Welcome to Elementary School Kids, "Ask the Teacher" post!
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I've been teaching elementary school for 14 years. My master's degree is in reading education and I'm certified in Exceptional Student Education, and ESL. I've taught a variety of grades and more kids than I can count.
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Quoting marymo2011:
Well I'm changing my dd private school bc she's had a horrible learning experience. Her 1st grade teacher was very very strict. She made the children run 3-4 laps depending on the crime (talking in line etc.) in first grade. Toward the end of the year she made them run 12 laps around a football field for not writing their name on their assignment. On her birthday her father and I came to visit her at school- brought cupcakes and left after lunch. She was apparently upset we left and didn't want to sit in certain spot( which I know was disobedient) but the teacher made her sit in timeout for an hour. Really?! Wtf it was her birthday. She never once contacted dh or I regarding class work/ habits...we conntacted her & had several meetings with her regarding these issues. My dsughter was really unhappy in her class bc the teacher never gave them a break. Worksheet after worsheet all day. I spoke with several parents and their children were miserable too and also didn't want to go to school anymore. I was the only parent bold enough to talk to her and the principal. Well my dh and I got no where with either one. We toughed out the year, and her report card had several negative things like -lacks motivation, poor work habits etc. it pisses me off bc she never once mentioned these issues about my daughter and somehow I feel like those comments were dirceted at my dh and I bc we stood up for our child when no other parent did. I want to talk to her teacher about the remarks but am biting my tongue for now. Should I say something since we are leaving or just let it go? Also we are moving my dd to a Montessori school bc we feel like that approach will work best for her. She will be going into second grade. What are your thoughts. Should I say something to her or principal or just go and don't look back?
I would say something. Maybe write a letter to the principal explaining why you left. You need to let the principal know his lack of concern was an issue.
Since it's a private school they may have a board of directors. See if you can a letter to it's director. Private schools need to keep parents happy or they lose enrollments. This school needs to know why they lost your enrollment.
Good luck next year. I'm pretty sure there won't be lap running in Montessori school!
Thank you I will do that. I love to read and want my kids to love to read also.
Quoting maxswolfsuit:
Quoting raczac:I was just curious about level my almost first grader is reading on. He read the whole Go Dog Go book today for the first time, he had to have some help with a few of the words but 95% he did himself.
That is great for beginning first grade. Itchy Itchy Chicken Pocks is another he could mostly read on his own. Take him to the library and pick things out. Even if he picks some that are too hard you can help him. That will help him improve over the summer. Most kids back slide so if you work all summer he will really be ahead when school starts.
The fact that you love to read and your kids see you doing is such a huge factor. Kids who grow up seeing adults read for pleasure are far more likely to enjoy reading. It's one thing that I can't do anything about as a teacher that makes me sad. Parents don't realize how their negative attitude about reading, or school in general, impacts kids.
Quoting raczac:Thank you I will do that. I love to read and want my kids to love to read also.
Quoting maxswolfsuit:
Quoting raczac:I was just curious about level my almost first grader is reading on. He read the whole Go Dog Go book today for the first time, he had to have some help with a few of the words but 95% he did himself.
That is great for beginning first grade. Itchy Itchy Chicken Pocks is another he could mostly read on his own. Take him to the library and pick things out. Even if he picks some that are too hard you can help him. That will help him improve over the summer. Most kids back slide so if you work all summer he will really be ahead when school starts.
Quoting WildCat73:how do you handle children with autism/aspergers syndrome. Who get overhelmed by noises etc. My school itself have a quiet area they can take the kids to. But I wonder about other schools.
We don't have an area like that on campus. Our self contained unit has less than six students so if the student was in that class it would easy to accommodate.
I always have an isolated area of the classroom for students to get away. But there was never a need for anyone to leave the classroom. Sometimes removing the stimulation may be necessary. But teaching the student to cope with the stimulation is important too. The more the students can cope the easier things will be as they get older and those skills are much harder to learn as they get older.
Reading your post is exactly what worries me about my son starting kindergarten this year. He's so smart but has all this bundled up energy, and I worry this is exactly what I am headed for. I was expressing this to my dr. and she told me her son was the same way. And what she did was got him up 15 min. earlier than usual and made him run the outline of thier yard for that time and get his energy out before school even started. For her this worked and she had no problems after that. I don't knowif this is something you could do or not, but I thought I might pass the info on. It may just spur on some ideas of what might work for you. Good luck!
Quoting MAyers:
My oldest dd is starting kindergarten this August. She had the same teachers for 3 years of preschool, we all had an amazing relationship and I want to have one with her new teacher but I'm not sure how to start one. I want to know what's going on in class and know what to do to help my dd outside of school with all the learning. I just don't know how to get it all started.
Sorry I didn't get to this sooner.
I would tell the teacher exactly what you told me. For most teachers this is our dream come true. Find out the best way to contact her and check in periodically.
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Cameras on buses *UPDATE*
- maxswolfsuit
on Oct. 27, 2011 at 7:44 PM