Bit of a long story - sorry. We moved to Oz last year and I home schooled my very dyslexic DS2 for 6 months to try and give him a bit of a boost with literacy. It wasn't very successful, so he started in school at the beginning of last term (start of the school year here). His older (also dyslexic) brother had done a term at the high school (the school goes from pre-school to Y12) and I was very impressed with the school. His class was technically full but they agreed to take him as an "extra" as the head teacher felt that it would be too hard for him to catch up unless he started at the beginning of the year. We agreed to put him "back" a year into Y3.
Anyway, as far as I am concerned he has come on in leaps and bounds since he started. He does find the work hard, but he's really trying and seems happy. They have a specific literacy support programme which DS2 attends. I volunteer to help with it so I know that DS2 is by no means the poorest reader in Y3. I reckon his reading age has probably improved by 6/12 months in a term. BUT, his teacher called me in at the end of last term and I ended up in tears. She basically suggested that it might be good for him to repeat again next year. That is NOT a possibility as he is already a year behind, and big for his age. The usual parent teacher meeting happened yesterday and she reluctantly admitted that she had seen some improvement, but when I said that my main focus was on his reading fluently by the end of the year she said "well, that's not going to happen is it". She then went on to say that it's about more than reading; he then has to write the answers blah, blah. Yes, I know that but surely once he can read he will then have more time to write down the answers, and his spelling will probably always be poor but that's what we have computers for!!!!!
I just don't understand why she can't say anything positive about him. She is well known as being very strict, which I don't have a problem with, but she is only interested in how he compares with the other kids, and the fact that they find the work easier. I said that I am looking at the improvement he has made based on his starting point. Every teacher he has ever had has commented on his kindness/pleasant nature/willingness to learn but I really got the impression that she just didn't like him, and thinks he's a bit dim. DS2 is not unhappy so should I just stop worrying, let him do his best, and hope he'll have a nicer teacher next year?