Odd words used by teachers.

[Seeker33]

CONSEQUENCES for PUNISHMENT.

I can understand why they do it. But NOT why ALL schools use that terminology/

The teaching profession is rife with jargon in France, too. It can take longer to interpret the meaning of the question than to write an answer...

Why do you use the jargon no one understands?

I know this isn't jargon and I know it's technically correct but it drives me mad when DS's teacher will only say "mathematics" rather than "maths". She's the year 3 teacher so it's not a PhD class. At parent's evening she must have said it at least 75,000 times and it really really irritated me IBU

At least she isn't saying numeracy!

I think I'd prefer that! The way she says "mathematics" makes it sound as though DS and his classmates are working on the Hadron Collider rather than their times tables. It really really annoys me! We've got yet another parent's evening in a couple of weeks and I'm already getting wound up. Oh dear

I hate to tell you this Bell, but you will find far, far more things to annoy you at school the further up your DC go!

This is the trouble, Bonsoir - I really need to pace my ridiculous irritations. Both my DM and a close friend are teachers and they've told me the exact same.

Try to step back and see school/teachers as an (imperfect) tool at your disposal to help you educate your DC. When the tools aren't perfect, size them up and fill in for them or else change them (ie school) but try not to spend your life feeling irritated as the irritations are potentially endless...

Dd1 had a piece of homework which required her to 'uplevel' some written work from earlier in the week. Try as I might, I could not find the word 'uplevel' in any dictionary. (This was Literacy, btw.)

When a kid misbehaves, the teachers don't tell them to 'stop it' but to 'make the right choice'.

Uplevel?!!!!!

That's VG advice. It's been hard this year as this particular year 3 teacher has not been great. The school on the whole has been fantastic and all the teachers that DS1&2 have had so far have been exemplary. I think that if we (not just me, many other parents in this year) had been able to develop a better parent - teacher relationship with her, then the "mathematics" issue wouldn't have been so irritating. Still, it's not the end of the world!

That was my face too, Bonsoir .

Uplevel???? Oh dear God. Is this what you mean, Bonsoir?

Many surprises await you, Bell!

Is it the way that particular teacher says the word or do you just prefer the abbreviation Bell?

"Uplevel" is a crime against nature, humanity and the English language. How did you resist circling (in red pen if possible!) and writing 'not a word' in the margin?!

My favourite ever (and there were many) was the newsletter that talked about 'the outdoor learning environment'. I stood there outside school not sure whether to howl with laughter or bellow in despair saying, 'She means playground, doesn't she? Can't they just PLAY anymore? Or just be outside? Outdoor learning environment? Is she having a joke?'

Sadly, she wasn't.

Is success criteria the same as learning outcomes?

We are bombarded with this shite. We are supposed to get all the children to be responsible citizens brimming with British values, eager lifelong learners, caring individuals and independent readers and writers. We are also supposed to teach them reams of content. And god help us if we don't get them to make four levels of progress - because passing an exam is not enough.

I'd like to just engage with the couple of hundred funny, intelligent, individual human beings who sit in my classroom every week. I'd like to help them to share my enthusiasm for my subject, and get the skills they will need for life, including being thoughtful and engaging with others. They are children, not fucking numbers, and I know enough based on my twenty years in the profession to make a difference - however, if I don't tick every bastarding box thrust in my direction every five fucking minutes, I will get the sack.

Tis all bollocks. All of it.

Thanks for the clarification. Sounds stupid.

I don't like being called a stakeholder. I'm a parent for crying out loud!

What does plenary mean, anyway?

I don't mind stakeholder as I think it's an important concept that organisations often overlook.