Parenting: 4 & 5-Year-Olds Community

Good luck and let us know how it went.

I hope it goes well! Good luck.

I hope it goes well. Stay strong, Momma!

I'll be checking back for your update.

Good luck!

I hope it went well

So update:
It sucks to sit in a room and have 3 people tell you how wonderful a teacher is. How she is the most requested teacher in the school.
I don't see her as wonderful. I see her as irritable, short tempered and frazzled. She goes to a bit of extremes with discipline on my son. He comes home frustrated, upset, crying, saying he doesn't have friends and that she yells at him all the time.
Teachers perspective: Henry is happy go lucky at school, will give her a hug at times and seems happy. But she does notice a change when I come to get him (Not quite sure what that means...) He acts silly a lot in school and that tends to push others away from him so he can't make friends. He is respectful and never mean to anyone. (yes this I do know).
So I feel the gist of it all was it must be something at home. I voiced that nothing has changed at home it is the same. Otherwise he is holding it in all day and letting out his complete frustration. Truly though some of Henry's complaints I have observed.
The teacher honestly is probably really good at the academic stuff ..but dealing with the kids emotions I feel she is not good with at all. In fact she really doesn't care. I brought up the family project...Henry acts out every time since preschool when family project is done? Why because other kids are drawing dads and he doesnn't? I know that is the case. He got a yellow that day. Teacher said nothing to me about it but the principal coaches her in that is good information to know for the future right?
Kids are human beings not academic machines. I want mine looked at in that manner.
Henry is tough until he gets home then he is in his safe place to break down.
I have no idea what this counselor will even think to do. He is a former PE teacher thrust into the counselor road.
I am frustrated still a bit.
But I feel like they know eyes are upon them, her more severe type discipline is a bit much (exclusion , standing by wall the whole recess ect. ). Maybe my kid will actually get a few more positive things said to him and who knows maybe the counselor will surprise me...

And yes I am still switching schools...

Throwing in my two cents...

I would be frustrated too. What the teacher said seems odd-a kid who acts silly at school at that age is likely to have MORE friends (at least if you go by my DS who LOVES the silly kids), not have kids turn away from him for that- unless they fear what the teacher will do to them for enjoying the silly kid's behavior!

And to suggest that your son acts different when you come to get him is implying that there is a problem at home. If she really thought that was the case, why hasn't she mentioned it to you. Or does she just assume it and why would she??? Sounds like an excuse for not caring about the kids at the very least.
Hopefully DS will respond to the counselor. Sometimes boys respond differently to men.

But, like you said, since his teacher knows you're watching, maybe she'll be a bit nicer.

Good luck unil you find them a new school.

(((HUGS)))

Well we got information on what they call magnet schools here. You have to put in a bid to them. Basically they are schools somewhat run like private schools (even though public) with a Theme: such as the arts, communication, technology, international studies.
I can put in my application for these schools and see if we can get in. There are 2 schools close to me .
One has a theme of communications/electronic media and the other on international studies.
They are trying to diversify the schools so we meet the crieteria they put forth.
I can tour the schools in Jan and have the apps in by the 27th.
Sooo...prayers/positive thoughts if you wish.

Just as a side note that Henry has been having a really good day the last few days. He seems much happier coming home so I do feel changes have been made because he hasn't been like this in a very long time. So I am hoping that I made a difference. For my son as well as others.

Thanks everyone. Vics I agree /think the same thing you wrote. I do feel that if anything it was a wake up call and more eyes are looking /knowing I will complain if anything happens like it did previously.
So it is going to be a long time until May and we are done.
I am ready to get into another school. Of course Henry has things to work on I am not saying that.
But in the course of things he is not disrespectful of teachers/staff or other kids and never is mean to other children (which is what he has experienced a lot lately as well.)

{{hugs}}
glad to hear that henry has been in better spirits the past couple days. i'm sure the teacher is more aware now that you have expressed concern. just keep an eye on her b/c people have a tendency to slip back to old ways after a week or so.

her implying that b/c henry acts silly he will alienate himself from making friends doesn't make any sense. all kids this age are silly.

i have to tell you that now that DS is in school it scares the heck out of me. i'm terrified of bullies and that he'll be the brunt of someones cruelty. and i get so nervous thinking about how i would deal with issues when they come up. it's nice to read yours and other posts about how to deal with the school and teachers. impowers me to know that if something does come up i can handle it.

i work in a school district and i sit in classrooms daily from K to high school and see a diverse range of teachers. Some are good and some I just think OMG how are you even here. And I look at the kids and think dear God please don't let my children act like this.

Those magnet you schools you mentioned sound interesting. I'm interested to know if there is something like that by me. You've peaked my interest so now I will have to research it.