By the way, count me as another who thinks maybe you should report that social worker to somebody. Her behaviour is inappropriate.
(bolding mine)
A brand-new teacher? Helloooo? She’s still learning how to do her job.
You brought up two issues. The first–the wet blanket personality–there’s little help for. Her classroom manner may well improve as she gains experience and confidence, however. Also, I seem to remember that there were several teachers in my elementary school who were quite popular in spite of being anything but “fun and funny.” They had developed their own ways of dealing with the kids I guess.
The second issue–the lack of clarity in scheduling and expectations–is a perfect example of a skill that can be learned.
My husband is a teacher (seventh grade science), and he was lucky enough during his student teaching to have mentors who drilled the importance of this kind of stuff into him. He’s always made a point of making his expectations very clear, both in terms of scheduling and criteria for grading. He also keeps detailed grade sheets. This kind of thing helps the students avoid the kind of confusion and uncertainty that the OP’s daughter is experiencing.
It also has an important side benefit–when a parent comes in complaining that Little Genius couldn’t possibly have received a B and that it must be Big Bad Teacher’s fault, he can clearly explain, with evidence, why Little Genius got that B. Examples: “Well, for this project, this assignment sheet was given out. It specifies that the project was worth X number of points and must include the elements A, B, and C. Little Genius did not include C.” Or "Yes, Little Genius received excellent test scores, but was consistenly late in handing in his homework. At the beginning of the year, you signed a ‘contract’ stating that you and he understood that X percent was to be deducted for each day an assignment was late. Please take a look at this grade sheet. You can see that Little Genius handed in 8 assignments late this marking period.
The result is that the parents usually walk into the meeting ready to tear Mr. Bean a new one, and walk out of the meeting ready to clobber Little Genius for misrepresenting the situation and also resolved to keep closer tabs on him with regard to his assignments.
My husband has helped many new teachers set up the same kind of system for their own classrooms with good results. Little Silver’s teacher’s supervisors and cooperating teachers can help her set up the same thing for herself. If she’s getting no help in that department, then maybe there are some books or websites that can help.
As far as the letter–I dunno. I like the idea of telling the full story, including the good, the bad, the positive result for your daughter, suggestions for ways for the teacher to improve in the problem area and that you were generally satisfied, and wouldn’t be writing at all but for the request of this particular social worker. But I don’t know if that might have repercussions.
Good luck, and good job with your handling of the situation. It’s great that you are helping your daughter learn to succeed in spite of a difficult “boss.” It’s a very important life lesson–not only because she will have difficult bosses in the future, but also because you’re showing her that other people’s incompetence only goes so far in explaining your own poor performance.
I have to go against the grain here. You most definitely SHOULD write a letter. The teachers performance was affecting your child’s education. greyhairedmomma is waaay off base to think that the child doesn’t have much to lose in 2nd grade. Early elementary is when kids are gaining their basic skills and forming their opinions of education. If they lose a year in 2nd grade, many kids stay behind the rest of their school career.
You think it is a life lesson that your child needed to learn? Perhaps, but she only learned it due to YOUR diligence and good parenting. What about the child who doesn’t have such an attentive parent? The only life lesson they learn out of the deal is “Gosh I did cruddy in 2nd grade. Maybe I’m stupid.” The school NEEDS to know about these situations. How else will they evaluate the training the teacher needs? Or, yes, fire a poorly performing teacher while the teacher is still probationary. It’s the principal’s job to decide which way an indivual teacher goes.
Keeping track of the performance of new teachers is NOT a witch hunt. It is a crucial part of enhancing better education for our children. Write your letter telling the good sides and bad sides of the teacher. Principals cannot sit in on every class of every teacher.
OP’s kid is in 4th grade. Mine is in second.
It sounds more and more like the social worker has an agenda–I don’t dance to other people’s tunes.
Good luck–school is almost out for the year.