Should I be upset about this?

First, my oldest isn't a twin, but I thought maybe this would be a better place to ask this question since most of you have children in school already.

Andrew is an excellent student in most areas. However, this year we've discovered that he's been having problems in math. It's not a surprise, since I'm horrible in that area too and understand how frustrating it is for him. His dad and I have made sure to sit down with him and work with him and have even given him extra work at home to supplement. Outside of grades and notes being written on his homework pages (nothing more than a "see me"), we had NO idea that it was becoming a major problem. Most of his homework was coming back with B's, but we've had a few F's...still, not anything that indicated that the teacher was frustrated or having an issue.

When he came home from school today, he told me that he was seeing a new math teacher. I'd never heard of her, so I went and looked her up on the school's website. As it turns out, she is a "math intervention specialist." That part is actually fine. If he needs the help, then we're completely okay with that. What is upsetting to me is that we were never once notified that it had become such a problem and that he would be moving classes. I'm actually really angry with that because it almost feels like the choice was taken away from us. Nobody said ANYTHING to us at all, and even though his grades were so-so, it again NEVER crossed my mind that he would need to be put in a remedial math classroom (he's in third grade, by the way). And, if they had said something, we of course would have said it was fine!

I sat down and typed up a short e-mail to his homeroom teacher, but am not sure if I should send it to her or if I should send it to the math teacher (who I assume made the decision).

I guess I just need to hear that A) I'm justified or B) I'm not...how would you feel if you were in this position?

 

I am going to answer this first as a teacher. My guess is that the teacher is a basic skills teacher, and she is probably pulling him out for a short duration in order to see where he is and if he can catch up. This is one of the interventions used to see if a child is just struggling with a skill or skill set or has a deeper problem. Parental permission isn't needed for this since it isn't a special service and it is part of the "regular curriculum" vs. special education. This is actually not an uncommon occurence in elementary school. While there should have been more communication, it is not out of the ordinary that this happened. This also allows them to get a better idea of where he is before they come to you. As a teacher, I hate having to go to a parent to tell them that their child is struggling, especially if I don't have a why. As a result, I would try interventions that are available to me before approaching the parents. Because while you may be willing to take the help, there are many parents who are unwilling to believe their child is stuggling, so the teacher tends to want as much info as possible before approaching parents.

I would definately talk to the math teacher, and just ask what the plan is, and let them know that you would like a more open line of communication.

 

Sharon, thank you so much for your response. I can definitely understand the reasoning behind the decision, and I appreciate your perspective as a teacher. Again, I am not against intervention, and I am certainly aware that he is struggling (and not surprised at all). I just would have really appreciated some communication on the matter. After I had some time to think about it, I remembered that the math portion of the TAKS test is coming up and imagine that they were worried he wouldn't do well. Again, a simple notification from one of his teachers would have been well-received.

I've put together a simple e-mail, so hopefully we'll get this cleared up and maybe I can get some more information.

Thank you, again!

 

Gini, I do understand your concern. Now that you mention the testing coming up, they may have felt that you did have some idea that it was coming. So, from their perpective, they thought they had notified you. It sounds like a simple mis-communication. The most important part is that he is getting the help he needs

Good luck!

 

I haven't had this experience but a similar one for opposite reasons. My children were both tested for advanced reading and advanced math classes. They are similar things where the children are pulled out of class for a short period at certain times of the week. I was informed by all of my children's teachers (they have different teachers and were tested both in K and Grade 1) that they would like to have them take the test and see how things went. I don't know how I would have felt if they did it all without telling me but I don't think I would have been too happy to learn they were pulling the children out of their regular class without telling me. The biggest reason for me is one of my children is a huge creature of habit and it took some advanced preparation to get my child to understand what was going to be happening and how the routine would be changing.

I think I would shoot a quick email to the teacher saying your child told you about the math teacher but was not clear on the details. Ask the teacher to fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle so to speak then gauge your next step by what you are told about how it all went down.

 

QUOTE(ehm @ Apr 6 2009, 07:03 PM) [snapback]1261826[/snapback]
The biggest reason for me is one of my children is a huge creature of habit and it took some advanced preparation to get my child to understand what was going to be happening and how the routine would be changing.


That was another reason for my concern. Andrew has never dealt well with change, at all! So, the disruption in his schedule was frustrating to him, though he seems okay with the new teacher. I sent a nice e-mail to both teachers, so we'll see what happens from there. Thanks for your perspective as well. As a side note, Andrew was also tested for Gifted & Talented last week so I guess it threw me off (even though I knew it was for science and language arts).

 

Just wondering what you found out?

 

Hey Gini...I just saw this now. I have to say that, yes, I would be upset that I hadn't heard about it happening. I am annoyed about that whenever my kids tell me something new happened like that. I just continue to be the interfering parent and step in and ask what's going on. I know they have lots of students and are very busy. Now, I am annoyed but not upset about this now because my girls are both so verbal and tell me all that goes on. However, next year when Will goes to K I know I won't be getting as much info. In those cases, I know I will be upset when things have happened and I have no idea. I know, like you, I will undertand that it was neccessary, but will be annoyed (because I know myself) that I wasn't in on the happenings of it.

I guess I have control issues, don't I? :laughing:

 

Sorry, I'm a math teacher, and I'm just seeing this, I was just wondering, is this in addition to his regular math class or instead of his regular math class. We are now required to have kids placed in intervention math classes if they don't make a certain grade on a year-end test. These classes are called RTI classes and are designed to help the students with their core class and are taken in addition to their regular math class, so that may be something you want to ask when you call. Is it possible that is what this class is, not a pull-out class, but a class in addition to his regular class. We, too, do not have to notify our parents if a child goes into an RTI class. However, RTI classes are built into their schedules from the beginning of school, not during the last part. However, if a student is placed in RTI later in the year I normally have already had several meetings with the parents because of bad grades, poor testing, etc., and this is just another step to help the student to achieve success and at that point the parents are already well aware of the possibility. It is really weird that you didn't know at the elementary level.