grade 3 teachers and Primary advise

[1tricky1]

dd had her first male teacher
im not impressed with him at all
last year she met and even exceeded subjects in school grade 2 and got an academic award.
she loved school so much that she wanted to go to summer school but they wouldnt let her cuz she didnt need it.
anway, first week of school they did a multiple choice test. dd had a hard time doing it since she hadnt done one before
her score put her into grade one level. i was furious as we read all the time and she can read chapter books her level. dd was so upset as she was told she could only get the "easy " books from the library.
saw the teacher on thur and he let her redo the test and this time she did better and is reading where she should be.
each week, they have a spelling test. they get the words on monday, usually 12, then the test is one friday.
last year she got maybe 4 wrong the whole year.
so on friday , she came home and was upset. she got 4 wrong, i asked
"wow honey you studied so hard and knew them all this morning," she told me he changed the words.. im like WTH??
so he made her word true to truly, drew to drawing, hear to heard, grew to grown etc etc. im like this is not fair!!!!! he didnt even warn the kids that they could be in different tenses... they are only 7 and 8.
he is retiring next year and has always taught grade 5 , he has no right teaching grade 3
his room in undecorated no posters, no alphabet up on the wall. it looks like a dungeon not a primary class.
im going to the principal tomorrow, i want my dd out of his class.
there were other issues, for example he was showing hubby things we could do with dd in math, and he got stuck and said "oh i need the teachers manual, i dont know how to do it" in my mind im like dude this is grade 3.

so my question is would you change words for a spelling test??? im so mad

vicky

 

[golfgal]

Do you have the test back and know for sure that he changed the words? Kids often embellish stories so they don't get into trouble. Why is your 3rd grade full of 7 year olds? That is pretty young for 3rd grade. Also, 3rd grade gets harder for kids, a lot of kids do really well up until then and then they start into the harder work and it takes time to adjust.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

dd had her first male teacher
im not impressed with him at all
last year she met and even exceeded subjects in school grade 2 and got an academic award.
she loved school so much that she wanted to go to summer school but they wouldnt let her cuz she didnt need it.
anway, first week of school they did a multiple choice test. dd had a hard time doing it since she hadnt done one before
her score put her into grade one level. i was furious as we read all the time and she can read chapter books her level. dd was so upset as she was told she could only get the "easy " books from the library.
saw the teacher on thur and he let her redo the test and this time she did better and is reading where she should be.
each week, they have a spelling test. they get the words on monday, usually 12, then the test is one friday.
last year she got maybe 4 wrong the whole year.
so on friday , she came home and was upset. she got 4 wrong, i asked
"wow honey you studied so hard and knew them all this morning," she told me he changed the words.. im like WTH??
so he made her word true to truly, drew to drawing, hear to heard, grew to grown etc etc. im like this is not fair!!!!! he didnt even warn the kids that they could be in different tenses... they are only 7 and 8.
he is retiring next year and has always taught grade 5 , he has no right teaching grade 3
his room in undecorated no posters, no alphabet up on the wall. it looks like a dungeon not a primary class.
im going to the principal tomorrow, i want my dd out of his class.
there were other issues, for example he was showing hubby things we could do with dd in math, and he got stuck and said "oh i need the teachers manual, i dont know how to do it" in my mind im like dude this is grade 3.

so my question is would you change words for a spelling test??? im so mad

vicky

Well, I would not be happy about the situation that is for sure.

I think calling him to the carpet with his "change up" is certainly appropriate. These are little kids and changing the tenses without giving a warning for a spelling test is really stupid.

As far as getting out of the class, well that may be overkill however if you can get out, I guess I would try it as well. However, you do not sound like you have a real case for changing teachers. I would expect that they would probably not allow it.

The thing is every yr your dd is going to have a teacher that does something that you or she cannot stand. Learning how to deal is part of school. I hope that you are not showing your dd your raw emotion because that will make her more upset and anxious about school.

 

[mlynn]

I would be so mad!! My dd is also in 3rd and she is "at risk"(she struggles and is behind) I would be on the phone leaving a message with the school for a meeting. I'm sure some 3rd grader could change the word and be alright but some wouldn't and shouldn't be excepted to do that this earlyin the year.

 

[mjkacmom]

Rule #1 - never go to the principal over an issue with the teacher, without speaking to the teacher first. Second, using capital letters and paragraphs makes reading posts a lot easier. My kids have been getting multiple choice tests since kindergarten - they're easier than having to fill in the correct answer. In third grade, most kids should be reading chapter books.

 

[1stluvispooh]

Before I have a meeting with the principal I would take a day or a good portion of the day and observe at school. There may be other things going on that is throwing your daughter off this year. Trust me it will only help to support your position if you have taken the time to observe for a day. I have done this and found out why my daughter was having problems in 2nd grade. I am going to observer her class sometime this week because she has been exhibiting signs of stress this year. When you observe the class you will see if it's just your daughter or the whole class. If the teacher has too many kids that need extra help, is he burned out, does he have control of the class, is your DD paying attention, etc.

 

[1tricky1]

thanks for all the replys. she will be 8 in november. other parents have the same issues also. we have discussed this many times with other parents over other issues that they have . something i forgot to mention was that he basically told me " she needs time to play and get out and exercise" when we told him we give her a math sheet each night. omg no one tells me how to raise my daughter , she had lots of fun time. we walk each night, ride bikes,play soccer, does tap jazz ballet goes to brownies. she has fun but she also does well in school. i will talk to him about the test. he already told another parent , he has no problem if a child wants to leave his class.. thanks again,
vicky penticton canada

 

[tink20]

I would be upset if the spelling words were changed. DS is in 3rd, he has a spelling book, and a list each week (like 22 words) 3 vocab words. Changing the words would confuse him too and doesn't make sense. That would be more of a language test.

I have noticed though that 3rd grade is harder for DS. He made all A's last year with little effort. This year it seems like he has to really study and it seems like he is making careless mistakes. It is hard when you don't really care for the teacher, good luck!

 

[cybrkitn]

Why is your 3rd grade full of 7 year olds? That is pretty young for 3rd grade.

DS8's class has a few 7 year olds b/c their birthdays fall between September and December. It's not uncommon.

OP, if you have already spoken to the teacher about it first and nothing has been done or clarified, then definately talk to the principal. And I agree with you that changing the words to a spelling test without telling the kids was wrong.

DS just started 3rd grade and I've noticed that he has more homework now than in 2nd. When he was in 2nd, he had homework to do everyday in his math workbook and reading workbook plus reading his AR book every day. Now, he has those plus a science workbook and a social studies workbook that have been coming home with the textbooks. Thankfully the textbooks don't come home everyday.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I have had 4 kids go through 3rd grade. Spelling tests should be what was on the pre-test. For my kids they got the pre-test, and then the rest of the week, they had to do sentences, write the words 3 times each, etc... Every night was something to practice those words. These words are not to change on the test. He is now teaching 3rd grade and needs to be told such. I would speak to him and ask him why he did it this way. Then I would go speak to the Principal.

Sorry you are going through this. It is really horrible when a child has a bad teacher. I have been there.

Good Luck!

 

[Aneille]

I'd be upset about the change of the spelling words too and I would ask the teacher why he did that and will it be happening every week. I am not sure I would request a new teacher yet, but I would try to get in the class to speak to the teacher and observe the classroom and then decide.

7 is young for 3rd grade here. The cut-off for 1st grade is 6 yrs before August 31st. 2nd graders are 7 and 8 years old and 3rd graders are 8 and 9 years old.

If they cut off date for K/1st grade is different the kids start primary school younger.