1. What were you blogging about a year ago? What has changed since then?
Last year at this time I was blogging about how frustrated I was with how Kainoa’s first grade was going. He is a pretty active kid and wants to have a good time, so it is important for a teacher to establish themselves as an authority to listen to, but in his case I felt like his teacher didn’t actually like him at all. She seemed to have her mind made up about him fairly early on.
His Kindergarten teacher was able to see his big heart and I was hoping for another year like that. But I believe he sensed the same coldness from his first grade teacher that I did. His shoulders slumped coming to and from the school bus. He would make silly remarks about wishing slugs could poison him so that he would die and not have to go to school. He would draw sad faces in the corners of his papers. It was heartbreaking to see and I was literally counting down the days until summer vacation.
During the first week of school he received two time outs that resulted in being removed from the classroom and that punishment became typical for him for the rest of the year. And we’re not talking time outs for fighting or talking back or being blatantly disrespectful. These were time outs for doing things like…getting a drink of water without permission, excessive tapping, speaking out, getting in his friend’s space, etc..
At one point the teacher had emailed me to let me know he was going to be sent to the principal’s office because he had received three of those time outs in one week. The principal’s office. HE WAS SEVEN.
I just can’t. I get fired up when I think about the entire year he spent in that class. Maybe I didn’t do enough. There were conversations and lengthy emails from me to the teacher, but I was afraid if I was too confrontational she would not like me and take that out on Kainoa. So we both endured that year and I prayed that his teacher would not place him in a class with another strict teacher.
I am over the moon happy to report this year could not be better for him. He was placed with a new teacher to our school and she is a breath of wonderfully fresh air. She has a smile on her face every morning that is genuine and warm, my son has not been removed from her class for a timeout even ONCE this entire year so far, and he adores her.
I picked him up from school due to a hurting tummy and she slipped a “feel better buddy!” post it note into his folder. He stuck the note on our front door and it stayed there for over a month. When we decorated our Christmas tree he stood tall in front of it and asked me to take his photo to send to her. I have not seen even one sad panda face on his schoolwork. I have not heard even one “I wish I could die instead of go to school” remark. This teacher has single handedly undone every negative feeling toward school that both Kainoa and I harbored after last year. She’s a gift and every student deserves a teacher like her!
The Prompts:
1. What were you blogging about a year ago? What has changed since then?
2. The best part of my day is…
3. Friends night out! Create a list of celebrities to invite.
4. Describe what snow days were like when you were a child. What made them memorable?
5. Write a blog post inspired by the word: slippery
6. Share one piece of great advice you’ve received from someone who knows stuff…
7. Welcome to the most shocking rose ceremony in writing prompt history. Please award roses to the ten people (or items) in your life that you’d like to continue pursuing a relationship with.
Tiffany says
I can so relate. I’m currently having a very similar year with my 3rd grader. This teacher is seemingly mad all the time. Not at her students but with her life. She often relays to them how bad her day was or her home life etc. Yet they feel the blunt of her angst. I have an ongoing email train for various assignments and such that are just unclear to me as an adult and utterly confusing to my 9 year old. Like you though I am treading lightly. My daughter must see her daily and I don’t won’t her dislike for me to be misplaced. So our countdown has begun as well….is it summer yet?
Mama Kat says
We’re halfway there! It’s so frustrating to have no choice but to cope with a teacher who doesn’t seem to want to be there. I know they work so hard, but I wish some of them were more aware of how they are perceived. Hang in there!
Kimberly says
I had to stop reading this post…get up…do a rocky balboa around the kitchen…come back…then read…because I’m going through the EXACT SAME THING right now with my seven year old.
I just wrote a blip about it: http://www.makemommygosomethingsomething.com/2016/01/09/when-the-teacher-is-a-bully/
This man has killed my son’s spirit. Like I can’t even describe to you what is missing from my son but there is just something that isn’t there in his facial expression anymore. My son has said to us “Can I get a job at the grocery store until I have to start school again in the summer?” and just the other day he said “My teacher thinks I’m a dumby.”
Oh and this one “If I am smart enough, can I be a teacher? And when I be a teacher I promise I won’t be like him.”
This teacher treats him like he’s stupid. Literally stupid. Because he can’t draw straight lines…he can’t erase properly…and he must stay in for recess because he can’t do those things….hell I’m 35 and can’t draw a straight line.
Sigh….I can go on…Anyways, thank you for writing this because I worry that my son will get stuck with someone worse next year because of my sqwuaking. I am so happy that yours is having a much better year. That smile says it all. He deserves that . No teacher should be allowed to bully children. Horrible people.
Mama Kat says
Oh girrrrrl you know we could sit and chat about this for hours! I left out so many uncomfortable interactions and reports he would bring home about what happened at school. I think our teacher was definitely in the wrong age group. She’s not warm and when they’re that young, still getting their feet wet in regards to school, they really need someone who wants to be there with them. Have you considered emailing the principal? In retrospect, I wish I had and perhaps requested to remain anonymouse…I might actually still do it. They need to be aware of how the teachers are being received. So sorry you have to endure this. You’re halfway there!!
madamdreamweaver says
I guess some colleges must forget to tell their teaching students how influential they can be on a students whole attitude about school! So glad he’s got a good one this year!
Mama Kat says
Agreed! I think being aware of your influence on kids is just as important as the education you give them!
Jerralea says
Teachers are SO influential in a child’s life. I’m so happy your son has one that relates so well to him this year. We need to celebrate every good teacher out there. As the mother of a high school math teacher, I can tell you that she gets very disheartened at the teachers she works with that are burnt out and don’t care any more! Sometimes she feels like the only teacher that cares – and I know there are many more out there that do care – but it’s hard when you don’t see it.
So give your good teacher lots of appreciation!
Mama Kat says
I remember those disgruntled high school teachers and I always appreciated the teachers who seemed to genuinely enjoyed being there. They do make such a difference! I’ll definitely shower her with appreciation!
Michelle says
I am a teacher, please keep reading:) I am so sorry to hear that your son had such a bad experience last year. It is so frustrating to see teachers kill the spirit of their student due to lack of classroom management and understanding! I wish something could be done to help get these teacher more training or out of the classroom. I know at my school the principal is usually fully aware of the problems with individual teachers, but it takes a lot to get a teacher removed from the classroom. If your child is ever coming home so sad that he does not want to go back, I recommend collecting the evidence and bring copies of it to the principal in order to get your child transferred to a new classroom. It is unexceptable for a teacher to kill a students spirit no matter how disruptive they perceive the child’s to be.
Lana says
I’m so sorry your son had to go through that. My youngest is a senior this year, so we’ve been through our share of terrible teachers. I always wonder why they’re there – if you don’t like kids, don’t be a teacher! So glad this year is going better – it makes such a difference! Thanks so much for the link up.
Debi says
It is the absolute worst when a teacher has a personality conflict with a child, or worse, is just a mean biatch. I get it. I taught for a bit ( before I had kids) and not every kid is your flavor nor is every adult but when your job is to inspire and teach children, you’ve at least got to try.
I hate that your son had such a bad experience with his monster teacher. My eldest had an issue with her kindergarten teacher, which was so unfortunate since she had such an amazing experience in preschool. The teacher was just old and cantankerous. They had pulled her back in out of retirement because of a shortage and she was not happy about it.
Put it this way, she pulled my 5 year old to the front of the class to use her as an example of WHAT NOT TO WEAR because of a BUTTON on her capris ( Catholic school uniforms). She humiliated my kid plus, hello, my 5 year old wasn’t dressing herself. It was all me. I made the mistake with the rogue button. So, the teacher, myself and the principal had a discussion and it never happened again.
I just wish these teachers who don’t want to be teaching any longer, realized that they still leave a giant imprint on our child and for the sake of all of us, they should put their own personal feelings aside or take it up with the parent.
P.S. I am not a spammer ;)