New class, New teacher

Skodafan

Hi All,

Not sure if in the correct forum but I have a question.

How strict should a teacher be on First class kids.

I have absolutely no problem with the lay been laid down with my chìld however since the first day of term my child plus several others have received notes in their journal saying that they are being disruptive in class , they are looking out the window etc etc. Everyday

It all seems a bit much, it's a small class approx 15 students and 7 parents are being called in by this teacher every other day.

They had a very relaxed senior infants teacher and we ar thinking maybe a bit too relaxed and they got away with murder .

If this is normal behaviour for a teacher, what can I do or say to my child so that their behaviour can improve 6 i feel is very young to already be getting in so much trouble at school.

byhookorbycrook

Several small issues repeatedly among half of the class is highly disruptive. First class is a big step up from infants, both in terms of expectations and the level of classwork. And the longer day plus lack of routine over the summer probably means the children are exhausted, so teacher needs to put the foot down to set a routine.

However it may well be that teacher IS too strict, but I would make an appointment to meet with her/him and approach it a collaborative get together where you both work together for the best outcome for your child.

evolving_doors

The style might be all talk and chalk with teacher demanding q00% attention while they prattle on. Whereas last year the previous teacher might have had the kids going around in stations with low level conversation going on without reprimand.
Dare I suggest, the teacher's methods may not be engaging enough.
Is it a learning problem... or a teaching one:D
Ask the teacher are they involved in group work and how is their behaviour during that?

heldel00

This is me! I am that teacher at the minute!!!
I inherited a very, VERY noisy class this year. I have 31 in the room, 20 first class and 11 second. It is hectic at the best of times but especially with the 2 classes. I have never had a class like this. They are good fun but very hard going.
So for the past ten days i have been setting down the ground rules. Letting them know how our classroom works and what is expected of them. Eg: when i am doing maths with 2nd, first class are expected to do the work given quietly until i get back to them etc...It is only fair that they know the lie of the land.
As draining as it is i have to do it or else we are all in for a very tough year.
Today i actually saw a glimmer of hope so i know that next week i will be able to relax the "giving out" and get on with it.

Ray Donovan

heldel00 wrote: »

This is me! I am that teacher at the minute!!!
I inherited a very, VERY noisy class this year. I have 31 in the room, 20 first class and 11 second. It is hectic at the best of times but especially with the 2 classes. I have never had a class like this. They are good fun but very hard going.
So for the past ten days i have been setting down the ground rules. Letting them know how our classroom works and what is expected of them. Eg: when i am doing maths with 2nd, first class are expected to do the work given quietly until i get back to them etc...It is only fair that they know the lie of the land.
As draining as it is i have to do it or else we are all in for a very tough year.
Today i actually saw a glimmer of hope so i know that next week i will be able to relax the "giving out" and get on with it.

I hear you on that one. I have 29 students. 19 in 4th class and 10 in 5th class.
In Maths alone I have the following:
1st class level: 1 student
2nd class level: 2 students
4th class level: 24 students
5th class level: 2 students

At the moment it’s actually carnage!!! Doing my absolute best with them all but it’s physically impossible to devote enough time to all the different levels. Differentiation gone bananas.

heldel00

And that is just maths! Wait until new lang curric gets up that far and it'll be a real party.
SEN too. I have a little girl with autism in the class as well and i honestly feel at the minute that I'm failing her. Hate it but hopefully when all settles i can turn more attention to her.

shellconn

Teacher approach to teaching and classroom management will always differ slightly. A low level of chat may be acceptable to one teacher and another teacher may want all eyes and ears on them.
Regarding the comment about the teacher being all chalk and talk, this may not be completely fair!
If children are to learn, they need to listen. Listening is a vital component to any communicative relationship. As is oral language.

There is a time for children to be engaged in group work but in order for this to be a meaningful learning experience they will first have had to listen to the instructions and guidelines. When recapping on what they learned, they need to have the skill to listen to each other.

I think things will settle down. The start of the year can be tense time for everyone involved.

On a final note, good communication between the teacher and parent will make for a happy parent.

screamer

I've no problems with teachers being strict... But not to the point that they scare kids or put them off school, ( i had such a teacher in first class and she put the fear of God in me, to the point t that I won't even acknowledge her when I see her to this day). theres balance and kids are demanding, but I'd expect teachers of a people would know that. To me a teacher that shouts and roars or is extremely strict is one who isn't coping well. Kids respond to kindness better.....
OP don't take crap from the teacher either go in and talk to them and ensure they don't have a god complex....teachers can be great at talking you down and treating adults like children too....

byhookorbycrook

screamer wrote: »

I've no problems with teachers being strict... But not to the point that they scare kids or put them off school, ( i had such a teacher in first class and she put the fear of God in me, to the point t that I won't even acknowledge her when I see her to this day). theres balance and kids are demanding, but I'd expect teachers of a people would know that. To me a teacher that shouts and roars or is extremely strict is one who isn't coping well. Kids respond to kindness better.....
OP don't take crap from the teacher either go in and talk to them and ensure they don't have a god complex....teachers can be great at talking you down and treating adults like children too....

There is no mention of "shouting and roaring," or a "god complex" or evidence that the teacher is "extremely strict"- the OP themselves is wondering if the infant teacher was far too lax which is making this teacher seem stricter.I think you may be letting your own experience colour your response a little. I know all about extremely strict teachers,by the way, I was beaten frequently by a when I was 4 to try to force me to use my right hand.

evolving_doors

Calling in 7 parents in a class of 15!
Something going on if the teacher can't manage it themselves. Or maybe that's normal!
As always, devil's in the detail as nobody knows really what's going on.

pooch90

It depends what they're being called in about tbh. I'm teaching SI&1st. I have had to be so strict so far. And a lot of chalk and talk until they can follow instructions and pay attention. I've had very rough classes with boys who were constantly battering each other on yard. In those situations I'd be calling the parents in regularly. If it's just over being inattentive in class(as per notes in journals) then that's OTT. 50% of the class is a bit much but it very much depends on class dynamics.

byhookorbycrook

evolving_doors wrote: »

Calling in 7 parents in a class of 15!
Something going on if the teacher can't manage it themselves. Or maybe that's normal!
As always, devil's in the detail as nobody knows really what's going on.

A class size of 15 would possibly indicate that the school is a DEIS school,which can carry some issues- some disadvantaged children may have been very unsettled by the holiday period, some may be poor attenders and thus struggling to keep up etc. but as you say, devil's in the detail.

byhookorbycrook

And to the poster who is telling the Op "not to take crap from a teacher"- that's neither helpful or constructive. The OP needs to meet the teacher in a non-confrontational manner to ascertain all the facts at the very least and take it from there.

FeirmeoirtTed

screamer wrote: »

I've no problems with teachers being strict... But not to the point that they scare kids or put them off school, ( i had such a teacher in first class and she put the fear of God in me, to the point t that I won't even acknowledge her when I see her to this day). theres balance and kids are demanding, but I'd expect teachers of a people would know that. To me a teacher that shouts and roars or is extremely strict is one who isn't coping well. Kids respond to kindness better.....
OP don't take crap from the teacher either go in and talk to them and ensure they don't have a god complex....teachers can be great at talking you down and treating adults like children too....

You are that 1 parent in every class who gives parents a bad name, the god complex disappeared with the cane years ago. Things have moved on thankfully for teachers and children

evolving_doors

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

A class size of 15 would possibly indicate that the school is a DEIS school,which can carry some issues- some disadvantaged children may have been very unsettled by the holiday period, some may be poor attenders and thus struggling to keep up etc. but as you say, devil's in the detail.

Could be a rural school too

byhookorbycrook

There are DEIS rural schools too but with a single level class of 15, it's unlikely to be a small rural school-there would be probably 2 or more classes in the room.if that's the case, the teacher will have to set down the lines pretty fast, teaching a multi-level class is like juggling!

Skodafan

Hi all ,

Thanks for all the great really helpful replies.

So a couple of weeks gave passed by and things really seem to have settled down. Little man is getting on great and I've seen this teacher cracking a smile every now and again in what was otherwise quiet a stern exterior. It would appear that concerns about the senior infants teacher have in fact been raised following feedback from myself and other parents, to the school principal about how strict we felt this first class teacher was.

It would appear senior infants are getting away with absolute murder with little to no structure being implemented in their day and to a degree they do as they please.

The structure and extra work expected of them in first class seems to be something they simply were not prepared for or expecting leading to frustrations from everyone.

Things have settled down and little man seems to really enjoy the structures days and his level of Maths and Spellings has really come on so much in a few weeks.

wirelessdude01

Every teacher does things differently. I know in our school that the way we approach maths for example is very personal to each teacher. Some are very process/method driven, others are all about activities and hands on experience.

byhookorbycrook

Glad things have settled down and your boy is happier. To be fair to the infant teacher, Aistear does appear to lack structure, unless you know what's actually going on.Thanks for getting back to update.