Teacher Feedback Question

[aydee]

I could use some suggestions about how to handle a school issue with one of my kids' teachers this year. They are 2nd graders and are still virtual, so I sometimes overhear what the teacher is teaching throughout the day. On an ongoing basis, the teacher is making mistakes in what she is teaching.

**Details poofed for privacy**

I'm not sure whether I should say anything about any of this. Would you speak up, and if so, to who and what would you say? Would it be better to let it go and just accept that teachers vary in quality?

PDQ as I may remove some of the details later for privacy reasons.

[sweptaway]

Isn't she giving the kids written work or worksheets with the words written on them? Is English her first language? It's April... has this been happening all school year?

[nevertoomanyshoes]

I see some of my colleagues are teaching your child.

It’s really hard, but as someone leading a team, it’s really hard to assist these teachers to upskill when you don’t know how bad things are. I have had teachers in my team that I knew weren’t as capable as others and we were actively sending to professional learning or providing mentor ship but as I’m not in their rooms and especially when we were remote- and then we found out later that they were completely incompetent, but no one said anything.

Is there a coordinating teacher or admin for the year level that you could get in touch with? In my experience, they’re the ones that can help the teacher (or take other actions if they’re... how to put this... not help-able).

Is this teacher brand new to the field, or perhaps been thrown into this role from another role?

[aydee]

Apr 12, 2021 19:32:05 GMT -6 sweptaway said:

Isn't she giving the kids written work or worksheets with the words written on them? Is English her first language? It's April... has this been happening all school year?

No worksheets because they're virtual. English is her first language, and yes, unfortunately it's been happening all year. Nobody's perfect so I tried to just overlook the mistakes at first, but it's become clear that this isn't a random mistake here or there.

[aydee]

Apr 12, 2021 19:34:48 GMT -6 nevertoomanyshoes said:

I see some of my colleagues are teaching your child.

It’s really hard, but as someone leading a team, it’s really hard to assist these teachers to upskill when you don’t know how bad things are. I have had teachers in my team that I knew weren’t as capable as others and we were actively sending to professional learning or providing mentor ship but as I’m not in their rooms and especially when we were remote- and then we found out later that they were completely incompetent, but no one said anything.

Is there a coordinating teacher or admin for the year level that you could get in touch with? In my experience, they’re the ones that can help the teacher (or take other actions if they’re... how to put this... not help-able).

Is this teacher brand new to the field, or perhaps been thrown into this role from another role?

She has 2 teachers who were co-teaching virtually with her up until recently. I know they've heard some of these errors. Those other 2 teachers are now in person again, so my kids are left with only this 1 teacher who is struggling.

She's not brand new, but has only been teaching a few years, all of those in elementary.

For some reason I feel embarrassed to bring these mistakes up to the teacher or anyone else. I don't want to be critical.

[Yogurt]

I would not bring any of this up to the teacher, because what possible positive outcome could that have? I can't even imagine one. I would tell the principal respectfully and gently all of this, via email, in a tone spoken out of kindness and concern for all of those involved and affected.

This person either needs an improvement plan or a new career.

I am a teacher.

[Deleted]

Addressing it correctly should not be considered critical. I do think you need to escalate this though because she’s helping form basic principles (ie:alliterations).

[aydee]

I guess it feels a little unfair to escalate it without making her aware and giving her a chance to correct these issues. I know she's well intentioned.

Maybe I could gently mention that some of her lessons need more advance preparation? My daughter did say today, "my mom thinks you might be talking about alliteration". So the teacher is now aware that I heard it.

[nevertoomanyshoes]

Apr 12, 2021 20:27:55 GMT -6 aydee said:

I guess it feels a little unfair to escalate it without making her aware and giving her a chance to correct these issues. I know she's well intentioned.

Maybe I could gently mention that some of her lessons need more advance preparation? My daughter did say today, "my mom thinks you might be talking about alliteration". So the teacher is now aware that I heard it.

I would definitely not tell her directly.

[Yogurt]

Apr 12, 2021 20:27:55 GMT -6 aydee said:

I guess it feels a little unfair to escalate it without making her aware and giving her a chance to correct these issues. I know she's well intentioned.

Maybe I could gently mention that some of her lessons need more advance preparation? My daughter did say today, "my mom thinks you might be talking about alliteration". So the teacher is now aware that I heard it.

I honestly do not think you owe her that and it seems like such an uncomfortable scene and just not your place? (I don't mean that to be dickish.) Like I am role playing it in my head and what could she possibly say back to you? An explanation? An apology? I just can't fathom what she would say back. I don't think the priority here needs to be giving her a chance to correct it. This needs to be brought to admins attention for the good of the kids.

[aydee]

Apr 12, 2021 20:40:40 GMT -6 Yogurt said:

Apr 12, 2021 20:27:55 GMT -6 aydee said:

I guess it feels a little unfair to escalate it without making her aware and giving her a chance to correct these issues. I know she's well intentioned.

Maybe I could gently mention that some of her lessons need more advance preparation? My daughter did say today, "my mom thinks you might be talking about alliteration". So the teacher is now aware that I heard it.

I honestly do not think you owe her that and it seems like such an uncomfortable scene and just not your place? (I don't mean that to be dickish.) Like I am role playing it in my head and what could she possibly say back to you? An explanation? An apology? I just can't fathom what she would say back. I don't think the priority here needs to be giving her a chance to correct it. This needs to be brought to admins attention for the good of the kids.

Thank you, this is helpful. I guess I've been worried that it would be lousy of me to say anything at all, or if I did, not to start with her directly. I suspect if I brought it up to her she would be apologetic.

[Yogurt]

Girl. Humnivores.

[aydee]

I know. Most preschoolers could correct her on that one.

[nevertoomanyshoes]

When I was studying to be a teacher and on placement, my mentor teacher was teaching her grade that the numerator was the bottom number of the fraction and the denominator was the top. Also that a square centimetre was four centimetres stuck together. I was there one week. Imagine how much wrong shit those poor kids were taught that whole year? I gently corrected her assuming she would welcome the feedback and be horrified she taught them the wrong thing and got totally chewed out. Best believe I let above her know.

[pobre]

Apr 12, 2021 19:40:23 GMT -6 aydee said:

Apr 12, 2021 19:32:05 GMT -6 sweptaway said:

Isn't she giving the kids written work or worksheets with the words written on them? Is English her first language? It's April... has this been happening all school year?

No worksheets because they're virtual. English is her first language, and yes, unfortunately it's been happening all year. Nobody's perfect so I tried to just overlook the mistakes at first, but it's become clear that this isn't a random mistake here or there.

Ok but there are virtual worksheets? I mean even in in person school they do a lot of assignments online.

I can’t believe that half of the second graders aren’t correcting her. This is based on having a second grader who did virtual most of the year.

[nevertoomanyshoes]

Apr 12, 2021 20:45:17 GMT -6 Yogurt said:

Girl. Humnivores.

This has killed me. What do humnivores like to eat? I’ve gone to a dirty place because I’m real mature like that.

[jsgrl]

I had a similar issue with my kid's kindergarten teacher. She was a lovely person, and loved the kids, but her grammar and spelling was awful (she was american, English was her first language).

I tried to let it go as a one time thing but in a couple email exchanges, I could barely understand what she was saying.

I ended up speaking to the principal about it, in hopefully a kind and gentle way. Principal said she was glad to hear it so that she could figure out some targeted development for the teacher.

[sunnysideup]

I am very go to the teacher when possible about issues. But in this case I would not. I would mention your concerns to administration.

[sunnysideup]

You mentioned no worksheets since they are virtual. What kind of work is being graded? I was just wondering if she is teaching concepts incorrectly how checked work looks?

[kayc]

Apr 12, 2021 19:54:21 GMT -6 Yogurt said:

I would not bring any of this up to the teacher, because what possible positive outcome could that have? I can't even imagine one. I would tell the principal respectfully and gently all of this, via email, in a tone spoken out of kindness and concern for all of those involved and affected.

This person either needs an improvement plan or a new career.

I am a teacher.

This is exactly my advice, also a teacher.

[TheoV2]

Apr 13, 2021 5:34:12 GMT -6 kayc said:

Apr 12, 2021 19:54:21 GMT -6 Yogurt said:

I would not bring any of this up to the teacher, because what possible positive outcome could that have? I can't even imagine one. I would tell the principal respectfully and gently all of this, via email, in a tone spoken out of kindness and concern for all of those involved and affected.

This person either needs an improvement plan or a new career.

I am a teacher.

This is exactly my advice, also a teacher.

Agreed.

[Nonniedee]

I also have a second grader, and I switched her out of her classroom a few months ago. There wasn’t an incompetence issue, but her teacher was always yelling at the kids. I brought it to the teacher first, and she said “I just have a very direct and firm way of teaching. Sensitive children grow a thick skin with me.” So yea, I was like, girl, fuck you, and I asked to be switched to a different virtual class.

All that to say, I don’t think it’s too late to make a change

[regal]

Apr 12, 2021 21:27:52 GMT -6 nevertoomanyshoes said:

When I was studying to be a teacher and on placement, my mentor teacher was teaching her grade that the numerator was the bottom number of the fraction and the denominator was the top. Also that a square centimetre was four centimetres stuck together. I was there one week. Imagine how much wrong shit those poor kids were taught that whole year? I gently corrected her assuming she would welcome the feedback and be horrified she taught them the wrong thing and got totally chewed out. Best believe I let above her know.

WTF? I've questioned (#private thoughts) shit my colleagues have said, but never anything completely incorrect like that.

[gimmeaQ]

i... dont understand the no worksheets thing. i have never heard of this for lower elementary even in virtual times. i would HAVE to think that every other class in that school is doing some sort of virtual worksheet or some equivalent.

what is being graded? how is she measuring kids and seeing where they are individually and all that?

[aydee]

Apr 13, 2021 4:44:53 GMT -6 sunnysideup said:

You mentioned no worksheets since they are virtual. What kind of work is being graded? I was just wondering if she is teaching concepts incorrectly how checked work looks?

There are online math tests that are graded and a workbook that they use for math. There is an online phonics program that has tests. Every now and then (maybe every 2 months) we submit a piece of their writing. Every few weeks there is also an online worksheet having to do with a language arts concept. 

Not much is being graded or monitored. I don't know if it's this teacher or the district. Believe me, after this past year we've had, we are actively looking at changing school districts.

[gimmeaQ]

Apr 13, 2021 8:19:29 GMT -6 aydee said:

Apr 13, 2021 4:44:53 GMT -6 sunnysideup said:

You mentioned no worksheets since they are virtual. What kind of work is being graded? I was just wondering if she is teaching concepts incorrectly how checked work looks?

There are online math tests that are graded and a workbook that they use for math. There is an online phonics program that has tests. Every now and then (maybe every 2 months) we submit a piece of their writing. Every few weeks there is also an online worksheet having to do with a language arts concept. 

Not much is being graded or monitored. I don't know if it's this teacher or the district. Believe me, after this past year we've had, we are actively looking at changing school districts.

wow, i do not like this at all. have you brought any of this up before?

[aydee]

Apr 13, 2021 8:21:26 GMT -6 gimmeaQ said:

Apr 13, 2021 8:19:29 GMT -6 aydee said:

There are online math tests that are graded and a workbook that they use for math. There is an online phonics program that has tests. Every now and then (maybe every 2 months) we submit a piece of their writing. Every few weeks there is also an online worksheet having to do with a language arts concept. 

Not much is being graded or monitored. I don't know if it's this teacher or the district. Believe me, after this past year we've had, we are actively looking at changing school districts.

wow, i do not like this at all. have you brought any of this up before?

I haven't. It seemed strange to me, but I'm not a teacher.

Honestly, there is so little learning happening over the past year that there have been many occasions when I have considered withdrawing my kids and home schooling. And that is not something I have ever been interested in doing.

[shellbell]

I would absolutely voice your concerns, but not to the teacher.

I mean, we all make mistakes or mispronounce a word. But then we correct it and move on. And it’s an exception, not a rule.

This needs to be brought up to an administrator. Has the admin done any virtual observations?

I’m just....yikes.

Also yikes to the work being assigned/assessed.