1st grade is a bad as we suspected

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a student whose K teacher recommended she repeat K and the parents flatly refused. She doesn’t know most of her letter sounds and can’t write simple words like cat, the, pan, she, he, etc.

There is only so much we can do for her while the rest of the class moves on. We aren’t stopping to teach letter sounds in 1sr grade when most kids arrive at the beginning of K with that.

But you're not going to refer the child to be assessed for special needs? WTF?

PP isn’t actually a teacher.

DP. The child isn’t “special needs” if she simply was never taught the material. The girl will no doubt get assigned to the PALS tutor but that is likely all. Her parents did her no favors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And what are you doing to help fix this issue, OP? Why are you a sub and not a real teacher?

It’s not my job to fix it. I sub as a favor to the school and because I like kids. I taught before having kids but have no desire to go back into teaching full time. I want and need the flexibility of subbing. Ever heard the phrase “don’t shoot the messenger”?

[Anonymous]

1st grade was the hardest hit as they never got their kindergarten year to learn HOW to go to school and HOW to act like a student. But to say they are forever doomed is ridiculous. This age group responds quickly and they will almost all be caught up by the end of the year. The kindergarten curriculum that was the biggest miss was the socializing- not the academics. Relax people. They are 6 and 7. They are not forever doomed to be behind!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But some are not behind at all, making the gap huge. I feel badly for the ones not behind. It’s going to be a long year for them. Did some parents really do nothing for a year and a half?

Many parents don't do anything with their kids prior to kindergarten so it's more like they are preschoolers in many cases. Even the cafeteria assistants have told me that kids just sit there at lunch and don't eat because they've never had to open food containers for themselves. They just sit and wait and don't ask for help. I have 1st graders who don't recognize their own name in print let alone be able to write it. Many have no strength at all in their hands and some still don't have a hand preference. It's bad.

I used to teach first. That is bad. I never had a kid without a hand preference. Never. Only had one kid who couldn’t read his name, and he had a significant special needs.

[Anonymous]

I am a first grade teacher in MC and yes, I am seeing some of what you describe. But, I will say by providing my children with: a solid routine, proper scaffolds, vocab, language to use to express themselves, and high expectations, they have made huge gains already! Yes, some come to me not knowing but 1 letter or how to identify/write their name. Some are quite advanced and definitely ready for first grade. I have a huge job and I am equipped and ready to tackle this challenge to the best of my ability. Negativity or anything other than a can-do attitude should not be teaching kids at this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a first grade teacher in MC and yes, I am seeing some of what you describe. But, I will say by providing my children with: a solid routine, proper scaffolds, vocab, language to use to express themselves, and high expectations, they have made huge gains already! Yes, some come to me not knowing but 1 letter or how to identify/write their name. Some are quite advanced and definitely ready for first grade. I have a huge job and I am equipped and ready to tackle this challenge to the best of my ability. Negativity or anything other than a can-do attitude should not be teaching kids at this time.

Great to hear! You're doing a great job! Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

The school where my daughter attends is doing targeted remediation or acceleration enrichment for children given the fact that just about every child in first/second grade needs support. I'm really impressed that her writing is improving so quickly.

I think it's important to remember that kids can and do learn things at different ages a

[Anonymous]

Sorry pressed submit too soon kids learn things at different ages and in some European countries kids wouldn't start formal education until 6/7 anyway. So I'm not super stressed out with my child is arbitrarily behind in some skills and ahead in others when I know that she is still working hard and improving I think the bigger impact on the pandemic has been just the social emotional regulation. I think that students are still really struggling in that domain and I think the impact of the pandemic is going to be felt for years to come

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And what are you doing to help fix this issue, OP? Why are you a sub and not a real teacher?

It’s not my job to fix it. I sub as a favor to the school and because I like kids. I taught before having kids but have no desire to go back into teaching full time. I want and need the flexibility of subbing. Ever heard the phrase “don’t shoot the messenger”?

Actually as the teacher of the day it is your job to do it that day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for subbing! We NEED you!

+1000. I don’t know why so many people are being nasty to OP.

Education begins at home. I have a niece in 1st and a nephew in 3rd. They had a father working in COVID wards and a mother WFH in a high-stress job. They were put through Kumon to supplement the poor DL and they’re perfectly fine. Other parents chose not to do this and they’re being defensive. And don’t whine to me about their privilege. Many of you have the same privilege yet you failed your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry pressed submit too soon kids learn things at different ages and in some European countries kids wouldn't start formal education until 6/7 anyway. So I'm not super stressed out with my child is arbitrarily behind in some skills and ahead in others when I know that she is still working hard and improving I think the bigger impact on the pandemic has been just the social emotional regulation. I think that students are still really struggling in that domain and I think the impact of the pandemic is going to be felt for years to come

People on DCUM love to say that kids in Europe don’t start formal education until 6 or 7 but this is really misleading. Even in the countries like Finland where this may be true, the kids are starting school having been taught to read by their parents at home. So it’s not like the US where a lot of kids are watching TV or playing video games all day while their parents are drunk or high. And, more importantly, those kids in Europe are actually being raised by their parents and not the government. They can sit quietly, follow directions, and they know not to throw a tantrum in school.

The impact of a year of school closures will certainly be felt for years to come though, you’re right about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t take you seriously when after a day as substitute teacher you report that there is a lot of undiagnosed ADHD in first graders.

Same. Tapped out right there. They’re kids OP. They lost a very formative year. Get over yourself. I cannot stand a sub who thinks they’re teacher and doctor and parent all in one.

[Anonymous]

I feel sorry for all these kids that have gone through this. My kid was not at school age last year and I felt so much pain doing virtual school with him for a few months at home because daycare was closed due to covid. I was dying at home to go through that crap of virtual school and his behaviors was so bad that we decided to take the covid risk to send him back to daycare in person once it was opened. We were considering private K this year if school is not reopening, and luckily it finally reopens for K.

We could not afford private school, but we were at the point that we are willing to do it if it is virtual k this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for subbing! We NEED you!

+1000. I don’t know why so many people are being nasty to OP.

Education begins at home. I have a niece in 1st and a nephew in 3rd. They had a father working in COVID wards and a mother WFH in a high-stress job. They were put through Kumon to supplement the poor DL and they’re perfectly fine. Other parents chose not to do this and they’re being defensive. And don’t whine to me about their privilege. Many of you have the same privilege yet you failed your kids.

Perhaps because OP was being nasty about young kids and their parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a first grade teacher in MC and yes, I am seeing some of what you describe. But, I will say by providing my children with: a solid routine, proper scaffolds, vocab, language to use to express themselves, and high expectations, they have made huge gains already! Yes, some come to me not knowing but 1 letter or how to identify/write their name. Some are quite advanced and definitely ready for first grade. I have a huge job and I am equipped and ready to tackle this challenge to the best of my ability. Negativity or anything other than a can-do attitude should not be teaching kids at this time.

You sound like my child’s first grade teacher. She is awesome! I hope you have a great year. Great teachers are priceless. I wish we could do more for them.