD is moved then someone else will have to sit next to the distracting child? Maybe the teacher thinks your DD can cope with the noise better than anyone else in the class.

Brycie · 27/09/2012 07:42

Sounds like your daughter is being used by the teacher. If everyone is reading out loud except your daughter then why not put a reader out louder next to the girl. if it's unusual and she's the only one why doesn't the teacher rotate so that she doesn't have to sit next to her all the time. Pretty rubbish to be at the "managing distraction" stage . The teacher shoudl be managing the distraction, that's her job. Your daughter needs to focus on learning, not managing another child.

Original poster
ontheedgeofwhatever · 27/09/2012 08:04

Well she was upset again this morning to the extent that DP has said he's going in to talk to her teacher. This is a first as DP usually leaves school things to me. It is sad for the other girl but its not right that DD should be so distressed when its something that should be fairly easy to resolve.

If DP isn't successful I'll have to buy her some ear muffs Grin

I know she could have far worse problems but its hard seeing her so upset and talking about refusing school when she's always loved going so much

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Brycie · 27/09/2012 08:29

I think you are right ontheendge and in my experience teachers always listen to Dads more than mums, it's so sexist but they do

DeWe · 27/09/2012 09:37

Brycie if everyone is reading out loud except OP's dd then if she's moved, she'll just be next to another reader-out loud, and no doubt will find that distracting too. Confused

At that age they usually move round at least once a half term-or at least mine did.

Brycie · 27/09/2012 09:55

That's only if every other children in the class reads out loud. Maybe if she is quite literally the only child not reading out loud some provision could be made for that, but it seems quite unlikely. There must be at least one other child reading in her head - they could sit together. The teacher has said the reading out loud is not normal, in her class, i think.

Brycie · 27/09/2012 10:21

There shouldn't really be "noisy" tables in Year two, something is wrong if there are "noisy tables" surely? Mind you I think they shouldn't be at tables at all after Y4 so I am being old fashioned!

ImaginateMum · 27/09/2012 14:22

DS had a similar problem. The teacher responded when he wrote his own note about it.

madwomanintheattic · 27/09/2012 14:41

Seriously Sammy? You'd go to the ht because a child was reading out loud in order to complete her work?

No wonder it's so hard to recruit hts.

Original poster
ontheedgeofwhatever · 27/09/2012 17:45

She's been moved. I've got a note from her teacher saying she's assessed dd and some other children today and DD has been moved to another table as a result. DD is really happy and is now sitting next to someone who she says works quietly and at about the same speed as her. :)

I don't know what DP said but it was clearly effective

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