what do you when your child's teacher is not really teaching

Linda - posted on 11/13/2009

we use busy work and challenge cards also the computer-a further challenge on Maths Whizz or a literacy challenge

Melissa - posted on 11/12/2009

i have 12 students in my class working at 12 different levels, and in 3 different grade levels. it's not easy, but it CAN be done.

Helen - posted on 11/12/2009

there is no reason why teachers cant teach from different grades. i have a year 3 pupil who is working at a year 6 level. i provide extention and challanging activities every lesson. it is hard to do but not impossible - i also have 34 children in my class!

Colleen - posted on 11/12/2009

As a secondary teacher, I have to say that the performance of a child in the classroom is almost always different than their performance as your child in the home. It is very difficult sometimes, especially when you do have a high-achieving student (as I do in my own classroom), but the reality is, as a parent, we need to step back and understand the teachers can only do so much with the tools and supplies and time they are given. I've always tried to have an open line of communication with all my parents, but the reality is that when we are dealing with classroom sizes of over 25 students, it is hard to split ourselves into 25 or more pieces to fit everyone in. Our job is provide a safe, comfortable, and feasible learning environment to ALL of our students. Like the saying goes, "Your child may be the center of your universe, but I have to share mine with 25 others."
I'm sure your child's teacher is doing the best he/she can, especially given the current budgetary concerns and circumstances, but as I've read here as most people are posting, it is the school's responsibility to assist your child, not the teacher if your child is functioning at a higher-than-grade-level level.

Lisa - posted on 11/12/2009

Have you contacted the Gifted & Talented Association in your area? They are usually up to date with all sorts of appropriate strategies and activities and may be able to discuss with you and/or the teacher what best suits your child's needs. That way at least you would know your child is getting a more individualised programme as well. Good luck with it all.

Vicki - posted on 11/11/2009

When you have a high achiever child, I might suggest you be thankful she is. Also consider that you might be the one to help her forward. I have a young adult child who is now in a private university because we worked together at her level. I am very thankful I am teacher and had the know how to make sure she had enough challenging work to do at home to supplement her work at school. My favorite website to help my kids (and students) is edhelper.com. My favorite home activity to teach life skills is menu planning and cooking complete with all the math components. Good luck and I hope she stays excited about learning.

Felicia - posted on 11/11/2009

I'm not really getting enough from your post to fully understand what you're asking. As a teacher AND a parent, I understand from several points of view. I do have one question....are you the only parent that has this problem with the teacher? Are other students missing out higher learning also or is your daughter truly above average in her class?

If the teacher is not teaching due to whatever reason, maybe you should have a talk with her to let her know that your child is "bored" in class & needs material on a higher level. There are also resource teachers that could help her out with this matter. If other students are also in the same boat in which your child is in, it would be a matter for the principal to straighten out. You're a smart lady & in the same business as other educators. Take your problem to a higher level!

Louisa - posted on 11/11/2009

iam a teacher and i believe that u and other parents should report it to the principle of the school

Rachel - posted on 11/11/2009

you could try supplementing their work at home. i work at a kids company called zoodles, http://www.zoodles.com, where we offer parents a single place online where their kids can play fun, educational games that involve all their favorite characters. all the games are age-appropriate, so depending on what grade your child's in, you can get games that focus on math and reading at their grade level. hopefully then if you got a bad teacher this year, you can tie him/her over with some playtime on zoodles. definitely check us out, it's free!!!

Alisa - posted on 11/11/2009

I agree with Kristy that the teacher can challenge her in grade level material, but can't teach a different grade's material. The school should have something in place for talented and gifted children. Have her tested if she hasn't been already. And, sit down and chat (informally) with the teacher about things both of you can be doing to challenge your daughter.

If a child is truly gifted and talented, not just smart, he can move up grades. But, be very sure that is what you want to do. Skipping grades means that the child is no longer with same-age peers and that child will have skipped all the skills that were scheduled to be taught in the lower grade. Some skills shouldn't be skipped because they lay the foundation for more difficult skills, especially in math.

Differences between gifted children and very smart children: smart kids know the answers, gifted kids ask the questions; smart kids are interested, gifted kids are very curious; smart kids pay attention, gifted kids get involved mentally and physically; smart kids answer questions, gifted kids question answers; smart kids listen well, gifted kids show strong feelings and opinions; smart kids are self-satisfied, gifted kids are highly critical of themselves (perfectionists). This was taken from the Maryland Council for Gifted and Talented Children.

Kristy - posted on 11/11/2009

Not sure what your asking for? Stuff for you to do at home, or stuff to ask the teacher about?



But if your daughter is ABOVE grade level, the teacher can only challenge her in the grade level material (like challenging 2nd grade work, not giving her 3rd grade work). If she is far above grade level to where you feel she needs to next grade level work, her teacher isn't supposed to do that, but if she is above grade level you should see if she can jump a grade. From experience the "challenge" workbooks I have when I taught 2nd grade weren't all that great all the time. Some of it was SO challenging that without teacher help, or a "mini-lesson", I couldn't give my challenge students the work. And with how fast pace and full the day is already, I couldn't pull them aside just to give them a lesson on how to do the challenge material (I'm mainly talking about the math challenges).



Sorry the other teacher bashed you...maybe she's just having a bad week with parents and took it out on you...

Fran - posted on 11/11/2009

Is the teacher basically giving your daughter "busy work" and expecting her to just teach herself?? You can always request, "as a parent", for your daughter to be tested - to see what her actual level is. If she is 2 years above grade level the school has to give her enrichment, not the teacher.

Shwyett - posted on 11/10/2009

Quoting Amber:

Teachers do not expect parents to do their job. Teachers offer ways for you to help your child succeed. There is not a lot of time in a classroom, I speak from experience as a second grade teacher, and the time we do have is packed full. Keep in mind your child may be too shy to ask question in class, so the teacher may think everyone understands. Then remember there are, at least in my room, 25 other children aside from yours that I have to teach as well. If your child doesn't ask questions or let her teacher know she doesn't get it there is no way the teacher should be help at fault. We went to school and got a four year degree to learn how to teach, not to be psychic.

Thank you, I was looking for support not a bash out.  I think my question may have been to vague because no one would have known the circumstances.  My daughter does two grade levels this year her second grade and third grade because she is a high achiever.  I was just asking to get some ideas or suggestions.  I myself am an educator in the middle school so I interact with 170 students a day of which 35 in a class at one for a period of time.  When you have a student that is above grade level there should be things in place to move them on.  I do my part as a parent but when the child spends most of the day with the teacher and the teacher clearly knows the child's potential then you as an educator provide more challenging material.  I'm not suggesting my child get any more attention than the next just some work to make her think a little more; she can clearly work independently.

Amber - posted on 11/10/2009

Teachers do not expect parents to do their job. Teachers offer ways for you to help your child succeed. There is not a lot of time in a classroom, I speak from experience as a second grade teacher, and the time we do have is packed full. Keep in mind your child may be too shy to ask question in class, so the teacher may think everyone understands. Then remember there are, at least in my room, 25 other children aside from yours that I have to teach as well. If your child doesn't ask questions or let her teacher know she doesn't get it there is no way the teacher should be help at fault. We went to school and got a four year degree to learn how to teach, not to be psychic.