Tips for working with a brand new teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has had two brand new teachers, and they have been fantastic.

I'm in another state, but my school had a new kindergarten teacher long term sub who was really good.

I will be frank and say that when I struggled in school, my mom often suggested to the teacher how to fix it. For example, my spelling marks were low, so my mom sent in a pack of stickers so that if I scored well then I could discreetly be slipped a sticker prize at the beginning of recess. My mom was a trained but not practicing teacher, so her suggestions were reasonable and not burdensome.

1st grade is pretty easy to figure out how to supplement.

-phonics workbooks
-appropriate free reading books (lots!)
-counting by 5s, etc. drills
-using money/coins
-Adding numbers that sum to more than 10
-If very advanced, work on multiplication and division facts and theory of these

It's easy to buy drill materials for these topics. Ask your kid to tell you if they "do it differently" at school. Acknowledge that there are multiple methods for learning. Just make sure your child masters one.

If your kid is bored in school, see if you can get permission for extra free reading.

This feels - like wow.

PP. It was the 70s. No children were harmed in the making of this movie. My spelling improved for the price of a 4 sheet pack of stickers. The reason it was a secret was because neither my mom nor the teacher wanted to get in the biz of "stickers for all". Is this really so shocking to you? At my kid's schools, some teachers have had "prize drawers". It's all up to the teacher how they want to motivate kids. My mom just gave her a free way to motivate me that wasn't a burden.

[Anonymous]

I was a room parent in 3rd grade, when we had the long term sub/new teacher who didn't believe in giftedness. And was terrible at math. Parents complained about her constantly, and one lady pulled her child out for another school. I'm pretty sure the teacher was hired because she worked (as an aide) at a well-known fancy private, and went back there for full-time employment. My point being she was terrible for us, but apparently very well liked at the other school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD’s best 2 teachers had graduated the previous May. They were so organized and energetic. They clearly spent all summer working on lesson plans and their classroom setup. They knew all kinds of fun games and songs and had great tactics for classroom management.

In short, they were fresh, not burnt out, and so excited to be in the classroom. We felt lucky to have them!

Same. My DD's best teachers throughout ES were the newer (including one brand new) ones. They are:

- eager and optimistic versus burnt out
- they are communicative and open to feedback & criticism versus set in their ways
- they have something to prove and are going above and beyond as a result
- energetic and creative
- less outside demands on their time

And as a PP pointed out, schools do not tend to put the behavior-problem kids in their class

[Anonymous]

Do nothing but be normal and supportive. I have been around the block. My kids have had absolutely horrible experienced teachers, good first-year teachers, and everything in between.

[Anonymous]

I think that your post is full of assumptions. Did anyone say she is 22? Or are you assuming? I went to college late and graduated when I was 35 and became a teacher. Also, is your child identified as being gifted or is this just a title that you give your child?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has had two brand new teachers, and they have been fantastic.

I'm in another state, but my school had a new kindergarten teacher long term sub who was really good.

I will be frank and say that when I struggled in school, my mom often suggested to the teacher how to fix it. For example, my spelling marks were low, so my mom sent in a pack of stickers so that if I scored well then I could discreetly be slipped a sticker prize at the beginning of recess. My mom was a trained but not practicing teacher, so her suggestions were reasonable and not burdensome.

1st grade is pretty easy to figure out how to supplement.

-phonics workbooks
-appropriate free reading books (lots!)
-counting by 5s, etc. drills
-using money/coins
-Adding numbers that sum to more than 10
-If very advanced, work on multiplication and division facts and theory of these

It's easy to buy drill materials for these topics. Ask your kid to tell you if they "do it differently" at school. Acknowledge that there are multiple methods for learning. Just make sure your child masters one.

If your kid is bored in school, see if you can get permission for extra free reading.

The sticker thing is so weird. Why didn’t your mom just let you pick a sticker at home to put on your improved spelling test? The teacher has 25 other kids to teach without having to somehow give out secret sticker to one child.

[Anonymous]

Hey OP, I’d love to know how you think your child’s K teacher handled your gifted kid and facilitated accelerated learning for him. I’ve been an assistant to several elementary school classes and your original post makes me laugh, honestly. I think some parents would be shocked at what goes on at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child has had two brand new teachers, and they have been fantastic.

I'm in another state, but my school had a new kindergarten teacher long term sub who was really good.

I will be frank and say that when I struggled in school, my mom often suggested to the teacher how to fix it. For example, my spelling marks were low, so my mom sent in a pack of stickers so that if I scored well then I could discreetly be slipped a sticker prize at the beginning of recess. My mom was a trained but not practicing teacher, so her suggestions were reasonable and not burdensome.

1st grade is pretty easy to figure out how to supplement.

-phonics workbooks
-appropriate free reading books (lots!)
-counting by 5s, etc. drills
-using money/coins
-Adding numbers that sum to more than 10
-If very advanced, work on multiplication and division facts and theory of these

It's easy to buy drill materials for these topics. Ask your kid to tell you if they "do it differently" at school. Acknowledge that there are multiple methods for learning. Just make sure your child masters one.

If your kid is bored in school, see if you can get permission for extra free reading.

The sticker thing is so weird. Why didn’t your mom just let you pick a sticker at home to put on your improved spelling test? The teacher has 25 other kids to teach without having to somehow give out secret sticker to one child.

PP. Was your whole life completely routine? We're talking little kids here. We're talking a 10 second interaction. Maybe one spelling test a week. You think it's weird that a teacher would spare maybe 200 seconds/20 sticker interchanges for one child? How much accommodation do you think an IEP for one child takes? How much time is spent on working with the class clown about behaviors? Every child should receive some positive, personally-directed attention.

I think the example addresses OP's questions which are around being a proactive parent and ensuring a good educational outcome. Sometimes that involves all supplementation and special attention being at home. Sometimes it involves the classroom teacher. That's all.

[Anonymous]

NP. November is not that long. Also, it’s about how your kid interacts with the teacher and other kids and positive feelings about themselves, others, the community and learning. The actual knowledge at that age is secondary. I think everyone deserves some fantastic teachers to balance out some less so. Not every teacher will be your and your kiddos favorites but that’s life and your kids need to learn to adapt.

[Anonymous]

It's first grade...relax.

[Anonymous]

If the teacher has an Amazon wish list, look for items *that are on the wishlist* that might help with classroom management or are therapeutic . For example, if she’s asked for a Time Timer, get that. If she’s asked for multiple Time Timers, get them all. If she’s asked for chew toys (yes, chew toys), or sit-and-move-cushions, or special OT pencil grips, those are the things to focus on, within your budget. Cute lamps and cushions don’t help her manage her classroom. If she hasn’t asked for therapeutic items, buy her books.

Why therapeutic items? Because I’ve seen a child go from a distraction to perfectly-behaved with just the addition of a sit-and-move -cushion. When a kid who’s struggling gets what they need, it gives the teacher time. Time they would have spent managing behavior can now be spent focusing on order children, including yours.