Is this reason enough to ask for a classroom change? (teaching, average)

[momtothree]

My daughter is in 2nd grade and is one of the "late" ones with her being the "oldest" in Sept. (Cut off in prior state was Aug 30th, here it is Oct 30th).

Her teacher last year was fantastic in the sense that she recognized there are different levels in the kids regarding schoolwork. She structured her classwork in such a way that it was ingenious but all kids were treated the same. For an example, she would read out spelling words in groups of 20. 10 "easier" words and 10 "harder" words in the beginning of the week. The hardest 10 words misspelled where their spelling words for the week. If they got them all right, it would be the last ten words. That way all the kids got challenged. And she did alot of other little things. She also assigned a homework packet for the week on Monday. You had all week to complete it but it averages out 10-15 minutes a day plus 20 minutes reading daily.

This year, this teacher is not requiring that. She rarely assigns homework. She also doesn't do the spelling words. Spelling words this week included the, able, and other really easy words. She said offhand they can do 10 minutes reading at home if they wish. Etc. I am NOT pleased with her style of teaching so far. I am going to curriculum night this week and ask some questions. If I hear that she isn't going to do what the teacher last year do, should I request a meeting with the principal and ask to change my daughter? Incidentally, her teacher last year is teaching 2nd grade. She actually pulled me aside and told me she wished she had daughter in her class and that she will miss her greatly.

What do you all think? Should I just let her have a dumbed down education this year and hope this teacher recommends gifted as the teacher last year did? Here they will only evaluate daughter for gifted in second grade.

And I truly know that daughter is doing really well, she was the only student in her class to have a 6th grade reading/comprehension level in her class. They took a accelarated reading test last week and all their scores are posted on a poster board. Hers was the highest, the next one was 3rd grade level.

[Mrs.Bewitched]

Originally Posted by momtothree

My daughter is in 2nd grade and is one of the "late" ones with her being the "oldest" in Sept. (Cut off in prior state was Aug 30th, here it is Oct 30th).

Her teacher last year was fantastic in the sense that she recognized there are different levels in the kids regarding schoolwork. She structured her classwork in such a way that it was ingenious but all kids were treated the same. For an example, she would read out spelling words in groups of 20. 10 "easier" words and 10 "harder" words in the beginning of the week. The hardest 10 words misspelled where their spelling words for the week. If they got them all right, it would be the last ten words. That way all the kids got challenged. And she did alot of other little things. She also assigned a homework packet for the week on Monday. You had all week to complete it but it averages out 10-15 minutes a day plus 20 minutes reading daily.

This year, this teacher is not requiring that. She rarely assigns homework. She also doesn't do the spelling words. Spelling words this week included the, able, and other really easy words. She said offhand they can do 10 minutes reading at home if they wish. Etc. I am NOT pleased with her style of teaching so far. I am going to curriculum night this week and ask some questions. If I hear that she isn't going to do what the teacher last year do, should I request a meeting with the principal and ask to change my daughter? Incidentally, her teacher last year is teaching 2nd grade. She actually pulled me aside and told me she wished she had daughter in her class and that she will miss her greatly.

What do you all think? Should I just let her have a dumbed down education this year and hope this teacher recommends gifted as the teacher last year did? Here they will only evaluate daughter for gifted in second grade.

And I truly know that daughter is doing really well, she was the only student in her class to have a 6th grade reading/comprehension level in her class. They took a accelarated reading test last week and all their scores are posted on a poster board. Hers was the highest, the next one was 3rd grade level.

1- Not all teaching styles are the same. If it's not a personality class, I would still see how it goes- it is still early in the year.

2- as for the spelling words, teachers don't just make them up. Any word that a teacher gets is from a mandated district book, so those are the words that she HAS to give your daughter, and it will be the same for any teacher. I am a first grade teacher, we haven't started spelling yet, but my first week of spelling consists of the words "I", "me", "my"....I know parents of advanced children are going to be screaming "whatttttt??????!!!!!". But, those are the words I HAVE to give, and that's it. Now of course I will incorporate strategies with those words for advanced learners, but the words aren't going to change.

3. I guarantee that she will NOT being doing things the way last year's teacher did...she is not last year's teacher. She is this year's teacher, a completely different person.

4. As for AR (accelerated reader), my school does that too. We are told that we are NOT allowed to count any of the test scores from that program as a grade, because they are not accurate. They are inflated scores, meaning that a child is NOT as high as the AR level says. So I wouldn't base anything at all off of those scores, at all.

I would do curriculum night, and ask your questions. Ask her: "How do you differentiate instruction for the children who are advanced learners?" Also ask her: "I was quite surprised at the amount of homework that is assigned. Will the children be receiving a larger amount of homework, such as spelling, (put in other title here)?"

[veuvegirl]

I think you are over-reacting. School has just started. I would definitely express your concerns to the teacher, tell her your expectations, and see what her reaction is.

[121804]

A little early in the year to already assume that the teacher is dumbing down the work.

As stated by a previous poster, the teacher has words she is required to teach the students. She is not pulling them out of thin air. It's Sept & she is reviewing from last year.

Please remember a GENERAL INTEGRATED classroom has students of all learning levels. The teacher needs to reach b/w 20-32 children who all learn differently & are all on different learning levels in ONE lesson.

Accelerated Reader is a motivational tool, not a comprehension tool or teaching tool. We were never allowed to use AR grades or post them for everyone to see. Even if we were, I would never post grades in public view. Grades are different than stickers, also

We are all proud of our children. We all want our chilren to be challenged and excel.

There is nothing more irritating to a teacher to hear "Last year's teacher...". It's not "last year" anymore. It's now. Different teacher. Different style. Different material.

Different.

Set up a conference with the teacher. Talk to her one on one with professional courtesy & politeness. Voice your concerns. Let her talk. Listen to what she says.

Give this some time. You are sort of overreacting. Not saying you shouldn't want the best for your daughter, but this is a different teacher & new year. You have to except that fact & meet the teacher half way.

And to answer to the title: absolutely not based on the fact is the start of the school year & sounds like personal issue.

[charz]

I've been dealing with a similar issue with my daughter who is in first grade. She was in full-day kindergarten in KY; we moved to TN this summer where kindergarten ends at 1pm. She has bringing work home since August 11 which is what she did in kindergarten. I asked for a parent conference and exchanged several notes and email. She is being moved into 2nd grade for the reading block. I say all this to say that it worked for me to communicate with the teacher. I would start with that. I'm a teacher myself--I appreciate parents that communicate with me before leaping to the principal or automatically asking for a class change.

[momtothree]

I guess it is only the third week. We had "results" with last year's teacher right from the first week. Maybe this teacher moves slower? I am going tomorrow night to see what her presentation is for curriculum night and will arrange a meeting if I am unable to speak with her as I know it is a hectic night and she might not have time to converse.

I might be jumping the gun. I will wait and see.

[121804]

Originally Posted by momtothree

Maybe this teacher moves slower?

Maybe. Maybe not.

You seem to be very concerned she is not like last year's teacher. You need to stop putting that unrealistic expectation on her.

What if the teacher was saying to your daughter "You are not as good as my student last year." ?

It's always hard to go from having a teacher you enjoy to one that just isn't clicking. But, it's going to happen all throughout your child's education.

If you want to spend the year comparing, it may be very dissapointing & drain a lot of unnecessary energy.

Give some time. Make an appt. if you are not happy. A good teacher can sit down with you & go over things one & one. It's not a problem & most decent teachers appreciate that A LOT better than a parent coming up to them during an open house & drilling them when other parents are around.

[momtothree]

Originally Posted by 121804

Maybe. Maybe not.



Give some time. Make an appt. if you are not happy. A good teacher can sit down with you & go over things one & one. It's not a problem & most decent teachers appreciate that A LOT better than a parent coming up to them during an open house & drilling them when other parents are around.

I think I was clear in my post that I was not going to attempt to talk with her on curriculum night and would make an appointment? Only way I would talk to her if she was alone and had a few minutes. And I never stated I was going to drill her. I was simply going to ask a few questions if it wasn't already covered in her presentation.

And I am not really comparing her personality to last year's teacher. I am only looking at the work given and how they handle the different levels in the classroom. And since I know that the school allows extra work to be assigned since that is what the teacher did last year is what I am going by. The fact that it can happen. Not so much that the teacher last year is so much nicer etc.

[crazyme4878]

Don't worry momtothree--I didn't think you were comparing teacher to teacher, but curriculum to curriculum. You also never stated anything about not liking the current teacher. I know I am going to offend, but I'm still going to say it--some posters here are overly sensitive on the teacher-side, while scoffing at anyone stating their child is advance.

You have valid concerns, and I believe spotting them immediately will help you solve them easier. I would also see if you can find a time to talk with your daughter's teacher from last year. She will know both your daughter and (to some degree) your daughter's new teacher. She might be able to give you some insight; however, I would talk with her as casually as possible about it.

[hypocore]

Some things that come to mind....already mentioned is that AR is not a solid system to judge reading on, especially compared to other students, for various reasons. Similar to library book clubs, it works best for those who love to read and read well.

Instead rely on the teacher to do the grade level testing for reading that most do at the beginning of the year to see where your daughter stands. From there the teacher can see where she might need different, not necessarily more, work than the regular curriculum provides.

As far as spelling words, another poster mentioned there are required lists they must use. Although it's not unusual for teachers to add in more challenging words, that doesn't usually occur until 4-6 weeks into the school year, in my experience. Also, once you get into 2nd-3rd grades they start adding in vocabulary words that tie in multiple subjects, so there is far more to it than just spelling them correctly.

Personally, I look for work that takes my children deeper than the average child in order to keep them challenged, more than I look for just extra work. My son is in Kindergarten and the teacher is giving him 1st grade math and reading assignments on occasion, instead of the regular K ones. Today he tells me that after he finished his math work he helped the other kids in the class, which is another way he can sharpen his abilities, though it's not something she will do frequently.

After they complete the state required reading assessments, he likely will go to the 1st grade classes for his reading curriculum, as that would best fit his level. (this is how they also handled it for my now 5th grader)

A fellow K teacher who had my daughter in 1st grade and knows her advanced abilities and has seen my son in 'action' before gave my son's K teacher a heads up about him. Then I talked to his teacher briefly after our curriculum meeting as well. She began to do some prelim assessments and now has a good idea of what he can do before the actual assessments are done. So, we expect to have a good plan of action for him after the 6 weeks grading period is finished. That, to me is an acceptable time frame to get a handle on their needs.