Is it ok for a teacher to raise their voice at a 4 year old for interrupting?

[thepiedpiper]

As the subject really. Mixed age class and the 4 yr old was asking a question, got told loudly not to interrupt and the teacher said Iam getting cross, raised their voice, child told to work in an adjoining room. As a parent helper in the classroom I felt this was bullying, or am I too sensitive?

Too sensitive. That was probably could have been the umpteenth time the child had interrupted.

how often have ou helped in the class? was this a one off or was the child challenging

No, the child was only asking for help, and had been ignored when asking for help before.

quite ok in my book

if my kiddie was being the Interrupting Cow I would be VERY happy for them to be reprimanded as staff saw fit

I would have no problem with this....

FGS. What do you expect the teacher to do? Allow all 30 to interrupt at will? How would you propose she stops this without ever raising her voice? Bullying? Utterly ridiculous.

Totally o.k. in my book.

Bullying? Good grief. Heaven help us. Bullying? I despair.

Can you imagine reporting this - how daft woud you sound: "I saw this teacher bully a child."

"Really - what happened?"

"She raised her voice!"

Too sensitive I'm afraid. As a teacher of foundation to ks2 I show my classes of children from day 1 that I am consist and fair and there are no exceptions. (I am also firm and fair with children who have statemented, challenging and difficult behaviours so there are no double standards -albeit a little more flexible to their needs)

Shouting out, calling out, talking at the same time as the teacher, the person who is supposed to be speaking is widely taught as "unacceptable" and "rude" right from nursery (3) yes, it is very hard for little ones but with encouragement and being consistent, firm and fair, they really do manage it

If this child has been challenging the class "rules" then this doesn't sound beyond reasonable. Demonstrating that there are actual consequences and that the teacher does not make idle "threats" of repercussions. This child will hopefully get called upon and praised the next time they put their hand up.

Perhaps you are not cut out to be a helper in reception.
If you are trying to get a group of egocentric 4 year olds to listen and realise that they are not the only PFB on the planet, then sometimes raising your voice, being very clear about what is happening and giving simple directives is necessary.

I'm pleased to hear some reception teachers enforce a no interruptions rule - you would be amazed by how many times I am explaining something to one of my secondary students only to be interrupted by someone shouting "miss! Miss!" across the room repeatedly even though they can see I'm busy. Makes me and it happens multiple times every single lesson. They are shocked to learn that I won't drop everything and run over to them (and they usually want you to repeat something you've already explained or to ask something totally trivial like can they open the window...)

I too think thta OP probably isn't the right person to help out in the classroom.
Ds1 was taught, right from reception, that if you need help, you raise your hand, and wait (silently) until someone comes to you. no matter how long that is.
"had been ignored when asking for help before." had been ignored when he shouted out, the first time? Yes, that sounds fair to me.

I agree interrupting needs stamping on. However, moved to an adjoining room at 4? Harsh?

Being moved to an adjoining room sounds like a step too far at 4 years old.

This is one incident that you witnessed. It could well be that that particular child interrupts every 5 minutes and isn't learning not to interrupt.

To put it into perspective I am a parent helper and have been for years. I have personally moved children to the back of a line for talking when told not to. The child then ignored me and did it again, I told them not to talk again or I will move them and again they talk. So I move them.

If someone saw a child talk and then I moved them to the back of the line they may not have seen the warnings that had gone on before hand.

I think you are being over sensitive. And it does depend on the child, after a while you get to know their personalities and maybe a bit of their background. It will help you judge whether the punishment is warranted.

Depends what the adjoining room is. If there is a large free flow area with adjoining rooms, it might well be that the adjoining room was the appropriate place for the child, rather than being seen as "sent next door" as a punishment.

Did the child put up her hand? If she just shouted out then thats a bit rude, but if she put up her hand then the teacher is rude. Although if she's asking for help with her school work then it seems a little OTT to send her out of the class instead.

Interrupting the teacher is the problem here. YABU.

This is another reason why many teachers don't want parent/volunteer helpers in their classrooms.Have you shared your concerns with other parents?Hopefully not if you signed a copy of the school's confidentiality policy.

I don;t think it is bullying unless it is repeated incidents and deliberately trying to harm that child - emotionally, physically, etc. A one off is not bullying.

Interrupting and shouting out just isn't going to work at school. Even 4 year olds have to learn this.

Raising of the voice by the teacher - maybe the child does this a lot and has been reminded on several occasions???

Sent out of room - sounds like this is something this child is doing a lot and has had warnings.

Think you need to consider what bullying means.

Because it is not the same as discipline.

I have no problem with the teacher raising their voice. Just wonder about being sent to separate room at 4 for interrupting.