Elementary School Concerns/Issues

I don't know how to navigate this. Not willing to raise hell, think that would create more problems in a tiny school and tiny community. Small school, has the same teacher for two grades in a row (K&1, 2&3, 4&5) so she'll have the same teacher next year.

She flourished and excelled under first two grades teacher (Kindergarten and 1st grade), steady decline with new teacher this year. How does a kid go from PROUD and MOTIVATED to discouraged in 1/2 year? Yes, it was math and science that she excelled in.

Parent teacher conference Nov 2018 with new teacher, behind in math (2 books per grade) "Oh, not just her, the whole class is behind in math". Parent teacher conference Feb 2019, "she's great at math, she even helps the older kids (mine is in 2nd grade, her class includes 3rd graders) with solving math problems!" "Math breakout groups are chaos".

First time we saw her part one of a the two part math book for 2nd grade was last November. After that it rarely came home. Couple times it was actually written on her homework sheet but no book. He was absent and it was a substitute teacher or he forgot to send the books home, subs do not assign homework. This teacher has excessive absences medical and family, which frankly I find odd that he tells the kiddos that amount of personal information as well as much of it is BS such as the reports he has to write to his mother...... Several times daughter had math on homework list he could not find her book, said they found her math book a couple days/next week later she said he finally found it under his desk. (her homework not done) , his home desk like today? I assumed it was his school desk Today it was "My teacher was up late writing a report and woke up late so he forgot to bring my math book back from his home because he needs to bring them home when he has lots of math to grade". Ummmm, the "lost math book was under teachers school desk or his home desk?!!!

It does not matter to me if your whole class is behind. Get a grip on the class even if they you insist on having them break out into pairs or small groups for math. I'm sorry you have medical and family issues, omg if you are going to have excessive days off then the substitute teachers have them assign homework and send the darn math homework book home! Concerned.

 

I agree with Redneck - we’re talking about l’il one’s future.... no holds barred, go for the jugular. Diplomatically.

 

We have kept the math book on the few times it comes home on a Thursday night, sorry if she misses recess, it is what it is at this time. That said even now it rarely comes home on Thursdays. Other obstical is this is "new math" which is quite challenging to figure out though each of us know basic math, algebra and beyond well.

I could not agree more you two!!

 

Agree.
With a school official present as a witness to avoid “he said/she said” BS.

 

Thank you Hoarders,

I'm meeting with the new teacher later this week just him and me. Previous meetings last Nov and this Feb included WWW and the part-time reading co-teacher, said new teacher had too many avenues to transgress/distract/go off path with all 4 of us and frankly none of us could keep him on track as is evident with how he lets the classroom run amock. Duh, restating my concerns.... I'd like to make a punch list here if you all don't mind and welcome issues I should address that I might miss? I'll some of of my list out tomorrow?

 

My grammar police alarm indicator light is already lit....

 

Thanks EVW

I went back and edited some sentences, is this better? Sorry, distracted and yadda yadda, worse than I realized, how's the new version?

 

Yes, I assume she does contribute,

Learned early on she would rather visit/talk/play with classmates than eat lunch which became apparent after she started Kindergarten. Her teacher for those two years and the lunch ladies were more than willing to tell her to eat before visiting, problem solved. She did "good"in reading and excelled in math under that teacher. I have no doubt this tendency is contributing to the new teacher's "open" math groups that he is doing. Of course my knee jerk reaction is "what happened to doing your assignment at your desk?" but realize that is no longer the norm. That said it's still a stark difference.

She does not have any medical conditions beyond eye glasses, no behavioral problems either. Except her attitude on homework has taken a drastic change this year.

 

Good luck wildwest. That has to be tough for sure.

And why do they keep changing the way kids have to do math? I do not understand this and there is no wonder American kids are behind other countries by teaching the way they do.... Okay, rant over.

 

Thank you everyone for your input.

Brainstorming issues to discuss :

"Full Disclosure, (using Beetle-Kill's suggestion, rolls well for me), she's fallen behind this year, lost motivation and confidence, help me craft a plan to get her back on track?".

Bringing a pad of paper and pencil, I need to write things down, last meeting I got home with 4 post-it notes stating different terms for meetings with her "team", meaning WWW, myself, him, and the part time co-teacher and other insignificant details instead concrete tools to be of better assistance for her at home. Explain he may have to talk slower and wait while I jot, this will enable me to keep him on track better as well as get some concrete plans put in place instead of long diversions. Idk, weird, guessing we're not far off in age with his own parents. Going to be very gentle, he almost seemed scared last time, catch more bees with honey than vinegar.....

• What can we do to ensure she (or you or substitute teacher if need be) fills out her homework assignment sheet every night? EVERY night.
• What do we put in place to ensure her math book comes home every night?
• Where can I find resources so I can learn the new core math to better help her? (fishingpol )
• I'd like to work with her on math and reading over summer break, can we have her math book? If not where can I get copy?

• It's clear she would rather help the other kids during open math group breakouts (I would surmise much of that is actually visiting) than work on her own assignments.. What can we do so she completes her own pages first before visiting other groups?
• How are your headaches? (the medical issues). Niceties, well wishes, your substitutes do not assign homework.
• How do I break out "Fundations"? First semester she was pleased to do the whole week in a few nights, now with math coming home too I'm unclear of what is due the next day/week. It would be beneficial for her to do an hour+ of homework per night instead of 2+hours a couple days a week, can we make that happen?
• What can we put in place to prevent her from falling behind again next year?

Input appreciated Hoarders!


I've talked to two other parents in that class that I am friendly with and trust, one mother has not noticed and the other mother has a chip on her shoulder, said the teacher plays favorites.

I would in a heartbeat, 3 room school, unfortunately no other classes, 11 total students make up her grade 2 and grade 3 classroom.

I enrolled her in an at home reading program this summer, hoping it helps me learn to help her learn, it's more structured than ABCMouse, and frankly her teachers were clear as mud on what reading level she is at. We're doing the 2nd grade level again so she has a better grip for learning 3rd grade reading since she's not progressed very far this year.

Math, I can get through most of it but studying it to determine what the book wants takes me a while, then a weird dynamic between kiddo and I starts "time for your homework , Oh, now hurry and wait for 6 minutes kiddo while I figure it out then study hard again". Not ideal. This Leads to another item for my list, I want to do math with her this summer, looked up buying her a copy of her math book for the house, it's an expensive school district program, a couple thousand $$ and one must be an educational professional etc. I'll ask her teacher for math booklet #2 for the summer. If he declines, I'll ask for an alternative. I refuse to let her go through the next 10 years with one arm tied behind her back.

Ugg, I have to add, her entire report card last time was 2's. I'm sorry, that's like filling out a multiple choice test with all C's. Cannot help but wonder if the all 2's report card is similar to math books not getting graded and "left at home".