Chaos is right -at our MoCo elementary school today, a rift between a group of girls and boys ended up with a group of girls punching and kicking one boy. The vice principal and 2 teachers aides/paraeducators were supposedly there monitoring the playground.

OP I would notify the school with your concerns now. Of course the school will get involved once an altercation happens, but I don't think any parent wants to wait that long.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was asked to fill in a couple of times to monitor recess. It was controlled mayhem with kids beating the hell out of each other.

+1

Maybe it depends on the school, but it is pretty chaotic at our school. My DS seems to do fine playing basketball, but it is definitely a chaotic environment. Too many kids and not enough aides.

Same here. multiple grades, nothing to do and the few aides they have just stand and talk to each other. A few balls and jump ropes. Total chaos and most girls over 2nd grade just stand around and talk. So lame.

Anonymous wrote:Can you volunteer during recess and see what is going on? You certainly have one side of the story....

If you are a parent (and not a lunatic) the principal would be thrilled to have you.

Can you volunteer during recess and see what is going on? You certainly have one side of the story....

Anonymous wrote:I was asked to fill in a couple of times to monitor recess. It was controlled mayhem with kids beating the hell out of each other.

+1

Maybe it depends on the school, but it is pretty chaotic at our school. My DS seems to do fine playing basketball, but it is definitely a chaotic environment. Too many kids and not enough aides.

I was asked to fill in a couple of times to monitor recess. It was controlled mayhem with kids beating the hell out of each other.

PP again - I agree with the other PP to talk to the school counselor. That might help.

You can certainly email the teacher, but the teacher is not even around during recess at MCPS.

I volunteer at DD's elementary and personally, I think recess is crap. It's basically a crap load of kids and two or three recess aides. There is no way the aides can manage that many kids. They get a walkie-talkie and a whistle.

Can you find out who the aides are and talk to them?

Sorry she had to deal with that OP. no way should a first grader have to deal with getting picked on by a fourth grader.

OP, talk to the assistant principal or the school counselor (or both for that matter). The aides for recess are there for just a few short hours a day. Personally, I feel the folks at my DD's school are not great. Our school had to change to a single grade recess this year (and single grade lunch times as well). Some kids have recess before lunch and some have it after. I do feel it is much better than last year when recess was k and 1, then 2 and 3, followed by 4 and 5. There was to much going on for the aides to handle and the kids suffered because of it. It is so much better so far this year.

I hated recess when I was a kid. Luckily in third grade school started offering volunteer options during recess so I didn't have to go to recess.

No way should your kid be having to deal with the fourth-grade boy on her own. Complain to principal and teacher via email and save email.

Definitely email the teacher and counselor at school and CC the principal. You can give her advice on how to deal with it and empower herself, but because she is really young and the age difference is so large, it is too much to expect for her to deal with this fully on her own.

Teachers don't supervise recess in MCPS so you may also want to talk to the school counselor and principal. In our school the principal supervises the playground aides so I wouldn't leave playground issues to the teacher to handle. But I would include the teacher in my email.

I understand why they do recess the way they do and for the most part I hear its successful. But your daughter should not have to tolerate being harassed by an older kid. You should definitely intervene.

My experience with playground aides is not very positive so I hope yours is better.

I agree -- e-mail the teacher. Say, "This is what my daughter says is happening. Do you know anything about this situation?" Don't say, "There's a fourth grade boy who's ruining my daughter's recess, and why aren't you doing anything about it?!"

As a teacher, I'd want to know from the parent if this was happening. I am a big believer in allowing students an opportunity to work things out when there is an even power dynamic, but with a fourth grader and a first grader, I'd want to intervene and take an active roll.

I would ask to speak to the teacher, or send her a note. I'd refrain from judgement, and be open minded to the possibility that things aren't exactly how your daughter describes them, but I'd also make it clear that your child is uncomfortable, so that even if the boy's intentions are innocent a solution is needed.

My DD is in first grade at a MCPS elementary...we are very happy with the school, but one thing they've done this year is the first grade has recess with the fourth grade. I understand that this is due to scheduling etc...but I think this age spread is not so great for the kids. Well, at least my DD...I think most of the fourth graders leave the first graders alone but my DD has been having a hard time with a fourth grade boy. She said she spent the day hiding on the playground from him today. He "picks" on her evidently...not sure exactly what is involved, but I just don't love this. If DD was having issues with another 1st grader I'd basically leave it up to her to deal with (using tools she's learned etc) at least at first. But dealing with a fourth grade boy is a different situation. She also seems afraid to tell on him. So, if this were your DD what would you do? (Other than telling her to tell the recess aide he is bothering her)