Friendly names to call kids who make a stupid mistake

[noblegiraffe]

You know, the ones you have a good relationship with, not talking about berating some sensitive y7.

What, in mock exasperation, would you call a pupil who had e.g got a fiendishly difficult differential equation question wrong and you'd just spotted it was because they'd written 1x1=2?

Your not reading my post - if those names aren't acceptable no names are it's still name calling no matter wether it's twat Arse hole fuck wit - wheels, fatty, stupid numpty or mumpet it's name calling it's teasing it's bullying

kids with a sense of humour

Ah, that old chestnut.

Although Noble is no doubt a respected poster on here, it concerns me that if any teacher believes they are this skilled reader of the subtleties, nuances and interpersonal relationships (which others seem to think teachers all are) is needing to seek advice about the appropriate word to use they probable shouldn't be doing so.

I tell my DC not to call each other names. It's fine to say 'that was a silly thing to do, DS', but not to say 'DS, you're silly'. So I have to keep to that rule too, or else I'd undermine it.

I think the teachers advocating this may believe they are skilled readers of situations who can always tell if name-calling will be taken as a joke. However, kids are notably not so skilled and the teachers don't always get it right . It sets a bad example to call people names, even jokingly.

My DD is in a class with a lovely teacher - she if often called a noodle - for her rushed work making daft mistakes - she giggles -

In her class are two cousins who's parents are notorious for complaints - nothing is right - and she asked why the teacher doesn't "have a giggle" with the cousins -

Sometimes the parents make it too difficult!

I don't see anything wrong with it - but my kids are resilient, would accept a bit of teasing and laugh along.

Fucking idiot?

I usually say numpty or noonah

Is name-calling really the only possible way you can think of to interact 'in a jokey human way'? Really? Because I can think of lots of other ways. Happy to offer some if you're struggling!

I didn't say anything other than 'silly sausage' but one day I said 'twit' to a child. It just slipped out. Teachers make mistakes.

Where I'm from your noonah is your fanny/cunt/quim/front bottome/flower/vaj!

This is so tedious. Yet another reason why teaching is not the job it ought to be. It is ok for teachers to gently tease their students in the context of a happy supportive relationship. Malice/power struggles/purposeful humiliation are emphatically NOT ok, ever. But that is not what is being discussed here.

What about 'I'm afraid I'm going to have to kill you!'

I teach primary but am frequently heard calling my children wallies, numpties, dafties, great bananas, an 'orrible lot, fruitcake, ninnies etc...

Maybe I should add that when a child has done well I call them a genius, brain of Britain, top scholar, brain box and so forth. This is done in equally good humour as the "twit" names. Oddly enough we have a laugh and no one takes my name calling too seriously

I also teach primary and would use pack of gibbons/hyenas, fruitcakes, horrible lot, noodles etc with my class. I don't do one to one comments so much but I do say "calling planet x", "wake up now", "you're asleep today" etc. It's all in the way it is said, my class thrive off it.

Hmm. When a child gets something wrong because they can't do it, because they are still learning, I point to my "how to learn" display and ask them how many times it says "make a mistake" (a lot!) and reassure them that if they were getting it all right, I would be getting it wrong by making it too easy. If however, a student makes a daft mistake on something they absolutely can do because maybe they have lost concentration for a moment, I call them a foolish child, and if I do the same, I call myself a foolish woman.

I absolutely understand humour and with that, gentle teasing, is a lovely part of being a teacher.

I am a teacher.

I still think name calling is not on.

I respected and loved telling a child enough times they are foolish, silly, a numpty, a buffoon, an idiot (even in jest) they will believe it.

Tease the behaviour but don't label the person.

You teachers are such gobshites! This is a joke by the way

*a respected and loved person. What a silly error

Well, I've just asked DS(7) after picking him up from school how do the teachers do it there (when someone makes a silly mistake like the example 1x1=2).

He said they would say silly sausage or banana and gave me an example of one time when the teacher said that to one of his friends. I asked him if he had been called silly sausage or banana by the teacher as well, and he said yes, when I've made a silly mistake.

I asked how do the children feel when they are called that, and he said they laugh. That they don't feel bad or upset by it. That's his opinion anyway.

Quite, Ellie

As lovely as your DS doubtless is I am sure you realise he isn't a spokesperson for all children. He doesn't know that because a child is laughing they aren't a bit hurt.

That being said, I agree it's harmless ninety nine percent of the time. I imagine most children wouldn't be effected negatively by a teacher using milder swear words in their presence, or by hot drinks in classrooms, or any of the other numerous things we don't do because it's generally considered a bit inappropriate.

Wait, hot drinks in classrooms aren't appropriate? When did that happen? The school I work in would collapse within thirty minutes of the first bell if that was the case!

A respected and loved telling a child enough times they are foolish, silly, a numpty, a buffoon, an idiot (even in jest) they will believe it.

Crikey, how many stupid mistakes do you think this kid is making? The conversation would then turn to how to pick up on these things because that would then not be a silly mistake, it would be a persistent problem that would need addressing, not brushing off with a flippant comment.

Yes it's oppinion Ellie!

Also kids laugh because they think they should it's only when they get home they tell some one they trust how they really feel

Well noble in my and my sisters case it would only you saying it once to get our brains thinking and over thinking.

It did in fact happen to my sister, and like I said earlier she's very bright and diagnosed with depression my mum had to ask for my sister to be moved group because that was the only way she could in any way continue the subject because of one comment you would see as a throw away comment. Actually in my sisters case not name calling, but a similar oh that's amusing you've made that mistake put down.
To some children might laugh it off every time, some it might only take once for them to believe it!