- I wish the classrooms were double the size with half the kids and a permanent assistant to the teacher. If anyone has been in my house you will know that it is pretty small and cozy....and the classrooms are not much bigger. There are too many kids and not enough teachers in the class (Kindergarden) and too much time disciplining the unruly children.
- The kids are kept "too busy" in my opinion. Parker often comes home complaining that they do too much during the day....He is not used to a set routine, so I thought her was just complaining about the way things were done. When I helped in his class, Parker's teacher asked if I wanted to stay for the remainder of the day....which was gym and music and I did. Gym was 15 minuteslong, then it was off to music for 15 minutes....again very small classroom....I don't know if it is just Kindergarden, but I loved Gym and music....In gym they stretched and did relay races for 10 minutes then they were done and in music they sang 3 songs and were done.....shouldn't they rotate days so you can spend more time in one class....I don't know for some reason...it bothered me....I can see the need to keep them busy so they don't get bored...but 15 minutes for gym class....really?
- I think kids get yelled at too much....I get it they are underpaid and most of the time unappreciated...but really? take a deep breath....I guess smaller classroom sizes would help with that:)
However.....he loves going and has made some buddy's....no girls...they have cooties this year. I asked Parker if he missed his friends from his old school...he said no, that he broke up with his girlfriends...but that he still liked his girl-friend from church....he loves his teacher and she is sweet....and is great with the kids....just spends a lot of her time doing things that, if she had an assistant could get more done with the kids who really want to learn....like mine...because he is perfect:)
Parker comes home and loves to tell me about all the kids that misbehave and what they do and say to get into trouble. He said that a girl in his class had her mom called because she got 4 warnings.....I asked him what he thought would happen to him if I got a phone call about his bad behavior..he said, "I don't even want to know...you'd probably end me." at least we are on the same page.
Ben and I have been trying to talk to him about standing up for others and choosing the right....but he would rather tattle. We told him he should try to talk to others before telling a teacher on them....He said, he would rather just tell a teacher....maybe it is an age thing? I just want him to be brave enough to say, "Hey, I don't like it when you do that/say that...please stop." not yet, though.
I feel like at times I can be hard on him....like thinking he is 10 instead of 5....I want so much for him to be a good person....to every one!!! and to stand up and be friends with those who are being teased....which he does a good job for the most part....but at times I hear him say, "You can't play with us..." I usually intervene and say, "You will play with every one." should I let it go and let him make the choices....or is it something I need to keep up on? Ben says I tend to be too hard on him and expect a lot from him....I guess I can't expect him to be perfect all the time....
I feel like I rambled....as I tend to do...I have had so many thoughts and just wanted to see if I am alone in this and I just need to get over it...or if others feel the same way....any way...thanks for listening:)
3 comments:
I've been going in to my girls' classroom weekly as well, and I have a lot of the same feelings. They are enjoying themselves, and love having friends, but I feel like sooo much time is wasted. You learn the names of the troublemakers real fast. I know that homeschooling is not always the answer, but I sure miss it!
On the "you can't play with us". That statement can be very hurtful to the one hearing it. I think it's important to let our children choose many things, but being kind to everyone shouldn't be a choice. My humble opinion.
So, I've struggled with the tattling thing for AGES. It always felt like a double edged sword. Kids aren't supposed to tattle. Tattlers are annoying and don't get picked for the team. BUT. I want my kids telling me things when something's amiss or going to an adult when there's a problem. And I could never figure out where to draw the line on tattling. Don't tattle. But tell me if someone hurts you. Weird.
And then I read an article that solved all my problems. Avery was a MAJOR tattler and it drove me crazy because in pretty much every way else, she handled things on her own better than any other 6 or 7 year old. The article said, TATTLING IS GOOD. Let your kid tattle. It shows a social maturity that they recognize a problem and go to someone who's advice they trust, to help them work it out. It's in OUR hands to handle it appropriately, not a small child's. If it's serious, we know about it and can intervene. If it's minor, we know about it and can help our child problem solve or address it, after getting sound advice from us on how to handle it. The day I told Avery I wasn't going to care anymore if she tattled, she could and should do it as much as she wanted, I swear it decreased by like 76% right then and there. And then I saw her "tattling" differently and I feel like she's been armed with better problem solving skills because I've responded instead of saying, "Stop tattling" and she actually tattles WAY less now.
Don't ask for opinions, you know I carry around a giant bag of them, just WAITING to shove them at the first person who asks.
You're welcome. :)
I definitely think class sizes are too big, having said that, I also know that lack of budget is the problem. I bet if you asked the teacher she would love a smaller class size. But in this day and age, with teachers getting paid nothing and schools getting less, the class size of 10 years before are gone. It makes me sad for our teachers, they have too much to do and no way of changing it. It hurts all, those who are struggling and those who are not. I am surprised though that there is not an assitant in the class. My boys classes were big, but always there was an assistant. Maybe discuss that with your principal?
So a teacher should not yell. I know it is difficult, but can you imagine if our husbands yelled at their co-workers, it would mean discipline. This is there job. That's my opinion. I know they have lots of kids, so I guess I could see it happening in a moment of weakness, but still not good.
I think it is good to help your kids learn kindness. They need to realize it is not OK. You can't really lecture a little kid, but you can certainly say that kindness is what is needed in the situation. How else will they learn? Either we teach them and expect goodness from them, or they become the kid in the class that we all deem "bad." I mean I don't expect my 5 year old to share all the time or understand empathy perfectly, but we can gently lead them in the way they should go.
And remember 5 year olds will not behave right all the time, they can't. Their brains are not developed enough. We all make mistakes. As a parent it is our responsibility to teach, let them fall, and then use it as a teaching situation. I struggle with this daily. I want my kids to make all the right decisions, but then I remember that repentance would not be around if we all made the right decisions all the time. I expect a lot from my kids, and sometimes I get upset when they fail, and I have to remind my self that the saying "learning from our mistakes" applies to my kids too.
Sorry, I talked your ears off with my opinions.
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