My kids K teacher...

[Anonymous]

warm and fuzzy has no place in a classroom full of >25 5/6 year old's. The teachers don't have the energy and support there to manage such a big classroom so they emphasize on the rule-following more and more these days, which is hard for kids especially boys at a young age. I'd say suck it up and try your best cooperating with the teacher if you can't afford private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:warm and fuzzy has no place in a classroom full of >25 5/6 year old's. The teachers don't have the energy and support there to manage such a big classroom so they emphasize on the rule-following more and more these days, which is hard for kids especially boys at a young age. I'd say suck it up and try your best cooperating with the teacher if you can't afford private.

I disagree. I've had 3 kids go through kindergarten in MCPS and I loved all three kindergarten teachers-- lots of hugs and smiles, yet firm voices when necessary. I don't recall seeing any major disciplinary problems they weren't on top of though of course I wasn't in the classroom much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A good portion of my kids MoCo class was redshirted, too. I believe you because kids talk and know each other's birthdays. I sent my late-August child and she is supposed to compete with kids a year older than her. She is used to it now but it is unfortunate.

With all due respect, elementary school is not a race. FWIW, I sent late-July child to school on time, and she's doing just fine in 4th, compacted math and all.

[Anonymous]

I find it hard to believe most kids are 6. My child is the absolute youngest usually by 4-6 months with a September birthday as we pushed ahead. There are probably a few who turned in August, September or October.

[Anonymous]

Did your son go to preschool? If so, was it full-day?

I get that she's not the #1 Best K Teacher, but is it possible you're letting some of your displeasure or anger show to your son? I am guilty of this sometimes with my older child, and he really REALLY feeds off of it if I am not careful.

[Anonymous]

I would schedule a meeting with her and see how it goes. Don't be accusatory and just try to listen to what she says. Tell her that your kid is coming home crying and upset every day and that you think he really benefits from having some more positive encouragement rather than punishment, whenever possible. Do it in a way that is general and not directed at her. See what she says and give it a try after that meeting to see if things improve. If not, then talk with the principal. But give it a try first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would schedule a meeting with her and see how it goes. Don't be accusatory and just try to listen to what she says. Tell her that your kid is coming home crying and upset every day and that you think he really benefits from having some more positive encouragement rather than punishment, whenever possible. Do it in a way that is general and not directed at her. See what she says and give it a try after that meeting to see if things improve. If not, then talk with the principal. But give it a try first.

+1

Mwy kids are old enough and have been through enough MCPS teachers that I can tell you that there are some teachers that should not be allowed around children. Has she been a k teacher a long time, what do the other parents say?

[Anonymous]

Is this Fallsmead ES? If it is, then I agree with your every word OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:warm and fuzzy has no place in a classroom full of >25 5/6 year old's. The teachers don't have the energy and support there to manage such a big classroom so they emphasize on the rule-following more and more these days, which is hard for kids especially boys at a young age. I'd say suck it up and try your best cooperating with the teacher if you can't afford private.

This. The teacher that can manage a classroom this large like this are golden. A lot of K teachers flame out. There's another thread on a different board about a teacher so upset by a disruptive kid that she was thinking of quitting. DC1's K class had one main disruptive kid and his teacher, who was sweet and "warmer" than some of the other teachers, was a wreck. It made the year difficult for all the students, especially the kid who was having trouble. DC2's K teacher sounds like the one OP is describing and there were not one, but 3-4, as disruptive kids in the class. But if you asked her about it she would say she had no particularly challenging students in the class and it was no big deal. The class went smoothly and there were no complaints. I much preferred the second teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is just really mean. For the last couple weeks he has come home crying and upset every single day. She just isn’t the “warm and fuzzy” Kindergarten teacher type. And honestly, it’s Kindergarten, I feel like being warm and understanding should be a job requirement. Be a hard ass in any other grade but not K. It’s just not appropriate.

I get reports home of “his bad behavior” this behavior has included “talking” and “not finishing his work on time” pretty much varieties of those two things. So to be clear he is not “acting up” just doing things that I guess bother her enough to send notes home. Also I should mention like 70% of his class is 6 and should have started K last year but didn’t so he is one of the youngest.

She is straight up rude and harsh to the kids (every kid, not just mine). She is fake nice at dismissal but it is so obvious.

I just really don’t like her. Although she is new to this particular school she has bee in teaching K for a very long time.

So this is just the way it is right? I figure I just need to suck it up and hope for a better teacher in 1st but it just sucks that K is not what it is supposed to be for him.

Former teacher and administrator here. That part got me - you don’t like her. Request a conference earlier rather than later, but please don’t come with the attitude that you don’t like her. That’s fine, but it sounds like your feelings are affecting your child.

[Anonymous]

Your child is in K, a very young child and I think anyone who teaches K should be warm and caring. School is very new to these kids and you want them to enjoy their learning environment.
I have experienced several teachers that had no business working with children, so if you have concerns, please advocate for your child. Keep an open mind, but share your concerns at the same time.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think there are a few things going on. You have unrealistic expectations, your child is learning to adjust to his new reality, and your teacher may not be the greatest too. My DS was often called out for “talking” and “not finishing his work on time” in K. DS mentioned it but we never formally heard about this from the teacher. It is very normal.

[Anonymous]

Mom of young adults here -- I remember that I'd hoped for "warm and fuzzy" teachers for my kids when they started to school, too -- but honestly, some of my children's favorite teachers through the years were the ones who were firmer with the students and not so wonderful at relating to parents. With the challenging behaviors that K teachers face these days, I'd prefer someone who is no-nonsense and takes control of a class, over one who is overly coddling. Take note of what the teacher is saying about your child's behavior and talk to him about making changes; some children become upset when a teacher has to constantly correct their behavior. Instead, it sounds as if you think he is perfect and she is making a big deal over nothing! Be sure to go to your parent/teacher conference and listen to what the teacher has to say with an open mind. And don't speak badly about the teacher in front of your child; your accusing her of being fake-friendly at pickup shows that you have a negative attitude toward her. The poor woman is probably completely exhausted by the end of the day.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I don't believe 70% of the class was redshirted, so let's get that out of the way so it doesn't occupy any of your psychic energy.

If your son is crying and unhappy, and you're getting a lot of notes home, then there's a problem. You need to request a meeting with the teacher with the goal of addressing the behavior in a positive way that does not result in constant tears from him. There ought to be a school social worker that you can also reach out to who may be able to help. If things don't change for the better you can request a class switch or switch schools.

My son's K teacher is also much harsher than I'd like, but he's surviving. I did have to nip some stuff in the bud about her criticising how quickly he finished his worksheets. She got the message.

+1.

The above is good advice. Stop focusing on the teacher's personality and do something constructive to understand how your son can be more successful in her class. If you do the meeting, and get suggestions you think are unworkable or inappropriate for your child, then you can escalate. (And yes, I don't understand what evidence you have that 70% of the class was redshirted, as MCPS doesn't provide parents with info on birthdates--you're just repeating some rumor.)

It’s not a rumor. We all are very involved in the classroom and we all know each other. A good portion of the class turns 7 next year. And several turned 6 at the beginning of the school year (we were at the parties) and would have made the cutoff to start K last year. But I will for sure request a meeting and see what we can do.

The school year started on September 5 this year. The Maryland cut off date for Kindergarten is to be 5 years old by September 1. If the kids are turning 6 at the beginning of the school year, they are not redshirted, they are following Maryland state guidelines. And if you're so involved in the classroom, why haven't you talked to the teacher about your complaints?

I don't get this either. If they weren't 6 on September 1, they're not redshirted.

+1 It could be that 70% of OP's son's class is older than him, but that's not the same as saying that they should have started K in a different year.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:warm and fuzzy has no place in a classroom full of >25 5/6 year old's. The teachers don't have the energy and support there to manage such a big classroom so they emphasize on the rule-following more and more these days, which is hard for kids especially boys at a young age. I'd say suck it up and try your best cooperating with the teacher if you can't afford private.

Agree with all of this. Have had three kids go through K in MCPS recently and it’s just the way it is. Some teachers are a little ‘warmer’ than others but it’s impossible to be as warm and fuzzy as we would like and still keep control of the class.