How can I be pushy and humble at the same time?

[lainiekazan]

I have never ever raised an issue at school.

But dd is now in Year 5 and is complaining bitterly about how English is spoiled because the teacher does everything at "Elephant level" (name of bottom group). She says that yesterday the whole class had exactly the same worksheet which was so easy a Year R could have done it (her words).

Now, it is parents' evening next week. How can I manage to ask about the suitability of work without sounding like the sort of parent teachers must want to staple to the white board?

I wouldn't raise it at parents evening, there just wouldn't be enough time for the teacher to address it, and cover off all the normal parents evening stuff. I would ask for a separate meeting tbh.

How to approach it? Calm, non-emotional, factual points. Wait to see what her reasoning is, and then go back to another meeting if you don't feel the answer is satisfactory.

You will have the opportunity to look through her work and see the worksheet for yourself and how 'elephant' the work generally is.One worksheet is ok, but more and you can question it.I think parents evening when you have the work there in front of you is the perfect time

Could the word "everything" in your daughter's assessment be an exaggeration?

Well, dd doesn't say much and isn't prone to exaggeration. The teacher has been there just a few weeks (the previous one went on maternity leave at Christmas) and dd says that instead of doing separate work with two other pupils, the class is now taught all together.

Your daughter is probably right then. But if the teacher is new how could she know how it was done before she arrived? I'd just tell her.