Feedback/interaction with Preschool Teacher

[Kimi]

Hi

Just wondering what you would consider to be normal feedback and interaction from a Preschool Teacher? Should the teacher speak to you about the child at all.

My DS is currently in a preschool but there is no communication with the parents, any time I ask a question she answers it and follows it with something negative eg he can’t hold a pencil properly, do you (me) do much pencil work with him? I feel like I am sending him into to some unknown territory where we are not allowed to know what is going on in the class. I keep asking him but he tends to be a bit vague about what he has been doing.

Can anyone tell me what is normal? Should we be told more?

Thanks

[libby1]

I don’t think is normal

You are paying for this service… there is form of interaction going on that you need to be aware of

Surely you are entilied to know what goes on positive and negative

Playschool is about Play – I would want to know about Role – play / creative pla y / arts & crafts = About friendship etc

[Kimi]

Thanks for your reply Libby. I am thinking of moving him to another class. I want his experience of playschool to be positive. I want to know what he’s doing but its gone to the stage that I don’t ask because I know she’ll say something negative.

[scole1]

firstly is he in playshool, or montessori, as there is a huge difference between the 2…..what age is he? will he be starting school in sep? (just curious)

anyway, the main thing i would do would be to air your feelings regards communication with the teacher, or even the owner arrange to speak to them without your child being around, as it’s not good for them to hear what’s going on infront of them….

write down everything you want to ask, ie: how settling in? what are they covering? ie. numbers, letters, writing, constructive play, mathematics (montessori) ETC…..

it is very important for the teacher to let the parent know how their child is getting on as all children are different and lead their development rather than the teacher leading them, the teacher should also know that they are the qualified ones and they are responsible for keeping the parent in the loop….and everyone knows kids do not tell you what they have done if asked, so perhaps listen and you will find out however the teacher should at least let ya know…

in the montessori where my ds is we recently had a parent teacher meeting, and found out what my ds was covering how he was progressing and how i could keep up to date with what he was doing as they have a diary in the class room available to check out….we are also allowed to stand and observe as long as we do not disrupt the class, i mostly do this from the window…and any place you send your child should allow you to do this as there’s no reason why you couldn’t.

i have also found since i’ve started to study montessori teaching how my ds is doing things and how he is progressing…i tend to have alsoways done stuff with him at home from a baby and therefore have tried to contiue this now, and hopefully i will have a proper understanding of how his mind works how he’s developing by doing this course….but i know not every mom has this oppertunity, so make sure you tell them this, and it’s not your mothering skills you are questioning regards holding a pencil it’s the teache’s teaching skills you are questioning….why fork out money and be a potenial cash cow, for these guys give them the oppertunity to explain and let them know how you feel…once they understand that you are concerned they will know how to deal with answering your questions….

hth…sorry for very long post…

[angelmum]

hi kimi,your childs teacher should never speak about your child in that way.if she has observed your child and notices that he finds something or other hard then she should discuss this with you in a professional manner and have a plan in mind to do more work with him to help him develop a particular skill.she should know there is a right way to approach a parent.the cheek of her to treat you and your child like that.if a child is finding one thing hard you can be pretty sure that he is well ahead in something else.this teacher should focus on what he does best and encourage him to colour or scribble more to strengthen his muscles for using pensils or holding things.alot of time when you leave kids to pick their own activity they wll choose what they like doing best like maybe tractors or cars and may never choose colouring or playdough.my own son will never choose colouring but will always choose trains or farm aminals.what im saying is a teacher should be trained to know what kids like and to also introduce and make the things they dont really show an interest in more fun for them.if i didnt sit down and colour with my son he would never choose to do it.if i didnt read with my older son he would never do that.your childis a perfect little child.his teacher needs some retraining in my opinion.

[majella001]

I am a Montessori teacher with 12 yrs experience and it made me mad 2 read ur post. Parent/Teacher relationships r so important in order 2 make both mammy and child happy and content in their new environment.
Parents ave a right 2 no at any stage how their child is getting on.An open door policy is one of the main reasons 4 picking the right pre-school.

Negative feedback is not constructive in any way.Children grow at different stages and they should be allowed 2 develop at their own pace.You should feel free 2 speak 2 the teacher at any stage.
I ave 4 children, 2 attended my own preschool and 1 attended the local irish speakin pre-school, the leader ere sent home weekly reports on my little girl and we were welcome in at any time.

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