Wrong Primary Books????

bijou

Hi

Just wondering would it be normal for a teacher to give 5th class students the "Spellbound" book for 6th class??

It's not the first time it's happened, back in 3rd class they were given 4th class Irish books.

Seems a bit weird to me.

Has anyone else experienced this??

Thanks

Moonbeam

Is the child a bit ahead of his class?

bijou

No, average - according to STens.

But when I queried it the teacher said "oh it's OK when they get to 6th class they'll do the 5th class book".

The same remark was made with the Irish "when they get to 4th class they'll do the 3rd class book".

So it's not just my one - it's the whole class.

It doesn't make sense to me I'm afraid.

Lisha

That's done in our school too , when a teacher is teaching 2 classes they teach same curriculum and then teach the other one the following yr
Mixed classes are a disaster I think

Midnight Sundance

bijou wrote: »

No, average - according to STens.

But when I queried it the teacher said "oh it's OK when they get to 6th class they'll do the 5th class book".

The same remark was made with the Irish "when they get to 4th class they'll do the 3rd class book".

So it's not just my one - it's the whole class.

It doesn't make sense to me I'm afraid.

Is your child in a multigrade class? The teacher usually has to work with 2 sets of books and rotates every second year. Next year the children in 5th will be on a 5th class book and your daughter too. It makes it easier to work the two classes together.
A lot of 5th and 6th class work overlap , 6th being slightly harder. I wouldn't worry.

bijou

Yeah Lisha I'm thinking the same.

This teacher is doing 4 classes..... 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th.

I'm concerned about the level of teaching at the moment.

Moonbeam

In other countries(eh Australia) mixed classes have proven to be better for the kids but as it is not the norm here it is down to how good the school and teacher is and how big the class is.
It does sound a bit crazy doing the year belows class books the year after the higher class ones surely one leads to the other.

Lisha

bijou wrote: »

Yeah Lisha I'm thinking the same.

This teacher is doing 4 classes..... 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th.

I'm concerned about the level of teaching at the moment.

Jeez that's hard going for teacher and kids. She prob teaches 3rd and 4th as one and 5th and 6th together

bijou

Moonbeam wrote: »

In other countries(eh Australia) mixed classes have proven to be better for the kids but as it is not the norm here it is down to how good the school and teacher is and how big the class is.
It does sound a bit crazy doing the year belows class books the year after the higher class ones surely one leads to the other.

I totally agree, but I also wonder what happens if a student starts to struggle and falls behind. Mine is finding it hard enough but she's persevering thankfully.

Moonbeam

I am not a primary school teacher but from what I have read the kids all tend to help each other out.
Is the teacher dealing with 28 kids or 10?

bijou

There are 22 kids in the room spread over the 4 different classes.

I really don't know how he does it, would love to be a fly on the wall.

Moonbeam

I would talk to the principal if you are concerned.

Big Bag of Chips

It is very common in rural schools for 2 classes to be together in the same room, and obviously in small rural schools for a teacher to teach 4 of the 8 class years.

The teacher has plenty experience and will be well able to handle it.

If you have any concern make an appointment to speak with the teacher. They should be able to reassure you.

byhookorbycrook

Worked in a two teacher school and loved it. Teacher has to be super organised and children benefit from other classes. In a one class primary system, children are not taught as one ability. There are groups just like in multi grade classes. My opinion on spelling books/tests is a whole other thread!

echo beach

Lisha wrote: »

That's done in our school too , when a teacher is teaching 2 classes they teach same curriculum and then teach the other one the following yr
Mixed classes are a disaster I think

If you start with the opinion that a mixed class is a 'disaster' and pass that prejudice on to your child then it is likely that there will be problems. It is more difficult for the teacher and requires them, the children and the parents to be flexible. It is best to look for the positives, the 'silver linings', like children helping each other.
As has been pointed out all classes are 'mixed'. They consists of individuals.
The best thing is to support the teacher, not directly or indirectly undermine their efforts. Praise the child when they are doing well 'aren't you great doing 6th class work already' or if they are having a problem try to encourage them 'don't worry you still have another year to get to grips with this'.

Has the school been inspected recently? If so you can see the inspection report and find out if your concerns about the standard of teaching are justified.

lily09

I teach 3rd and 4th and do tgat. It is much more beneficial for me to teach the class one textbook and structure my questioning/ activities and expectation depending on the class. Otherwise there would be far too much writing and not enough oral work if each class had different texts. There is usually not a huge difference in a grade up or down in text book just content.
Ps a text book is a tiny part of the lesson

Midlandmouse

Hi,
Agree it must be easier to teach both classes together, but is it fair to expect a child to jump from junior infants books (in senior) to 2nd class books in (1st class), 3rd class books (in 4th class) to 6th class books (in 5th class). It feels like a distinct disadvantage to always be on the wrong foot. If the child is in Junior, 1st, 3rd, 5th then they are on the correct books all through school. (must be an advantage).
H.

Insect Overlord

Most of the text-books are poor, to be honest. As said above, they're only a small part of each lesson anyway.

echo beach

Midlandmouse wrote: »

If the child is in Junior, 1st, 3rd, 5th then they are on the correct books all through school. (must be an advantage).

There are no 'correct' books for every child and every class. Children learn at different rates. They have a much greater capacity to absorb facts and knowledge than adults. They don't learn in a strict linear fashion, one subject at a time and one topic at a time but are learning all the time.
Teachers have a difficult enough job to do without everybody throwing in their tuppence worth on the 'correct' way to do it and the 'correct' books to use. I can't remember a single textbook I used but I remember all my teachers and a fair bit of what they taught me.

Midlandmouse

Maybe appropriate rather than "correct". Just know my son struggled to keep up in 3rd class (4th class ceartlitriu), dossing this year on 3rd class Irish and English. Dreading the thoughts of next year. If the Primary School Curriculum is so irrelevant maybe someone should inform the Dept. of Education.

Insect Overlord

Midlandmouse wrote: »

Maybe appropriate rather than "correct". Just know my son struggled to keep up in 3rd class (4th class ceartlitriu), dossing this year on 3rd class Irish and English. Dreading the thoughts of next year. If the Primary School Curriculum is so irrelevant maybe someone should inform the Dept. of Education.

The school books and the Curriculum are NOT the same thing.