Have been stereotyped as a 'Tiger Mom.' Strangest note from teacher.

[Anonymous]

DC's 1st grade teacher has sent a few parents, including us, emails asking to stop teaching things to our kids at home and that they are not "ready" for the things we are teaching them. The emails were sent individually so I don't know who got them but the ones I do know at least some of those who got them are immigrant parents or those who look like they could be from certain countries where the sterotypical Tiger Mom comes from.

Not quite sure how or if I should respond. Yes, DC is advanced but it's first grade! Kids develop differently and she happened to develop faster in some academic subjects. We do not supplement at home. Not that there is anything wrong with that but we simply don't have the time or energy. Why does everyone think that if you're from Russia or China or whatever that the only reason your child is advanced is because you are spending hours drilling them in math and reading? Okay not everyone. But why does this teacher assume this?

I get this weird vibe from this teacher that she kind of resents certain parents for doing this. Is this typical at schools with a high Asian/Russian population? Why should this matter? Shouldn't teachers be happy about parents being so involved?

Sorry for the vent but I'm at a loss for words here.

[Anonymous]

That's very strange. Did she really phrase it like that?

[Anonymous]

I would email her you do not, but if she could teach at a more advanced level that would be beneficial to your child.

[Anonymous]

Wootton cluster ES??

[Anonymous]

That's odd. Is it like division/multiplication? Or just reading ahead if their level?

[Anonymous]

I can kind of understand what the teacher means. I was taught math a certain way and now with this common core everything is taught backwards. My guess is she doesn't want the children picking up bad habits and having to unlearn then relearn the new way.makes sense sad I can't help a first grader with homework but gosh it's so advanced these days and done backwards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC's 1st grade teacher has sent a few parents, including us, emails asking to stop teaching things to our kids at home and that they are not "ready" for the things we are teaching them.

Is this story for real? I worked in education for eight years, and I never heard a story like this. It seems like a big assumption for the teacher to make. I wonder what exactly the teacher thinks you and the other parents did. What if a child was reading about a subject on his/her own, and it had nothing to do with the parents? As a parent, I'd want the teacher to describe what they're seeing in the classroom. Then, they could say what is negative about what they're seeing. Then everybody could figure out what led to the negative effect, and who could do what to avoid that.

[Anonymous]

Totally offensive! And racist.

I have been stereotyped as a tiger mom because I am Indian-American and have a naturally curious and inquisitive advanced child (who I did not prep or push!). I was highly offended that someone thought that without even knowing me.

At least mine wasn't by a teacher. Your situation is even worse.

[Anonymous]

Holy crap!! I would be livid if I got an email like that, and would get my child out of that class.

[Anonymous]

The teacher is lazy. It is harder to teach a class with different levels than if everyone is at the same level. Instead of giving the advanced kids work at their level, it is easier for her to tell the parents to not do anything at home, while she does nothing extra for the advanced kids. Perhaps she is hoping that the advanced kids don't progress and the others do so they end up at the same level.

[Anonymous]

I think I would be forwarding that email to the principal with an explanation that the teacher is 1) wrong and 2) racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would email her you do not, but if she could teach at a more advanced level that would be beneficial to your child.

+1

[Anonymous]

Why are people crying racism here? Maybe those kids that the teacher perceives as being taught at home happen to be Asian or Russian. Maybe all the other kids aren't as advanced. I think people are jumping to conclusions here.

There are several parents around here (both Asian and non Asian) that are teaching their kids at home way beyond what the kids are doing in class because the parents feel that class work isn't rigorous enough, especially math. And the parents may be teaching the kids math the old way, which is very different from 2.0 math. In some cases, the kids are probably not ready for such advancement but the parents push.

The teacher may be hearing some of the kids stating "that's not how I learned" type of stuff. I can see how it might be frustrating for the teacher. It's hard to explain to a 6 or 7 yr old why we are not going to do it that way, and to break that for now. Don't worry, eventually, in the upper grades, they do "carry the one".

I have taught my DC how to do math the old, but quick way, but I have emphasized to DC that DC must still know how to do it the way DC is taught at school, and we do review those methods as well.

Parent-teacher conference is coming up. You could also address it then, too, but a quick reply that you don't teach the kid at home may let the teacher know. I would try to find out why the teacher thinks this way about your DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can kind of understand what the teacher means. I was taught math a certain way and now with this common core everything is taught backwards. My guess is she doesn't want the children picking up bad habits and having to unlearn then relearn the new way.makes sense sad I can't help a first grader with homework but gosh it's so advanced these days and done backwards.

Perhaps Common Core is a veiled attempt to guarantee job security?

[Anonymous]

I would ask the teacher for clarification specfics and let her know youbdo not supplement.