smiley faces vs sad faces

[yakki]

I HAVE JUST DROPPED OFF MY 5 YEAR OLD AND THEIR MATHS BOOKS WERE OUT ON THE TABLE FOR PARENTS TO LOOK AT. MY 5 YEAR OLD SAID I HAVE SAD FACES IN MY BOOK MUM EVEN THOUGH I ALWAYS TRY MY BEST. I THOUGHT FOR A 5 YEAR OLD HIS MATHS WAS GREAT OK THE NUMBERS WERE NOT ALWAYS WRITTEN PERFECTLY. AT THE TOP HE HAD PUT A SMILEY FACE IN THE BOX WHERE HE COULD CHOOSE HOW GOOD HE THOUGHT HIS WORK WAS ! BUT ON A FEW PAGES THE TEACHER HAD PUT SAD FACES BECAUSE HE NEEDED A LITTLE HELP! I WAS HORRIFIED AS I FEEL AT 5 YEARS OLD THEY SHOULD GET A SMILEY FACE FOR TRYING AND ONLY A SAD FACE IF THEY ARE NOT TRYING AND BEING NAUGHTY. WORSE THAN THIS THE BOY SITTING NEXT TO HIM STARTED TEASING HIM FOR THE SAD FACES. THERE SPELLINGS ARE REALLY HARD AND THEY ONLY GET A SMILEY FACE IF THEY GET ALL OF THEM RIGHT! I HAVE NEVER EVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I DON'T HAVE FACEBOOK AND HAVE NEVER POSTED ANYTHING ANYWHERE BUT I WOULD LIKE A FEW COMMENTS AS I AM SO UPSET AND CROSS. AM I BEING UNREASONABLE.

A

Why don't you speak to the teacher asking if there is anything you can do to help with his maths and say his confidence has been knocked by the sad faces (and the teasing). It is a shame when they try hard and don't quite understand why they are getting wrong.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REPLYING ITS MADE ME FEEL BETTER. I HAVE A MEETING WITH HER ON FRIDAY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T ME MAKING A FUSS FOR NOTHING. HIS MATHS IS OK JUST HE DOESN'T ALWAYS FORM HIS NUMBERS PERFECTLY. I HELP HIM AN AWFUL LOT AT HOME AS HE WAS 3 MONTHS PREM AND ON OXYGEN FOR 12 MONTHS. BY THE TIME HE HAD STARTED SCHOOL HE HAD CAUGHT UP REMARKABLY. HE MISSES QUITE A BIT OF SCHOOL AND THIS YEAR SPENT 6 DAYS IN HOSPITAL OUT OF OUR 7 DAY HOLIDAY IN SPAIN. THANKS AGAIN. A WILL GO IN TO THE MEETING CONFIDENT NOW!

Just so you know capitals is considered shouting on Mumsnet.

Going and talking to the teacher sounds like an excellent plan.

I'd talk to the teacher and maybe, gently, suggest a different approach. Ours have symbols next to the work. A star means I got this', a square means 'I needed a bit of help' and a triangle means 'I found this tricky'. Seems much more child friendly than happy and sad faces IMO