Frustrated with DD's Teacher... HAD MTG TODAY UPDATE...

[golfgal]

I forgot to mention the every other day thing, too. Minnesota has mandated all kindergartens at public schools go to all day, every day format the fall of '06. I am really surprised that your school is not doing that already as most around the state are. Our district switched over in '99' my 5th graders went a full day in kindergarten.

 

[diznygirl]

The OP needs to work with her daughter, not with the school. The daughter has SPD and is in a brand new environment. Of course she is acting out and unhappy. Work on calming her, reassuring her, and keeping her happy at home.

Meanwhile, the expectations for the school are way too high, and she's ignoring her daughters basic needs - the need to feel comforted in her new surroundings.

But if you don't like any of this advice, just switch schools. It's a lot easier.

 

[clh2]

Just a couple of comments - keeping in mind, I am not a teacher, I am "just a mom."

When you go in to meet with the principal and the teacher, be really positive. I would ask questions about the curriculum throughout the year. Ask what skills are emphasized. Ask about when they do assessments, and what types of assessments they do with the children in the classes.

Our whole school district is very goal oriented - and at the beginning of the year, we get a whole booklet of goals/objectives for each grade. It lists what skills a child of any grade should have going into that particular grade, subject by subject as well as what skills they should be learning over the school year. Does your school have anything similar?

I was amazed at the amount of assessments that got done in kindergarten. It seemed like the teacher did some sort of assessment just about every week. The one assessment that I specifically remember that DD complained about was counting. They wanted the kids to count as high as they could. But, when DD got to 30 - the teacher cut her off. Apparently - if you get to 30, they assume you've got the hang of counting. In our school district, all assessments were required by the school district. Every elementary school (there are 4) in our district did the exact same assessments at approximately the same time.

You might want to ask the teacher if there are any activities she could recommend you doing with your DD on the "off" days. Do they get any sort of weekly newsletter recapping what they did the previous week, in addition to a preview of what's going to happen the following week?

Also - please remember that many activities in Kindergarten are about learning how to follow directions. When I volunteered in DD's K-class, I actually asked the teacher why they were working on such-and-such art project. She graciously explained the different things that the specific project encompassed. Following the directions was a key part of it. Using scissors helps with fine motor skill development, the project involved many 2-D shapes, as well as some that become 3-d, and color identification.

Are there any other kindergarten teachers at this school - maybe you could observe the other teachers? Then you could see if the grass might be greener somewhere else. My guess is - if anything, you'll be changing one set of problems for another.

Good Luck.

 

[mchames]

First relax and take a deep breath. Kindergarten is a huge adjustment for just about everyone and with moving out of state to a school district that you are unfamiliar with and a crazy schedule you've got more than your fair share on your plate.

My DD5 is in full-day five day a week kindergarten. The first two to three weeks really was all about adjustment: working on separation anxiety, lining up, getting around the building, eating in the cafeteria, walking to specials (20 minutes of a 40 minute class slot was spent getting to and from, it's a large school and this has since improved) and figuring out each child's capabilities. (Students were individually administered the GKAP, GA's kindergarten exam and evaluated. This took a full two weeks for 21 kids.) Since your DD has only had 13 days of school she is still technically in this adjustment period. With them going to school only every other day, I suspect the adjustment will take longer. Kids with separation anxiety must have a horrible time with this schedule. I know my DD would.

Here's a couple of things I would do before trying to make any changes. If you haven't already, you need to do your homework. By this I mean, get a copy of your school's kindergarten curriculum. Once you've read through it, decide if it meets your expectations and your daughter's needs. If it doesn't ignore the rest of my post and find alternative education for your DD. If it does, watch your DD's class closely. Is the teacher covering the curriculum? (Ours is listed monthly, so it's pretty easy to follow what is being covered.) If she is not and is just coasting through the day waiting for the dismissal bell, that would be a reason to speak to the principal and or teacher. If she is, then you will probably have to suffer through her teaching style for the year. Given your every other day schedule, I would give this to about Thanksgiving break to determine how the classroom is functioning.

I would continue to volunteer, though I would probably not make classroom management suggestions. While in the school building, I would try and casually observe the other sections of K. Do they take as long to line up? Are they walking quietly in the halls? On your way to DD's class, peek in another class or two and see if they're sitting quietly or if their classrooms are chaotic as well. Is a behavior management plan being followed?

Get to know the school and the parents of the children in DD's class. The room parents for the K classes at my DD's school have set up playdates at neighborhood parks for each K class, so that the children have some time to play and the parents get a chance to chat and compare notes. Contact your room parents and see if they are willing to set this up. Or, get a copy of the class list and arrange a group playdate yourself. You can even approach it as you're new to the area and would really like to meet more parents in the neighborhood. We do ours on weekends or after school, but with your schedule you could even do this on your alternating days.

I understand where you are coming from with your disappointment in your DD's Kindergarten experience. My DD5 got the one teacher out of ten sections of K that I did not want her to have. Her teacher is similar to yours in that she has 25+ years teaching at the school and is set in her ways. She also has a reputation that precedes her and most parents dread having their child in this class. Unlike yours, she is extremely strict. She doesn't bend, she snaps and she is easily frustrated with her large class size and focuses her attention mostly on behavior. I thought my DD would be miserable in such an environment. But you know what, she has adjusted and she loves it! I, on the other hand still have reservations, but I'm dealing with them. I volunteered to be class parent representative and it really has given me an insight into this teacher and how she deals with her class and though I may not always agree with her I am learning why she does things the way she does.

Take this advice with a grain of salt. Good luck!

Mary

PS: Our school has been in session for 9 weeks already.

 

[daisyduck123]

I have been teaching 1st/2nd grade for 15 years. Today was our 30th day of school. If my principal & I were to have a meeting with a parent with your list of "concerns" after only 13 school days, believe me, you would end up with a "rep" of being a "problem mom" and I'm sure you don't want that. Please give it time & "lighten up" a little...this is Kindergarten. Anyone who has worked with children of this age know that young children only can focus for about 20 minutes at a time. They need lots of little breaks. I would not expect a Kindergarten teacher to have everything she does in her classroom implemented after only 13 days. I haven't even introduced all of my "centers" to my class yet. Things need to be taken slowly & routines established. It may seem a slow process at first, but it's a long school year.
We only completed our initial reading assessments of each child about 10 days ago....(about our 20th school day). I would not expect for your child's teacher to have assessed your child's reading ability by the 13th day.
I know you told her teacher (and I'm sure your daughter really can read), but we hear that from several moms each year during the first week of school. Many moms have differing opinions of "reading"...some word call 2 or 3 words(not reading at all), some know 10 or 20 sight words, some are fluent readers knowing more that 200 words and can read unfamiliar text with ease.

Only you know your child best...if you don't think this school will work out for you...I would recommend homeschooling (since you mentioned that as an option)...but I think you should give it a lot more time. You said she's already made friends.

 

[Sleepy]

I can almost assure you that you are going to label yourself as Mrs. So&So who is a PITA and thinks her kid is a genius.

Quote from OP
"....... my dd5 was in preschool for three years in Massachusetts."

Most daycares do some sort of learning skills. They call that preschool now for the 2/3 year olds?

 

[justhat]

Quote from OP
"....... my dd5 was in preschool for three years in Massachusetts."

Most daycares do some sort of learning skills. They call that preschool now for the 2/3 year olds?

I'm not sure if you mean that the OP's daughter was in a daycare since she 2/3, and obviously I can't answer for her, but my daughter started preschool last month and she was 18 months old. No, she is not in a daycare, it's a preschool only and she only goes 3 hours a day, from 8am-11:15am. They have an afterschool program but you must be at least 3yo to attend, so from 18 months to 3yo they cannot stay past the 3 hours.

Additionally, I worked at a preschool/daycare before my daughter was born and here was how they operated it. It was a daycare for kids ages 3 months to 5yo. That was open rom 7am-6pm. But they also had a morning only preschool program for kids ages 2-5, which was from 8:45am-12:30pm, and included eating lunch there. So I worked in the toddler classroom (our kids were 15-30 months old) and we had 2 kids who were morning preschool only and the rest were daycare kids. We did the preschool stuff in the morning-which included circle time, art projects, etc., and then after lunch was naptime, snacks, then free play, which included storytime.

So it was my understanding from the OP's post that her child was in a similar preschool program to one of the 2 I described. I didn't think she meant a daycare without a preschool component, but again, I can't answer for her so maybe you're right. Just wanted to throw it out there that there are plenty of preschool programs for kids under age 4.

 

[Sleepy]

We did the preschool stuff in the morning-which included circle time, art projects, etc., and then after lunch was naptime, snacks, then free play, which included storytime.

That is my point. This is exactly what I experienced at daycare 30+ years ago and the same thing my son had 10 years ago....and it was NOT called preschool.

 

[justhat]

That is my point. This is exactly what I experienced at daycare 30+ years ago and the same thing my son had 10 years ago....and it was NOT called preschool.

But do we know that the OP's daughter was in a daycare and not specifically a preschool? Maybe I just missed it, but I don't see where she said her daughter was in a daycare, or a 'preschool' that ran from 7am-6pm.
Like I said, my daughter is in a preschool, no daycare component at all. All the toddlers must leave between 11:15 and 11:30, no negotiating that (as I know because I really would have liked to keep her there till 12:15 or so becausethat I could have gone back to school-their original hours were 8:45-12, but they had to change them in mid-August due to neighborhood concerns of traffic when the whole school arrived at once. So toddlers arrive at 8, 9-12yo at 8:20, 6-9yo at 8:30, and 3-6yo at 8:45.). If you get there past 11:30, your child will be waiting with the teacher on a bench outside the playground. There is no 'aftercare' allowed for the toddlers.

 

[minmate]

Thank you for all of your insights thus far. I am considering all of it.
To clear up some misconceptions: I do value the specials, such as library, art, music, etc. While I am sad to see this school doesn't offer spanish, I am glad to see PE is twice a week. I am fine with library. I prefer the kids pick out something at or close to their reading level... but on my list of concerns, this is really one that could be knocked off the list. In fact, I found library to be the most educational part of the day I was there. It was just about the only time someone held the kids' attention.

My dd was in PRESCHOOL. It was 2 1/2 hours either 2 or 3 days a week depending on the year. I'm not sure why there's an attempt to attack me on this statement as I am only trying to get a handle on how to proceed in my current situation. I think trying to rile me is not going to produce the most clear-headed ideas. That much I do know. Anyway, her PRESCHOOL was structured and was designed to teach learning, social skills, gross and fine motor skills etc. In her third year, they worked on phonics and dd CAN and DOES read... not SUPER, but she is reading small, phonetically easy words. She knows her letter sounds and can sound out unfamiliar words. How well she can read compared to others, I don't know but I assumed one big goal of K was to get the kids to the point they can read.

There are no workbooks coming home, to expand on what they're learningin school. All my dd says they do is color, and write the letter of the day that the teacher tells them to write. only a weekly, small newsletter that doesn't hold much information.

I think a big issue for me is not knowing what is actually going on and having no reassurance that the goals for the curriculum will be accomplished during the year. The other issue is how my daughter falls to pieces every day she has school. Yesterday, the teacher took her aside and said to her, "Your MOM told me you don't like school? Can you tell me why because Iwant you to like it here and I want to do whatever I can to help you like it!"

Part of me likes that she's trying to help her but the other part resents that she pit my dd against me. My dd came home screaming at me that I told her teacher she doesn't like school and now I hurt her teacher's feelings.

I think changing her to another school/class or homeschooling her will not be options because she won't tolerate the transition, that is just too hard for her. So, I may need to suffer through the year, supplement her schooling at home. I just don't know what to say going into this meeting on Thursday. I DON"T want to be "That" parent, as I'm sure that's where I probably already am, but more importantly is my child's educational welfare. I realize I may overreacting but not totally and completely. I'm sure none of you here would want your child in this class... with a teacher who talks by naming names, about your kid to other parents, with a teacher who leaves the classroom to go to her car with just a parent volunteer in it. Oh, and by the way, I'm all for teaching the kids how to line up and walk quietly. I know it's a necessary thing. I was there the first week during the painful lesson in my 1st graders class where it took them several minutes to walk down the hall b/c her teacher refused to let them continue walking if they were noisy or touched others. It took a long time, but now, her kids walk down the hall very well-behaved. The K teacher, she will ask them to be quiet or to do this or that, but then just goes about her lesson or about her way down the hall and doesn't call them on their behavior, so in essence, I feel, all they learn is to ignore her b/c she doesn't hold them accountable.

Bottom line is I want my dd to be happy and prepared for a great future and to if not enjoy, at least be okay with going to school.

 

[Divamomto3]

Not true! DS was reading before he left Kdg. (4 yrs ago). My curriculum mandates that my students sound out and blend words to read before they leave Kdg. While they're not reading War and Peace, they are expected to read! My kdg. students are able to read by sounding out and blending those sounds to make words and they're capable of recognizing sight words (sight words are words they wouldn't be able to sound out: like, the, shoe, then, this, that, thing) by the end of the school year. They do not go into 1st grade if they cannot sound out and blend those sounds to make words. They have 100 words that they have to be able to read by the end of the school year. If they went into 1st grade w/o knowing how to sound out words, they'd be in a world of hurt b/c they start reading right off the bat in 1st grade and have spelling tests. W/o knowing how to sound out words, it would make those spelling tests far more difficult.

I stand corrected! My children were all required to be able to do all of the above as well. When the OP said her daughter could read, I pictured her being able to pick any book off a book shelf and read it. That was my mental definition of "reading."

 

[Divamomto3]

Thank you for all of your insights thus far. I am considering all of it.
To clear up some misconceptions: I do value the specials, such as library, art, music, etc. While I am sad to see this school doesn't offer spanish, I am glad to see PE is twice a week. I am fine with library. I prefer the kids pick out something at or close to their reading level... but on my list of concerns, this is really one that could be knocked off the list. In fact, I found library to be the most educational part of the day I was there. It was just about the only time someone held the kids' attention.

My dd was in PRESCHOOL. It was 2 1/2 hours either 2 or 3 days a week depending on the year. I'm not sure why there's an attempt to attack me on this statement as I am only trying to get a handle on how to proceed in my current situation. I think trying to rile me is not going to produce the most clear-headed ideas. That much I do know. Anyway, her PRESCHOOL was structured and was designed to teach learning, social skills, gross and fine motor skills etc. In her third year, they worked on phonics and dd CAN and DOES read... not SUPER, but she is reading small, phonetically easy words. She knows her letter sounds and can sound out unfamiliar words. How well she can read compared to others, I don't know but I assumed one big goal of K was to get the kids to the point they can read.

There are no workbooks coming home, to expand on what they're learningin school. All my dd says they do is color, and write the letter of the day that the teacher tells them to write. only a weekly, small newsletter that doesn't hold much information.

I think a big issue for me is not knowing what is actually going on and having no reassurance that the goals for the curriculum will be accomplished during the year. The other issue is how my daughter falls to pieces every day she has school. Yesterday, the teacher took her aside and said to her, "Your MOM told me you don't like school? Can you tell me why because Iwant you to like it here and I want to do whatever I can to help you like it!"

Part of me likes that she's trying to help her but the other part resents that she pit my dd against me. My dd came home screaming at me that I told her teacher she doesn't like school and now I hurt her teacher's feelings.

I think changing her to another school/class or homeschooling her will not be options because she won't tolerate the transition, that is just too hard for her. So, I may need to suffer through the year, supplement her schooling at home. I just don't know what to say going into this meeting on Thursday. I DON"T want to be "That" parent, as I'm sure that's where I probably already am, but more importantly is my child's educational welfare. I realize I may overreacting but not totally and completely. I'm sure none of you here would want your child in this class... with a teacher who talks by naming names, about your kid to other parents, with a teacher who leaves the classroom to go to her car with just a parent volunteer in it. Oh, and by the way, I'm all for teaching the kids how to line up and walk quietly. I know it's a necessary thing. I was there the first week during the painful lesson in my 1st graders class where it took them several minutes to walk down the hall b/c her teacher refused to let them continue walking if they were noisy or touched others. It took a long time, but now, her kids walk down the hall very well-behaved. The K teacher, she will ask them to be quiet or to do this or that, but then just goes about her lesson or about her way down the hall and doesn't call them on their behavior, so in essence, I feel, all they learn is to ignore her b/c she doesn't hold them accountable.

Bottom line is I want my dd to be happy and prepared for a great future and to if not enjoy, at least be okay with going to school.

I just wanted to give you a because I can tell this is really worrying you. I'm thinking maybe your daughter may sense some of your stress regarding this whole kindergarten scenario. Maybe she feels some kind of pressure to peform? Or perhaps she's heard you speak of your unhappiness with the kindergarten, so she goes there expecting something else. I have no idea, I'm just throwing out ideas. But call me a bad kindergarten Mom, but I just look at Jack's little art projects, ask him about his day, read to him, ask him to pick out a few words...etc. He does go every day from 11:35-2:20pm. My older 2 sons had the same teacher so I trust her and know she's great and they certainly can read and are great students...my oldest is going to high school next year so I have a history with the school and this teacher, thus less anxiety. My son also gets weekly homework which consists of a worksheet about the letter they are on...they have a quick activity regarding the letter and some letter tracing and then they have to write the letter and a word that contains it. There is also a small "project" to do with the letter..."B" week may have something to do with counting buttons, etc. We also have to read together every night and there's a worksheet where my son has to, in his own handwriting, write the title of the book he reads. That's a nail biter....LOL...I'm always looking for books with short titles so I don't have a nervous breakdown.

I, too, would be concerned if I felt there was no academics, only play in kindergarten. I just want you to think about how you're going to portray your concerns without looking like a PITA. Although, I know many women who could care less what the school admin. or teachers thought of them. I'm just not one of them and I want to make mine and my children's lives as easy as possible. But that's just me. Good luck! Update us and let us know how it goes.

 

[ckay87]

I think the schedule as a whole sounds perfect for kindergarten. Be patient - she has 12 more years of academics ahead of her. The kids should be allowed plenty of free play. She won't be so free again until she retires!

 

[mickeyboat]

I think a big issue for me is not knowing what is actually going on and having no reassurance that the goals for the curriculum will be accomplished during the year.

This is one of the issues you need to address with the teacher and principal at your meeting. It is a valid concern and they should be able to show you exactly what their goals are for the year and who (ie the state, the school board) instituted this curriculum. If you know where they are going with their instruction, it will better able to you reinforce it at home.

The other issue is how my daughter falls to pieces every day she has school. Yesterday, the teacher took her aside and said to her, "Your MOM told me you don't like school? Can you tell me why because I want you to like it here and I want to do whatever I can to help you like it!"
Part of me likes that she's trying to help her but the other part resents that she pit my dd against me. My dd came home screaming at me that I told her teacher she doesn't like school and now I hurt her teacher's feelings.

This is another valid issue to discuss at the meeting. First, work on a strategy with the teacher and principal to make your DD feel better about going to school. Second, make sure you are not discussing your dissatisfaction with the school in front of your daughter. Third, remember your DD might be mixing up the story a bit. I find that I don't always get the whole story from my DD's - for example - Emily said she was going to breakfast at school every day, even after she has eaten at home. I sent a note to the teacher to inquire about is, turns out is was once a week and not a problem for the teacher. [/QUOTE]

I realize I may overreacting but not totally and completely. I'm sure none of you here would want your child in this class... with a teacher who talks by naming names, about your kid to other parents.

This is wrong wrong wrong. When I volunteered in DD's classrooms, I had to sign a confidentiality agreement that I would not discuss anything about any child outside of the classroom. My DD's went to gymnastics with their teacher's son, and I spent a lot of time chatting with the teacher. Not once in any of our discussions about class did she bring up any other child. You have a right to be upset about this one.

I noticed the tone of this post is greatly different from your first one, and I think your calmer head has prevailed. Good luck in your meeting tomorrow, I hope you get a satisfactory resolution, or at least all of you will be able to take a step in the right direction.

Denae

 

[mchames]

Any update? How did the meeting go?

Mary

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I don't have time to carefully read all the replies (I'm busy IMing my DD, who just told me she wants to transfer to a different college next semester... ie, move back home... ).

I do not blame you for being upset with your DD's class. I would be, too. It's so different than the class my K son is in. I volunteered for the first time in his class yesterday. The kids came in, gave their folders to the teacher, put their lunches and backpacks away and went to work. They knew the routine exactly and it was very smooth. They were busy all morning, cycling to different activites. They did go to a center, but in the morning it's a center that the teacher decides on (a learning center). I think she rotates them through all the different centers--I don't know if it's daily or weekly. There is seat work for a little while, then they listen to a story in a different part of the room, then do an activity about the story, etc, etc. And I was only there for a little over 2 hours. Very impressive and different than your DD's class.

Back to thinking about my DD. I just got an IM from her boyfriend--I wonder if he is fishing for information.

 

[minmate]

This a.m. my dd really wanted me to stay ALL day. Normally, I poo-poo that kind of request, but since my mtg w/teacher and principal was less than an hour after drop-off, I figured I may be able to glean some insight on the way the morning segment of the day was run.... hopefully to the teacher's benefit.

Well, I told the teacher exactly this and I did stay. It was picture day so their normal 45 mins in the am was cut down to about 20 mins. They did the typical circle time activities then lined up to go down to pics. Meanwhile, I ran out and got ice cream bars for afternoon snack. They were celebrating dd's bday in class that afternoon and I had previously committed to coming in around 12:30 for volunteering and snack time.

The teacher was late to our mtg. w/the principal. When she did arrive she launched right into this handwritten info she has on the curriculum. It was all spelled out nicely but not as intensive as I'd like it to be... still not her fault. She showed me results on a sight word test and book reading eval she did on dd and did admit she is at the top spectrum of the class. Meanwhile, I couldn't help noticing she misspelled my dd's name on the papers. I mentioned it giving her an out saying, "I'm guessing your volunteer wrote this" pointing to her name... she admitted she knew it was misspelled but was just in a hurry... uh--- okay, whatever.

We went round and round. Basic points: I acknowledged that my concerns aren't all directly her fault (schedule, curriculum, etc), and how frustrating it must be to have me critiquing her teaching style. I then tried to explain why it was such a challenge for my dd (sensory issues). She and the principal didn't entirely grasp that. Ultimately, teacher felt that her class is NOT disorganized or unstructured (which, believe me, IT IS, even to the casual observer), and that she gets "results" and that makes her feel justified. We more or less were at an impasse.

Things turned a bit ugly when she accused me of being sneaky by observing her this a.m. and telling me she didn't like having me in her classroom to judge her. She didn't appreciate any suggestions or detailed comments I've offered thus far (even though many times they are in response to her question of, "How would you like to see me go about doing that?" and of that nature).

I told her that what I observed in the a.m. was the best teaching and most organized I've seen from her thus far and it actually helped her case and it's too bad she felt so negative about it.

Once again, I voiced my concern about the random free time, questioning why it can't be more focused -- if even for her to float from group to group and infuse some learning into the time (i.e., if playing at water table talk about what floats or sinks, why?, etc)...she said she needs that time to do individual assessments (like drinking coffee at her desk talking on the phone? which is what she did during freetime lastweek). However, I acknowledged that if that is what she did during that time, I respect that however, I think she should have a volunteer, aide, assistant, something to direct the flow of activity of the other kids and to help attend to the "behavior" issues while she does the teaching. The principal claims that she will be getting some assistant time but left that pretty vague.

Well, i left the mtg feeling really lousy, like I've attached this dark cloud over my head and my kids' heads. I decided not to come backinto the class after lunch/recess right away. (which was around noon).

When I did come back (12:40), the teacher was all concerned about where I'd gone. I told her that since she didn't like me in the class I figured I wouldn't be there for that half hour I wasn't scheduled to help. She hadactually called looking for me b/c dd was concerned I wasn't back yet.

Needless to say, the rest of the afternoon... suddenly, surprisingly and mysteriously, she started interjecting all of these different techniques, ideas, suggestions, whatever, that I'd talked to her about and was admonished for. While still not completely organized or carried out the way I'd have done so, shel seemed to put more effort into the day, even providing for some structured activity at free time. So, I commented to her in a private moment, that while it's clear she isn't interested in my approval per se, I wanted her to know some of the things I found to be positive about the experience that afternoon. She seemed to appreciate it. I was stunned and wondered if she'll keep it up or if it was just for show while I was there.
At the end of the day, dd was just happy as can be. She said it was such a good day she couldn't say why, but it was soo good. And, she even gave one of her dot-art paintings to the teacher to keep (SEE, I told the teacher dd liked her and I wasn't filling her head with negative thoughts!!!!).

SO, now, I'm mostly confused... there are things that were said/done, I don't agree with, but I guess I can live with, as I really think we need to let the whole situation dry out a bit. I won't be back volunteering for about 2 weeks (b/c of the crazy schedule), so we'll see how things are by then and just keep tracking dd's emotional state in the meantime.

oh, there was one thing the teacher did that just made me cringe... she had thekids all packed up w/about 20 minutes left to go, so she did some improv teaching (A for effort there) but one thing she did was have three girls stand up and one boy, then asked the rest of the class, "Which one doesn't belong?" Excuse me? She was trying to build on their sorting work but she just used the wrong words for sure! I can only imagine if dd was identified as the "one that didn't belong" in the group!

 

[scoutsmom99]

I hope things start to look up for you and your dd. Just cruious what school district are you in? Is it in the metro area?

 

[disykat]

All I can say is - Wow. When I posted before I was trying to be supportive because I know how frustrating it can be to have a year where you aren't happy with the teaching that is (or isn't) going on in the classroom. My kids have both had years where I had little respect for the teacher. After reading your last post, however, I can no longer support your actions. Like it or not, she is the teacher. I'd say remove your dd from her class, heck, even try to get her fired if you want - but giving her helpful advice is simply not your place.

I am a teacher - maybe that's why I understand how the teacher would feel in this instance. Some times you just have to keep your mouth shut. I think you went beyond trying to help your daughter when you started telling her how to teach. I think that if you decide to keep your daughter in this class, you need to stop volunteering in that class. You've certainly said your piece. That teacher will never be able to be comfortable with you in the class judging her. The principal should have stepped in and protected her teacher and should ask you not to volunteer in that room IMO.

 

[Sleepy]

All I can say is - Wow. After reading your last post, however, I can no longer support your actions.

I have to agree. The way she handled the meeting was way out of line. I wonder, through her "critiquing", did she get the answer to the question she was stressing over.........the ultimate goal for the year........will they eventually learn to read, etc?