Kindergarten teacher's discipline

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you are overreacting.

Address your son's silliness. He will not be permanently damaged from going to sit with the babies. He may even remember the next time he wants to be silly that he got sent back to pre-k.

PS - I have a son in K. In all situations, I don't address other's actions. I address the only person he can control (himself).

If something egregious happens, yes, I will address it with the teacher/parents/principal. What you are describing (IMO) does not rise to that level.

I agree. Control what you can control - your kid. Shaming a kid is not going to destroy their self esteem. A little shaming at the right time and done in the right way can help a child a learn the right behaviors. It's not unreasonable to make the argument that if you can't control yourself, you should spend time with a peer group who is at your same level.

+1

[Anonymous]

Shame should not be a disciplinary tactic. He's 5 - he barely has any self-control at this point, he didn't get to exercise at recess, and now he's being asked to sit quietly. This is an unfair ask of the child. I would contact the teacher.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I do have respect for teachers and early childhood educators as I am a preschool teacher myself and have been for the past 10 years. I also volunteer at my sons school and am the room parent for his class. So I do stay connected with my sons teacher, and we do discuss his behavior at home as well. I don't believe in these special snowflakes and every child should get a trophy, or being a helicopter parent. I agree that my child or any other child for that matter should not be able to disrupt the class. What I don't ageee with was the shaming and sending him to a younger classroom. I feel there was no positive lesson learned from being sent to the younger classroom, besides shaming him, and disrupting another class. I would have no problem if he was asked to sit someone else, or even in the office where he could have had positive redirection. I use positive redirection in my classroom and at home. Instead of just saying we don't hit, we say hands are for using good deeds and we give examples so they know what hands ARE used for.

[Anonymous]

Oh for heaven's sake, your child wasn't placed in a corner with a dunce cap. He was reprimanded for misbehaving, probably multiple times. Perhaps next time, he will think twice when the teacher asks him to behave.

[Anonymous]

They send misbehaving kindergartners to pk at my school too. I think it's mostly back to the same teacher that they had in pk. I'm not sure it's such a big deal shaming thing. I do have mixed feelings about it. I didn't know it was a widespread practice.

[Anonymous]

I think the teacher should have sent him into the hallway to race up and down it twice, and then to do 20 jumping jacks, then two sun salutations/down dogs and see if that got some of his energy out and re-focused him. THAT would address the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you are overreacting.

Address your son's silliness. He will not be permanently damaged from going to sit with the babies. He may even remember the next time he wants to be silly that he got sent back to pre-k.

This is so true! We don't have preschool at our school, but we have a principal that the kids love and don't like to disappoint. Nobody wants to be sent to the office. The walk of shame!

I agree with a PP that you may be surprised to hear what the teacher has to say about your child. I doubt it was the first time also, and she had probably just had enough of his interruptions.

If you could be a fly on the wall of a kindergarten classroom you'd have such empathy for these teachers and what they deal with teaching children how to "do" school, all while teaching them required standards! It's a tough year.

I agree. Hopefully your son learned to listen and pay attention the first time. Next time I would make him stay in the pre k class all day long because as she said he clearly isn't ready for kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, you are overreacting.

Address your son's silliness. He will not be permanently damaged from going to sit with the babies. He may even remember the next time he wants to be silly that he got sent back to pre-k.

This is so true! We don't have preschool at our school, but we have a principal that the kids love and don't like to disappoint. Nobody wants to be sent to the office. The walk of shame!

I agree with a PP that you may be surprised to hear what the teacher has to say about your child. I doubt it was the first time also, and she had probably just had enough of his interruptions.

If you could be a fly on the wall of a kindergarten classroom you'd have such empathy for these teachers and what they deal with teaching children how to "do" school, all while teaching them required standards! It's a tough year.

I agree. Hopefully your son learned to listen and pay attention the first time. Next time I would make him stay in the pre k class all day long because as she said he clearly isn't ready for kindergarten.

This. I hate the "they are just five" comments. If your "just five" year old can't behave in class like the other "just five" year kids, the issue is probably with your kid. And yes, teachers know kids will squirm and fidget and interrupt and shout out and giggle and be silly, and these things DO happen, but when it becomes such a disturbance that interferes with my teaching, your kid will be disciplined. If. Have to tell you enough times, you'll get to work alone in the hallway with a parapro, and your parents will be emailed. The teacher is telling you so you can help get your kid in line. As a teacher yourself, none of this should be hard to understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the teacher should have sent him into the hallway to race up and down it twice, and then to do 20 jumping jacks, then two sun salutations/down dogs and see if that got some of his energy out and re-focused him. THAT would address the problem.

Right. He should be special and allowed to run in the hallway making noise and disturbing people (yet again!) because he can't sit like the rest. And who's out there watching him when he's doing all this running?

[Anonymous]

Why isn't anyone concerned about the pre-K kids who had their day interrupted by a larger, older, out of control boy? I wouldn't want the problem kid from K in my kid's pre-K class.

Don't make him another teacher's problem - that's just passing the buck and not addressing anything. But I guess if the preK teacher isn't complaining, you might not have standing to complain about it on her behalf.

[Anonymous]

OP, I would also be upset about the shaming tactic and would tell your teacher and ask to see the literature that supports this sort of discipline as a worthwhile and effective method.

I'd likely start off by asking if this is a discipline tactic she employs regularly and then I'd request a meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would also be upset about the shaming tactic and would tell your teacher and ask to see the literature that supports this sort of discipline as a worthwhile and effective method.

I'd likely start off by asking if this is a discipline tactic she employs regularly and then I'd request a meeting.

If you want to be viewed as a PITA. I'm sure the principal knows this goes on in her school. And she's bviously ok with this tactic and technique. And there's have mentioned their schools use this technique.

But by all means, be "that person" who questions how the teachers get stuff done. They will LOVE you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I would also be upset about the shaming tactic and would tell your teacher and ask to see the literature that supports this sort of discipline as a worthwhile and effective method.

I'd likely start off by asking if this is a discipline tactic she employs regularly and then I'd request a meeting.

+1. I don't think kids should be shamed at school. The concern is that this will be an approach she takes frequently as a discipline method with your child and others.

OP, as a preschool teacher, I think you are better educated on this topic than the other posters. Listen to your instincts. I would think carefully about how to approach the teacher about it so as not to be a PITA. But I think it is worth a discussion and possibly also a discussion with the school counselor.

[Anonymous]

Lol at this whole thread. Classroom removal is a discipline technique used at most schools. At my odd's school they go to a different class and complete a think about it sheet.
This happens after repeated attempts to redirect and counsel don't work.

Weird how all the other kids other than op's were able to behave. #notallfiveyeards

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the teacher doesn't have very good behavior management skills and needs some help. Also that she should make her circle times more active to address young childrens' need for movement. I would contact the principal.

--early / elementary teacher, administrator, & teacher-educator

Go to the principal? For this? That is crazy.