Teacher Embarrasses 3rd Grader

[Anonymous]

My 3rd grader has ADHD and we're in the process of establishing an IEP. There was an incident last week where she was given a classroom assignment, but did not complete it because she didn't understand the concept. And when the teacher tried to explain it to her, she still wasn't quite getting it. At that moment, the teacher gets her out of her seat and says "looks like you need to go back to kindergarten." This is done in front of the class, so she's embarrassed. And then the 3rd grade teacher ushers her down to a kindergarten class and tells the kindergarten teacher that she can't help my daughter, which embarrassed her further in front of the kindergarteners. I was mortified when my daughter shared this story. I'm awaiting a meeting with the principal to discuss what happened. In the meantime, any thoughts around how to keep her out of a situation where she's clearly not being supported educationally? For what it's worth, her ADHD is a formal diagnosis on file with the school.

[Anonymous]

Is the ADHD relevant to the issue in this instance?

[Anonymous]

Teacher here. That's awful and I'm sorry it happened to your child. Is this a new teacher?

[Anonymous]

I would ask for teachers side if story before deciding what to do

[Anonymous]

I would ask the principal what will be done to make this right for your DD. Starting with more training for that teacher, including an apology to your DD (teach her this weekend that she doesn't have to say "okay" to any apology or accept any one given - that she can just say "thank you for apologizing") in front of the class, and what the teacher will do differently in the future.

Perhaps DD should be moved to a different class. You know, with a teacher who accepts learning differences. With a teacher whose goal is to teach rather than to humiliate.

Love,
An adult woman with severe learning disabilities who understood significantly less than 50% of anything taught in school

[Anonymous]

You need to speak with the teacher with the principal. Stay calm and give the teacher a chance to share her side. I have no idea how she could deny this. I mean, a kid could misunderstand or misremember what a teacher says. But I can’t imagine any valid reason for this teacher to take your kid down to another classroom. That’s beyond ridiculous, and I’m so sorry this happened to your child.

I’d ask for two things: The teacher apologizes to your child with you there and second, that your child be moved to another class beginning the Monday after Thanksgiving.

—an elementary school principal

[Anonymous]

The teacher left her class unsupervised?

[Anonymous]

I can’t imagine that a teacher left the 3rd grade class unsupervised to play this joke on your daughter. The original comment is dumb but I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it. Walking to a K classroom is crazy.

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe this actually happened. I guess I cou”d maybe see the comment happening. But you are claiming the teacher left her own classroom alone, walked your daughter down to the kindergarten classroom, interrupted the kindergarten teacher, just to tell that teacher she can’t help your daughter? No teacher would do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teacher left her class unsupervised?

Yeah, I don't buy this story at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t imagine that a teacher left the 3rd grade class unsupervised to play this joke on your daughter. The original comment is dumb but I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it. Walking to a K classroom is crazy.

That was not a joke, it was a serious mistake on the part of the teacher. It is definitely possible the teacher left the class unsupervised if they are moronic enough to talk to a student like that and then think it's appropriate to take them to the kindergarten class, yes, that idiot might very well leave a class unsupervised. It's also possible there was an aide in the room.

I worked as a paraprofessional for many years and I did see this type of incredibly bad teaching behavior sometimes although it was rare. I would advise any parent in this situation to definitely make a big deal about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3rd grader has ADHD and we're in the process of establishing an IEP. There was an incident last week where she was given a classroom assignment, but did not complete it because she didn't understand the concept. And when the teacher tried to explain it to her, she still wasn't quite getting it. At that moment, the teacher gets her out of her seat and says "looks like you need to go back to kindergarten." This is done in front of the class, so she's embarrassed. And then the 3rd grade teacher ushers her down to a kindergarten class and tells the kindergarten teacher that she can't help my daughter, which embarrassed her further in front of the kindergarteners. I was mortified when my daughter shared this story. I'm awaiting a meeting with the principal to discuss what happened. In the meantime, any thoughts around how to keep her out of a situation where she's clearly not being supported educationally? For what it's worth, her ADHD is a formal diagnosis on file with the school.

This is rather detailed to be believable

[Anonymous]

Holy crap. I am so sorry that happened. I would be speaking with the principal and looking for an alternative teacher assignment, frankly. That teacher needs a leave of absence to address her obvious mental health issues, but she's probably not going to take one, so I'd just focus on getting my kid out of her class.

Use the establishment of the IEP as leverage if necessary, but to be honest you shouldn't even need it. Yes it's worse because the teacher was punishing your child for something they had no control over. But even if you raid didn't have ADHD, that would be an unacceptable response to a child not understanding an assignment.

[Anonymous]

OP here - While the situation may seem unbelievable, it actually happened. My daughter has no frame of reference to make up such a situation. And I don't know if the teacher left her class unsupervised. Thank you PPs with the advice about speaking with the principal and teacher and requesting an apology. I will definitely be pursuing those ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3rd grader has ADHD and we're in the process of establishing an IEP. There was an incident last week where she was given a classroom assignment, but did not complete it because she didn't understand the concept. And when the teacher tried to explain it to her, she still wasn't quite getting it. At that moment, the teacher gets her out of her seat and says "looks like you need to go back to kindergarten." This is done in front of the class, so she's embarrassed. And then the 3rd grade teacher ushers her down to a kindergarten class and tells the kindergarten teacher that she can't help my daughter, which embarrassed her further in front of the kindergarteners. I was mortified when my daughter shared this story. I'm awaiting a meeting with the principal to discuss what happened. In the meantime, any thoughts around how to keep her out of a situation where she's clearly not being supported educationally? For what it's worth, her ADHD is a formal diagnosis on file with the school.

This is rather detailed to be believable

Good point. It is an interesting amount of detail from a parent who wasn't there. I call troll.