Guys, the teacher says that "lot's" is totes okay now
I realized she was being sarcastic with the "lot's". She just screwed up her grammer (and/or was typing fast and not putting too much effort into an internet msg board:-) with the "to". It happens.
no, the teacher misused "to" as well. Pretty sure that's where it came from and was no mistake and was, indeed, part of the joke.
No. I don't blame you at all. You are a concerned parent who has a right to know how your child is doing. Your child is 5 and in K- I'm sure he will be just fine. I am referring to all the hefers in this tread that have no clue what they are talking about and are ready to string this poor teacher up by her toes. Her response was appropriate to your question.
Post by thebuddhagouda on Oct 30, 2014 13:20:07 GMT -5
I'm seriously anticipating these kinds of struggles next year as my child is always the kid that cannot sit still/follow directions/see a task that takes more than 30 seconds to complete to the end.
I don't think he's ADD. I just think he's an easily distracted 4yo boy, but he will be very newly 5 when starting kindergarten, and we will have a newborn. It's giving me panic attacks already.
Post by balletofangels on Oct 30, 2014 13:29:55 GMT -5
I tend to avoid most of these conversations because obviously my role as a Kindergarten teacher I see things differently. Generally these conversations end up with a lot of criticism of teachers and expectations. I am a parent, but my kid is only in prek so my frame of reference is really more as the teacher. However, strictly seeing stellas side of things, because that is the information we have, I do not feel that this teacher is handling things appropriately.
That said, as a private school teacher she really doesn't have mandates that public school teachers have to differentiate for each child, so obviously my perception is skewed. I do not doubt that this woman has a lot of experience with children after 30 years, but she also seems burnt out and overwhelmed by current Kindergarten expectations. Yes, Kindergarten is much more academic than when we were in school. That is a simple fact. We can all argue that we like this or not, but it is the mandate thrust upon teachers and students.
However, it is the teacher's responsibility to make sure that kids' needs are still being met. If a teacher cannot instill a love of learning in Kindergarten, that really sucks for the kid. You need to set the framework as positively as possible for both parents and kids. I say this as a K teacher who is probably stricter than most, but high expectations does not mean that my students hate school and learning. I sincerely hope it is the opposite.
I do not want to trash private school and be all "yay public school," but there are other options and if his needs aren't being met in this environment I don't think anyone would blame you for looking elsewhere and exploring other options.
Thanks bitch. I still have more education and make more money then you ;-)
Everyone knows more money=more educated mo' problems.
Good luck with that, @volsgirl.
Also, everyone (EXCEPT @volsgirl, because I don't like you): I was looking for a good picture of a vole and was going to try and tie it in to insulting @volsgirl somehow, but then I got lost in Wikipedia. Did you know that there are approximately 155 different species of voles? Or that they are related to muskrats and lemmings? Or that their gestation period is only three weeks?
1. That kind of homework for kindergarten is nuts and telling you to punish your child for not being able to complete it is even crazier.
2. Kindergarten classrooms that don't have a play based structure have these issues all the time because the kids are FIVE. I get that she may not have a choice for how she runs her classroom (which is another topic for another day), but she should adjust her expectations accordingly.
3. "Check this out with your pediatrician" is all we can really say when we think something might be up, but I've never said that in October (unless there were SERIOUS, glaring issues, which doesn't seem to be the case here), I've never said that in an email, and I've always said it after a few months of observing behaviors, recording them, putting supports in place, and dialoging with parents.
4. It's the fall- she wants to talk about it again in the SPRING? If she's already thinking about holding him back (which is insane), then she should be communicating with you pretty regularly about his progress.
Although, I will say all the "He's a 5 year old BOY!" stuff does rub me the wrong way. Some parents do try to brush off some serious behaviors with the fact that their kid is "just being a boy!"
Also, everyone (EXCEPT @volsgirl, because I don't like you): I was looking for a good picture of a vole and was going to try and tie it in to insulting @volsgirl somehow, but then I got lost in Wikipedia. Did you know that there are approximately 155 different species of voles? Or that they are related to muskrats and lemmings? Or that their gestation period is only three weeks?
Me neither!
I believe she is a Tennessee Volunteers fan. Being a Bama grad myself, I expect no less more from her.
Ah. Well, I suppose that does make more sense than her saying she is the significant other of a vole, and that she also didn't know how to spell vole.
But I'm still going to assume the above, because as previously mentioned, I don't care for @volsgirl.
Post by snipsnsnails on Oct 30, 2014 13:45:15 GMT -5
I forget, Stella's, what sort of pre-school environment was he in? Play-based, project-based learning? A more formalized, class structure?
What she sees as developing maturity might just be a new environment that he's becoming accustomed to.
I'm sorry you're stressing. I hate that feeling of trying to hear and determine what teachers and caregivers are saying, but also wanting to shield my sweet boy from all the things that I put on myself. ((Hugs))
What kind of homework is he getting? My son just turned 6 and is in Kindergarten. He gets one homework sheet a night. And it's usually a sheet of letters that he has to write. Like two rows of capital A and two rows of lower case a. Or a math sheet of where he has to count the numbers of objects and write in the number. We spend tops 10 minutes on homework a night.
are you able to observe him in class? there are 2 options here, either she has unrealsitic expectations or she is seeing problems beyond the normal kindy boy issues. Best way to find out is to see what is happening in class and hwmit compares to his classmates. If he has ADHD (honestly have no idea) by finding out and getting him help you will make his life better and easier, at this age you could start with behavorial supports/therapy which may lessen the need for meds later. I will say it sounds like she is reasonable about homework 10-20 minutes is fairly age appropriate if you are going to give kindy kids homework so I wouldn't dismiss her thoughts out of hand without doing some checking to see if there is any validity to them. Then once you have more info see where that leads you.
I agree with this. Let's put aside her grammar issues and focus on the message: she has some concerns. I think everyone here is probably right and there is no problem at all. But what does it hurt to bring it up to his pedi and keep a closer eye on him? If it turns out to be nothing then no harm, no foul. But if it is something, at least you will have caught it early. And you won't be kicking yourself years later for "ignoring the signs" and "letting it get worse."
I also think it will be easier and give you more peace of mind to look into it than it will be to ignore this nagging concern in the back of your mind for however long it takes to get a definitive answer one way or the other. (Holy shit, that was a long sentence).
I agree completely.
GBCNers are too quick to dismiss any issue with "meh, he's a boy." Well, the teacher could be nuts with unrealistic expectations or, more likely, his issues are beyond what is typical for the other boys his age. Most teachers aren't going to be calling up half the parents for their class and suggesting that something is wrong but most will call if one or two kids really stand out as struggling with classroom expectations. I mean, I'd want some communication if my child wasn't able to do the things her peers can handle, even if it would upset me that she's struggling.
stellas, I'd ask to meet with her in person, try to get some concrete examples of what's happening in the classroom. Take her at her word about homework. Sit and focus on hw with him for 15 minutes. Set the timer. When it goes off, write a note that you worked for 15 minutes and this is what he completed, put it away, and be done with it. You may find that he will focus better and fight less knowing that you aren't worried about completion, just giving his best effort for a max amount of time.
Post by shostakovich on Oct 30, 2014 13:54:33 GMT -5
Also, this has nothing to do with anything, but I just Googled "bitch eating crackers," and got this and my week is made:
(Also, hi - I'm the kid that always tried to diffuse tense family situations with humor. Watch me dance all goofy, kevin arnold and Lucy Honeychurch!!)
Also, this has nothing to do with anything, but I just Googled "bitch eating crackers," and got this and my week is made:
(Also, hi - I'm the kid that always tried to diffuse tense family situations with humor. Watch me dance all goofy, kevin arnold and Lucy Honeychurch!!)
While I don't think LHC generally sees people with mental illness as lesser in some way, I do agree that it is a pretty shitty dig. Hopefully she didn't mean it like that and was simply going at volsgirl with gloves off.
I forget, Stella's, what sort of pre-school environment was he in? Play-based, project-based learning? A more formalized, class structure?
What she sees as developing maturity might just be a new environment that he's becoming accustomed to.
I'm sorry you're stressing. I hate that feeling of trying to hear and determine what teachers and caregivers are saying, but also wanting to shield my sweet boy from all the things that I put on myself. ((Hugs))
He started out at 3 in a school that is a bit of an institution around here. They were great but very serious. I switched him to a reeaaallly relaxed preschool for prek, and he LOVED it there. Maybe they were too relaxed?