Which teacher??

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Which teacher??
1
Sat, 09-08-2007 - 1:00pm

8yo (almost 9yo) ds 4th grade teacher is supposed to be the most AS experienced teacher in his grade. The first few days of school were a bit upsetting for ds in his interactions with her, but he's settling in better and not quite as upset any more.

I've exchanged notes and phone calls with the teacher as well as visited her class. I don't think she's a bad teacher -- in fact, there were many things I liked about her style -- but she is high energy, fast talking, and her voice sounds stern at all times even when she's trying to be friendly. I think that's why ds was so overwhelmed and freaked out by her initially. She does seem to know SOME things about AS, but I think she knows just enough to make her hyper-vigilant.

The teacher is constantly trying to help ds focus when she thinks he's distracted. Ds DOES give the appearance of being distracted (eyes wandering, playing quietly with pencil, etc), but he's hearing everything that's going on and can do everything she asks him to do. There ARE times that ds can't organize his thoughts and put ideas on paper, but I don't think the teacher has had an opportunity to see that with ds yet this year, so the teacher can't even mistake ds inability to organize his thoughts with his seeming inattention in class. Even tho' ds is starting to recognize that it's just the teacher's style, the hyper-vigilance makes ds nervous like he's always about to make a mistake. The teacher also still hasn't read ds complete 504 to know what is best for ds.

I met the other 4th grade teachers at back-to-school night this week (the teachers all take turns rotating between the 4th grade classes to teach one subject area, so I used that as my excuse for getting to know the other teachers since they'll also have contact with my ds). I'm even less enamored of the second teacher, but the 3rd teacher has some potential for being good. This is only her 2nd year of teaching (1st yr at this school), and she has no knowledge/experience with AS at all. However, she seemed the most genuinely personable of the bunch and the most interested in being helpful to ds. The other two teachers SAY all the right things, but I leave feeling nervous about them. The new teacher doesn't really say anything particularly impressive, but I just get the feeling that she'd be a calmer, nicer teacher.

Would you leave ds in a class where it's a bit stressful but he's surviving adequately, or would you switch to the unknown but potentially better teacher?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-21-2007
In reply to: hwife
Sat, 09-08-2007 - 2:43pm
Hi,
I know how stressful getting the right school and teacher is.I can only say go with your gut feeling.If ds is not happy find out what alternatives are available first,then make a decision.
We left our ds in a school he was just OK with,with disasterous consequences.
He is now in a different school thats going great for him.
hope some of the other girls can help as i live in the uk and education systems are different here,sorry i can't help so much.
yvonne