Kindergarten.....?

Question

My son is a kindergarten student and is very excited about being in school. The problem is I don't think the teacher handles her classroom very well. He gets a note home every other day and this is only the second week of school. In his Pre-K class he had a firm teacher who didn't allow that silliness in her class and he never got notes home, she had control of her class. This lady told me she's been taching for 26 years and I'm wondering how since it seems to me she has no control. I have punished him for his actions but I;m starting to think maybe some attention to her needs to be paid.

Answer 1

What kind of notes is he bringing home?

This is only the second week? Don't sweat it yet. The first couple of weeks of KG are tough for some kids. The kids are learning how to behave in school. The teacher is learning their personalities and how they fit together.....who can sit next to who and which combinations cause problems.

Talk to her in a non-confrontational way about the notes that you've had so far. Find out exactly what is going on in school and if she has any suggestions to help your child succeed. Talk to your child about what behaviour is expected at school. Be careful about dishing out punishments and rewards as you want him to LIKE going to school.

If there is still a problem after this second week is past, consider scheduling a conference with the teacher. Remember.....non-confrontational. You are on the same team here!

ALSO.....
Some KG teachers send home a progress report EVERY day, good or bad.

Answer 2

I would eves drop during class. Maybe stand outside the classroom for a while to listen in on how she is teaching the class. After a couple minutes, sit down and watch how she is towards the students and how the students are towards her. Her relationship with the students will be obvious, you will see if the students respecet her or are afraid of her. Children that young know when someone is unpleasant and they make it obvious when they dislike an individual. If you see that she is unpleasant and the children dislike her for any reason, report her. No child deserves to sit through the day with an individual that makes them feel uncomfortable.

If it is hard for you to see anything going on, make some time to meet with the teacher and bring your son along. Try to get more of an understanding on why your son is constantly being sent home with a note and why he is being punished for these notes. Ask her questions about your sons behavior, how he is doing in class, how he interacts with other children and ask how he is adjusting to kindergarten. You may also ask her questions about how she interacts with the children, how she handles misbehaved children, how her relationship is with the class, etc, etc.

Overall you have the right to know how your sons teacher is towards him and his classmates. If you are worried about your sons well being, you should talk to the prinicple and have him removed from this class to another.

Answer 3

There are always the teachers out there who, no matter how long they have been teaching, still can't control the students. Kindergarten is particularly tough since there are often 30 six-year-olds to a classroom and one teacher with an aide. Yikes! But, you are right... she should be able to keep the class under control. If you feel this is a huge problem, and that your child's learning is being compromised, go to the principal and have your child switch to another class. You will do more good for your child by having them in a situation where he can learn. My mom did this for me a few years (way back when I was in school) when I got some teachers that couldn't control their classes. She'd go into the office and pester them until they moved me to another class. I have done this for my oldest daughter, who in kindergarten was bored stiff (she'd attended a great preschool for 3 1/2 years). We ended up not only moving her to another class, but up a grade as well. You know your child best, and if you feel that he is not learning in the environment, it is your responsibility and right to have him moved.

Answer 4

Wow, I feel for you. I have been in situations like this. I think the only thing you can do is when the teacher sends home a note, send her one right back. For instance, if she sends home a note saying "Johnny was talking during class today" you send one back saying "I spoke to Johnny about his talking in class and have told him that if it happens again, he will be punished in school by losing a recess time or getting a check mark." (whatever it is they do there.)
If the teacher does not have any punishment/reward system in her class, she is not a very effective teacher, but maybe giving her the hint will help her out.
I must also say that, though I do not agree with the teacher sending constant notes home about behavior she should be able to handle in class, I do believe that it is partially your responsibility to handle them at home as well. If your child is getting notes on bad behaviors, you should sit him down and explain to him that he will be punished at home for things he does in class. that should stop some of them, anyway.
Good luck. Don't forget to schedule a conference with the teacher if you are still concerned, and make sure you go to his open house and see for yourself what the classroom setup is!

Answer 5

Any time you have concerns about your child's teachers, and how they handle their classrooms, you should first make an appointment and discuss it with them. It is usually best to ask them "what can I do to help my son to fit into your routines" or "Is there anything that I can do at home to support what you are doing in the classroom?" Offering to help is usually more productive than conflict.

Kindergarten is a hard grade for a lot of kids. It is often the first time at a school-like setting, and the number of children-to-adult ratio is way higher than a preschool setting. Depending where you are there can be as many as 25 kindies in a class with one teacher, and in preschool, most places have a maximum of ten kids to one adult. It may take up to two months for the kids to settle into things, and this is normal. It doesn't necessarily mean that the teacher is out of control (although not being there, it is hard for me to know).

If things don't resolve, then you can go to the principal and see what they can do for you.

Answer 6

I'm having similar difficulties with my child's kindergarten teacher. I knew going into this that he is a difficult child, but she is new and doesn't seem to be quite sure how to handle him (or the class in general). I've been careful to set up lines of communication with her and with his art/music/etc teachers. I've sent at least one thing from her wish list each week, to build a positive, supportive relationship with her.

I've also volunteered to help in the classroom for an hour each week. This week, she let me work with the children on some seat work. This gave me an excellent chance to model some of my methods for dealing with my child when he's being particularly stubborn.

Answer 7

i had just the opposite problem in my sons pre-k, he is also in kindergarten. i would get all kinds of phone calls about his actions even things as little as he stuck his tongue out. he got so bad at home while he was in pre-k because they let him get away with everything and he thought he could do that at home, but he was mistaken. this year he has a great teacher who doesn't take any crap off her students.
if you are unhappy with you son's teacher you should consider transferring him to another teacher. that's what i would do. i have told my son's teacher that she can do what she thinks is necessary to keep him under control and calm without harming him and she has been very good about this.

Answer 8

I would talk with your child's teacher and maybe even the principle. If there is a big issue, you may be able to have him switched to a different class.

It kind of sounds like you're passing the blame a bit though. A lot of parents don't hold their children responsible for their actions and blame others. The child hears and sees that these parents really place the blame elsewhere and therefore keep misbehaving.

Answer 9

most schools will let parents "sit in" in the classroom. this way you can see how your child acts in class. my sons school asks for parents to volunteer in the classroom while most parents are unable to do this some are. if you are unable to get away from work for a day or part of the day find out if there is a parent that is or can and then ask them how your child behaves in class and whether the parent agrees or dissagreeswith what the teacher teacher is telling you

Answer 10

If talking with the teacher hasn't helped you might want to talk to the principal, make an appointment and voice your conserns, your son might be able to get transfered to another class that has more structure or you might be able to figure out why your son is acting out the way he is, but only for this teacher.