*Fresh Mulberry Chat thread!*

[JJB]

Bluecat - It might be worth drawing the attention of the teacher to the governments strategy paper, 'Every Child Matters' (think 05 or 06) in which it states quite clearly that every child is entitled to a positive learning environment'.

I have 3 very different children, one child with a disability and learning needs, one 'gifted' child and a boy!!!!! However, I feel that this one document sums up how the school should look at positively meeting the needs of all our children in their individual way.

NB: Gifted child couldn't see the point of reading and/or writing in reception, she wasn't willing to fit in with the teacher's expectations and targets, it wasn't the right time for her, Montesorri said that all our children have 'windows of opportunity' for optimum learning, every child finds their own path and the 'positive' learning enviroment should give them the confidence to be comfortable with their own way.

I think reception teachers need to remember that some of these littlies were having an afternoon sleep and being transported in a buggy just months ago!

[Ali-bagpuss]

Originally Posted by bluecat_00

Talking about daughters - I need to vent. My eldest is 4.5 and she started school last September (there is only 1 intake in cambs). She has always been bright and could write her name ages before she went to school. Now, all we hear from the teacher is negatives about her. Her handwriting needs to be improved, her social skills, and her reading. She has been put into a group of children needing extra reading lessons. We practice with her as much as we can and I think she is coming on well. They teach phonics and we have to "sound" the letters and then form the words which is great for words that obey the rules but so many don't. She does however recognise every sound and can sound every letter of the alphabet with us but the teacher has just written in her book that she really should be able to sound all the letters by now! She also needs to be able to sound double letters ie oo, ee, ae, ei. Then they give her a book with the word "laughing" to read and of course she can't read it. I'm starting to feel really demoralised. She is not 5 until July for gods sake. I just hope to goodness that she doesn't pick up on this negativity. Sorry, rant over but it is really making me feel miserable on her behalf. Its a good job I don't live anywhere near a bays clutch or I might need to cheer myself up!

I know where you are coming from! All the schools seem to teach phonics now and learning to read words by the sight and remembering what the work looks like rather than spelling them out like we used to. I know it doesn't work with all words but that's our silly language. We have always taught our children to spell the words out so that if they can't read something they can spell it out to learn it. It might not be what they learn at school but as long as they learn to read what does it matter HOW they learn.

There will always be something that the teacher says that have to improve on but don't we all? My son (aged 6) can read okay (well most of the time!) but his writing is appalling and he puts most of his letters and numbers the wrong way around - he wrote the date the other day in number form, ie 27.02.09 and the other numbers that were the right way around were the 'o's!!!!

They will learn in their own time and their own way - as my mum always says, you don't find many teenages now that can't read or write, they will get it in their own time!

The same with wearing nappies at night and having a bottle or anything - you don't see teenagers with bottles and nappies so don't worry about it, they will grow out of it (both of mine are - but my son needed to wear a nappy at night at aged 4! and I was worried about it).

As long as you know what she can and can't do - don't worry about the teacher too much. If you feel that your child IS picking up on the negativity then talk to the teacher and tell her - it worked for me!

My son is hyperactive and he has a new teacher - she doesn't know how to deal with the fact that he can't sit still and just kept telling him off and asking him to sit still all the time. He came home one day saying that he wanted his old teacher back because the new one didn't like him because she kept telling him off - I spoke to her and informed her of his 'situation' and she's been much better - even giving him the Star Pupil Award last week for hard work!!!!!

[Ali-bagpuss]

^^ God, sorry I just realised I wrote an essay there!!!!! and its probably gibberish!

[Flossie]

Unfortunately I don't think targets and constant testing help matters . Teachers are under immense pressure to attain them , and therein lies the problems . Everyone gets stressed . I wonder how many of them actually like their chosen career .
My kids were educated in a few different systems , having lived overseas and have seen a different side of the coin where teachers actually enjoy what they are doing , are keen and enhusiastic and this certainly rubs off on the pupils . Infact my eldest boys are still intouch with some of their Canadian teachers , 5 years after leaving school . They consider them as great role models .
I also have friends that are Head teachers in the UK State system and some of the parents and issues they deal with are quite frightening .

However , no child should be humiliated by a teacher .


BTW , I'm not a teacher , just my own opinions .

[Ali-bagpuss]

I agree. I also think that so much is put on what a child SHOULD be doing at a certain age. All children are different and all of them progress differently - I agree that by the end of the school year that there are things that every child should be able to do to enable them to progress properly into the next year but they shouldn't be pushed so much.

[Flossie]

^^ Ali that's what happened in the American International school my kids went to . If they felt that a child hadn't reached the required standard to progress at the end of year they had retake the year again .

[maplecottage]

Hi Flossie, it's interesting you say that particularly the part where your family are still in touch with some of the teachers years on. My husband is in touch with some of his for the same reasons, and also similar scenario to yours - american international....

[bluecat_00]

Hi JJB, Ali and Flossie, thanks for the advice. DH is already googling the green paper which he'll print out tomorrow. I'm not at all worried about DD's ability just don't want her to be penalised in any way. Will watch teach like a hawk and pounce if necessary and DH and I will continue with the flashcards which she loves in the meantime. XXXXXXXXX

I love this forum, its so good to be able to "talk" to people who understand where I'm coming from!

[Flossie]

Originally Posted by maplecottage

Hi Flossie, it's interesting you say that particularly the part where your family are still in touch with some of the teachers years on. My husband is in touch with some of his for the same reasons, and also similar scenario to yours - american international....

Speaking from experience these schools really inspire the pupils to achieve their maximum potential . Ask any of my kids which system they preferred ( and some of them have been in American International, English/Welsh and Scottish ) they would all pick the American .

[sarajane]

^^That's interesting as the American system gets a lot of criticism for its standards. What I like about the US is the can do attitude, I'm sure that helps motivate kids no end.
I'm quite a laid back parent about school, I want my boys to do well but I can't be doing with all the hot housing & scrutiny of league tables that goes on.

[Ali-bagpuss]

^ Same here SJ - My only gripe about the schools at the moment is that the children has just learnt to 'form' their letters and the next minute they're teaching them to 'join up'! and they wonder why their handwriting is rubbish!

Both my children have appalling handwriting and I would say that it is due to this joining up so early that has done it. When they both learnt to write, their writing got gradually neater and neater, then when it was looking good - voila - they have to start joining up their letters and its all gone to pot!!!!

[Flossie]

^^ SJ , its the private International schools that follow an American style programme .
A high percentage of the kids that went to the school my kids attended went on to Ivy League colleges .
My daughter when she came back to a UK private school was put a year ahead after testing and that was at her GCSE year .
The Americans are very positive and that does make a difference , plus the teachers have a great attitude in my experience .

[sarajane]

We're lucky to have 3 v good secondary schools where we live so education isn't such an issue as it might be if we lived in a city.
I'm not a great one for parental choice, I just want my local school to offer excellent education & to give my boys every opportunity it can. The rest is down to them.
I know someone who went to Millfield & still came out with v few qualifications!

[Flossie]

I just asked son no3 , who's 15 if I was a "pushy" Mum , he replied " Hell yes Mum , but that's the way I like it !!!
LOL

[klp0213]

Originally Posted by sarajane

^^That's interesting as the American system gets a lot of criticism for its standards. What I like about the US is the can do attitude, I'm sure that helps motivate kids no end. I'm quite a laid back parent about school, I want my boys to do well but I can't be doing with all the hot housing & scrutiny of league tables that goes on.

That's such a nice thing to say SJ! I for one definitely have that attitude, hence my quick decisions about buying and selling of Mulberries for instance.

Usually us Americans get called 'big mouths' or deemed too 'in your face'.
It's true, most Americans have that attitude in one way or another, but it did help me when I was in school. My teachers were fun and engaging (okay, some of them were sooooo boring - physics anyone?) which really made my classes enjoyable.