PT Meeting and Falling Behind

DGOBS

Hi all, look for some guidance on how to approach a subject with a teacher without starting WW3

My daughter is in 6th class this year, and is in a split roughly 1:2 fifth calls to sixth (there is also a full 6th class in the school)

Last years teacher was fantastic, fully engaged, extra work to drive the students that could etc.

This year, teacher in never prepared for class, homework has become little to non-existent, her laptop hasn't worked since term started so interactive lessons and white boards are a thing of the past (because her laptop isn't working, not sure is it's heres or the schools)

The full 6th class are well into this years curriculum, while the split are falling further and further behind, which can be seen in the workbooks etc, the other class are well into prep for January entrance exams too. My daughter was in that class for a course day, and they were doing assessments on maths that haven't even been covered in her own class.

We have a parent teacher evening meeting in a few weeks, how do we broach this subject without starting a war (which we don't want), but at the same time addressing our concerns.

Any suggestions would be welcomed.

Redser87

In terms of the laptop, I'd say it probably is the class laptop - I often refer to my interactive whiteboard pen or my computer when in fact they do belong to the school. So I wouldn't dwell on that, we can only work within the limits of DES funding.
For the meeting - keep it as specific as you can. Ask about entrance exam preparation and strategies for her to challenge herself while the focus is on Fifth. The Fifth Class curriculum is huge - you may want to acknowledge that you are aware of this.
How can we support her in....? Would it be helpful to...?
Avoid saying 'she says you're never prepared'. Remember the aim is to work together to help your daughter to learn and develop. Taking it from the perspective of her future learning would be more beneficial than just being critical.

byhookorbycrook

Lack of homework is not a negative. When you say the teacher isn't prepped, how do you mean?

DGOBS

Good approach Redser, thanks.....(as support is what we are prepared to do)

The lack of homework seems a negative to me when I see my daughter is behind the curriculum (in comparison to the other class)
I mean the teacher has no lessons or paperwork prepared for class, and seems to fumble the ball in class (the students are saying it!)

BonsaiKitten

The laptop issue isn't the teachers fault as the school should be providing that. As for entrance exam prep - find me that on the primary curriculum - it ain't there! So you may not get far complaining about a lack of prep for that. I'm not sure what you mean by paperwork for class, as fortnightly plans etc are not for kids to see. Worksheets perhaps?

In your meeting you need to go down the road of what should your daughter be doing to prepare for exams, what gaps are there in her understanding etc. You can tackle it without taking the kids word as gospel truth in to the meeting.

tony stark

Countless studies on homework to prove that it has no benefit in primary school. It is draconian and a way of pushing work home. Much more important to read and talk with your child. In saying that I think it's good to introduce it in 5th class as a preparatory tool for secondary school. ICT has also been proven to have no negative or positive effect on education. We joke in our school that you are not prepared ,if we see a teacher with a whiteboard presentation. Learning should be active not staring at a whiteboard. Games, discussion, projects etc. That's learning.

I personally had an awful teacher in 5th and 6th class. Little to no curriculum covered, plenty of lesssons with him talking for hours about his life and the rest of the time filling in endless workbooks etc etc. My parents paid a visit and he was horrible for the rest of the year to me. However I had a teacher that never made us open a workbook once. Only copies for recording answers and I scored extremely high that year, it was due to active learning. I also read so many novels that year due to teacher motivating me. My point is teachers are very different. Some tick all the boxes( notes are perfect, workbooks always filled in and immaculate) but they are cold fish and uninspired. Some are messy on the outside but caring, fun and inspiring.
Children in this class may be telling the truth or may not understand the teachers style. Thread very carefully here. Is teacher newly qualified? The Irish curriculum is overloaded. Before entering secondary school my main concern would be Maths. It is the one area that is extremely difficult to catch up in if there are gaps. Gently and very politely enquire about that area. Maybe teacher is using he excellent Mata as ranga program instead of the old textbooks. Also relax. If you reach a dead end with teacher then see the principal, but be nice. You'll ostracise yourself otherwise.

Big Bag of Chips

I was recently at an open night in a local secondary school and the principal made a point of telling the students "Don't worry about studying for the entrance exam. You can't do it. There is nothing to study. There is nothing you can study."

If you go into the parent teacher meeting then you talk about your child, and your child only. You don't talk about other children, other classes. You ask questions, obviously. You look for guidance on where you can help your child. Other children are largely irrelevant.

byhookorbycrook

Worksheets and workbooks aren't the be all and end all. I'd prefer a child to have a proper understanding of the topic than to spend ages slavishly filling in books for the sake of it. A certain amount of written work is essential, but the revised curriculum places far greater emphasis on practical and group skill based learning , rather than that "every child has to fill in every single page" approach.

Make specific notes as to what you perceive she has fallen behind in and your concerns.

IWBs and IT are tools, not ends in themselves, so again, don't be too swayed. Yes, they can enhance learning but are only as good as the learning that comes from them. As Big Bag of Chips says, it's often not possible to prep for entrance assessments, the more progressive schools don't use the Irish/English/maths formats in any case.

dooroy

https://fillingmymap.com/2015/04/15/11-ways-finlands-education-system-shows-us-that-less-is-more/
Makes interesting reading . As said already our system is overloaded and many parents tend to judge a schools worth on the amount of homework the pupils get.
I spent 38 years as a Primary teacher and never put much emphasis on homework. In 5th and 6th I would put a bit more emphasis on it in preparation for secondary where the amount of homework for first years,for example, overwhelms many of the students.
Filling in workbooks was another exercise whose value was questionable.
Homework can cause a lot of stress to both pupils and parents and when the school day is over children are tired ; and the same amount of homework can take one child half an hour , another child two hours etc ; and advising parents /children that they should only spend a specified length of time at homework is not much help either.