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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

To say something to the teacher or not?

12 replies

FrayedHem · 02/12/2016 11:15

I like the teacher and think he is great. But DS has shared something that makes me want to say something, but not sure if I am being po-faced.

They are Year5. When a child makes a silly/big spelling mistake he tells the whole class the mistake and which child made it. This isn’t a one-off.

Is this normal? My own DC hasn't been the subject of it yet, but I brought him up short on recounting how a classmate spelt something, which is when he explained what happens in class.

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BuggerBuggerAndBuggerAgain · 02/12/2016 17:39

Teachers can share examples of work, "right" or wrong.

Particularly if it is a common misspelling. So "neccessary" "diffarent". If the teacher shows the class the common mistakes it may help the class to remember the correct spellings.

Classrooms should be a place where it is safe and OK to make mistakes. To learn from errors.

So, the teachers approach is a valid one if it is done with the right tone and sentiment. To learn - yes. To ridicule no. So it may be worth teasing out from your DS what tone is taken iyswim.

Be wary of what you son says "always" happens. I have learned fairly swiftly that "always" can mean daily...or it happened twice

Original poster

FrayedHem · 02/12/2016 19:10

I'm not really familiar with what are typical Yr5 spelling mistakes, but it was things like roat for wrote, sore when it should have been saw. The way it is described, the teacher looks at their work and if he notices such an error brings it to the attention of the class. If it is particularly "bad" he invites the other children to guess at it. Apparently some children do laugh.

DS hasn't described it as being always, just something this particular teacher does that he hasn't encountered before.

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Floggingmolly · 02/12/2016 19:14

Maybe it's to get them to pay more attention and stop them making silly mistakes? The examples you gave are silly mistakes for a Year 5 child.

Original poster

FrayedHem · 02/12/2016 19:24

Maybe that is why. That is why I put up an OP asking if this was a normal technique. It's not one I've heard of before now (also have a Yr6 child so I'm not brand new to primary schools).

But they are also in a school where not a single KS1 child met the expected level in reading, writing and maths in 2016, so perhaps it is unsurprising that some of the children are making silly mistakes.

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Greydiddi · 02/12/2016 20:46

I think if it was me I would probably just ask the teacher about it. Otherwise it may play on your mind/leave you with a niggling concern about the teacher. It may be that if you ask about it he will have a good explanation. If not then you can take it from there.

burgundyandgoldleaves · 02/12/2016 20:50

How does it actually work - does he say 'someone has mispelled 'saw', who wants to have a guess?'

Original poster

FrayedHem · 02/12/2016 21:00

I'm not sure how to bring it up. He has done wonders with DS who is a quiet kid who can get a bit overlooked, and he's really worked hard to draw him out and big him up a bit. So I don't want to be seen to be challenging him? particularly as my elder child is statemented and I've had to make an official complaint to school. He is a sensitive soul, so perhaps I could say DS doesn't like the laughing by some that is going on with these erm learning moments (because he really actually doesn't)

He says the child's name so "guess how Roger spelt saw". I've kept my inquiries low-key with DS, it seems to be when the teacher is walking around the room and observing their work so the teacher is at the desk with the pupil.

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Patriciathestripper1 · 02/12/2016 21:04

That is bang out of order! You should NEVER name blame or shame. It is damaging for self esteem and a form of bullying. I would say something to teacher.

burgundyandgoldleaves · 02/12/2016 21:05

Could he think it's a joke?

We had a teacher who used to "rib" us like this and we loved him.

Original poster

FrayedHem · 02/12/2016 22:25

I think he may be trying to do it in a light-hearted way. I don't think he is a mean teacher at all, I just think it would be better to drop it. Of the children who have made a mistake and have this attention drawn, DS said some children laugh, some are quiet, some are defensive. So it doesn't seem to be a majority laugh along exercise. It is only "really bad" mistakes that get the invitation to guess at it. It's not always the same children, so no specific targeting.

When I said I'm sure even the teacher makes mistakes at times so don't worry if you do, DS said yes that had happened. I asked if the class points it out and he said they try to, but he will say "yes yes I see it I'm fixing it now" so not really the "look everyone" to his own mistakes.

OP posts:

kilmuir · 03/12/2016 08:40

Not good if he names and shames. My son is dyslexic and would be upset as would inas he tries so hard

Original poster

FrayedHem · 03/12/2016 17:00

That was my first thought (children with dyslexia) but it seems to be a broad range of DC, so I am hopeful he actually gives those with any kind of learning difficulty a pass. What I really need is a parents evening so I could just bring it up casually and see where it goes, but there are none planned.

I have it on my radar and will see if I can create a "oh btw" opportunity to talk to him about it somehow.

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