Quick capitalization question

EricaH said:
Yes, this will be the first time mentioning a mistake because it's the first time I've seen a mistake on my daughter's paper. The other errors are on papers she sends home to the parents about what will be happening in the classroom. I have spoken to her once about something she did to my daughter (she called me after I spoke with another teacher about it) and I'm 99% sure she was dishonest with what happened because she did something cruel to my daughter and couldn't admit it.

Any suggestions? I was going to send the paper back with a note asking why the point was taken off and why the teacher capitalized the m.

Thanks,

Erica
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I would probably handle it as you are, and then go from there. I know you don't want to make waves for your daughter and do understand that, but I would say her lack of content area knowledge PLUS the previous incident is a bit troubling. I think if it were my child, depending upon how the teacher responds, I might even consider requesting a classroom change. JMHO. Good luck! I'm sorry your daughter and her classmates aren't getting the education they deserve.
 
RunninTeach said:
I would probably handle it as you are, and then go from there. I know you don't want to make waves for your daughter and do understand that, but I would say her lack of content area knowledge PLUS the previous incident is a bit troubling. I think if it were my child, depending upon how the teacher responds, I might even consider requesting a classroom change. JMHO. Good luck! I'm sorry your daughter and her classmates aren't getting the education they deserve.
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Thanks, Cathy. I really appreciate and respect your opinion.

I did consider asking for a classroom change earlier in the school year, but my daughter had already gotten used to the kids in her class and the routine and didn't want to switch even though she feels intimidated by the teacher and says she's mean. We also thought about homeschooling her, but she does enjoy her friends at school and I know that the third grade teachers are very good so we told her to just keep hanging in there and that third grade will be better.

I am one of many parents that has complaints about this teacher. Maybe it's time we get together and go to the principal.

ETA - the issue between my daughter and her teacher is really a case of her word against my daughter's and there's no way for me to prove what she did. My daughter was very certain of what happened and the teacher's explanation did not make a lot of sense to me. My daughter is very intimidated by this teacher. When I told her to bring her paper back with the note, she told me she couldn't do it because she was scared that the teacher would be angry, so I'll have to do it myself.

Thanks again!

Erica
 
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As an educator, this post struck a nerve with me.

I do not think it is acceptable that your daughter has been given instruction that is not correct and has been treated inappropriately. If you have spoken to the teacher about all that you say is happening and things are not changing, you have followed the chain of command and need to speak to the principal.

I make mistakes and do not dismiss them. If I don't know something, I look it up.

Most teachers are not bad. There are some who give us all a bad rap, and it makes me frustrated.

Good luck.
 
fitg said:
Most teachers are not bad. There are some who give us all a bad rap, and it makes me frustrated.

Good luck.
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Gloria, I agree. My kids have been lucky enough to have some extraordinary teachers. Having bad teachers has really made us appreciate the great ones.

Erica
 
EricaH said:
Kathryn - We've had 8 school days in the past two weeks. In that time, dd's class celebrated the 100th day of school with a giant snack mix filled with junk food, had two birthday celebrations (cupcakes), had a valentine's day party, did a project using conversation hearts which they ate and every kid is doing a chocolate project and brings in some kind of chocolate treat - several children are doing this per day. The amount of junk the kids eat in school drives me crazy. Plus, the stomach flu is going around and the kids aren't washing their hands before eating all of this junk. I used to homeschool and am sorry that I didn't do so this year.

Erica
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I live in a German village and it's the opposite here. There are absolutely no sugary snacks/parties allowed. The children aren't even allowed to bring sugary snacks in their lunches to avoid problems with the children who have apples or whatnot.

There was a heated discussion on one of the expat forums that I read about how many parents felt this was too controlling and they should be able to send whatever they want in their lunch bags -- too bad for Dieter that his mom doesn't let him have chocolate. I found the outcry in defense of sugar ironic.
 
Everyone makes mistakes, so I give the teacher the benefit of the doubt on the correction. But what concerns me the most is that your child is too afraid to give the note to her teacher. I would talk to the teacher and let her know how your daughter feels. You don't have to offer an explanatin of why or cast blame. Just stick with the current situation and what you would like to change.

If the teacher seems unwilling to improve her relationship with your daughter, I would then decide if you think your daughter can stick it out or needs to change rooms.

Some kids can bounce back from these experiences and others can't. My son's kindergarten teacher was frustrated that he was taking a long time to get assignments done (he has ADD) and started putting a timer on his desk. The poor little guy broke down in tears at the dentist when they took out the same timer as an aide to help him brush his teeth for two minutes. He's in 5th grade now and still has confidence issues. I wish I knew what was going on with him and taken action to get hime away from her sooner. (He never told me until we were at the dentist.)
 
kathryn said:
Aside from the teacher's incorrect knowledge of the rules of English, what's with her filling all those little, spongelike minds with the desire to eat at Burger King?:confused:
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Kathryn, that is so funny! I agree -- they get enough of that brainwashing already! :D
 
cindi1 said:
Everyone makes mistakes, so I give the teacher the benefit of the doubt on the correction. But what concerns me the most is that your child is too afraid to give the note to her teacher. I would talk to the teacher and let her know how your daughter feels. You don't have to offer an explanatin of why or cast blame. Just stick with the current situation and what you would like to change.

If the teacher seems unwilling to improve her relationship with your daughter, I would then decide if you think your daughter can stick it out or needs to change rooms.

Some kids can bounce back from these experiences and others can't. My son's kindergarten teacher was frustrated that he was taking a long time to get assignments done (he has ADD) and started putting a timer on his desk. The poor little guy broke down in tears at the dentist when they took out the same timer as an aide to help him brush his teeth for two minutes. He's in 5th grade now and still has confidence issues. I wish I knew what was going on with him and taken action to get hime away from her sooner. (He never told me until we were at the dentist.)
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That's a good idea - maybe I will talk to the teacher. I don't trust her based on past experiences, but I don't know if she knows how scared my daughter is of her.

I'm so sorry that your son had such a bad experience with his kindergarten teacher! That must have been so stressful for him. :( One of my teen boys had a second grade teacher that he was afraid of, but we didn't know until later in the year when he forgot to bring home his homework. He totally freaked out because he was so scared of what the teacher would do even though we reassured him that everything was ok. He then told us that the teacher yelled at the kids a lot and he didn't want to get yelled at. Some people should not be allowed to work with children! :mad:

Erica
 
EricaH said:
My daughter (2nd grade) was marked wrong for this:

My mom and I ate at Burger King.


The teacher wanted it to be written:

My Mom and I ate at Burger King. She wanted the m to be capitalized in mom and I don't think that's correct, but wanted to make sure.

By the way, we didn't eat at Burger King - the class had to copy this sentence and use correct punctuation/grammar.

Also, this teacher consistently makes mistakes using apostrophes which drives me nuts.

Thanks!

Erica
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Her teacher is WRONG!! I am a writer/former journalist, and I can tell you she DEFINITELY is wrong about this. I'd mention it to her, and if she still keeps teaching the wrong grammar, I'd get her a copy of Strunk and White's The Elements of Style. She obviously needs it.
 
Update - I spoke with the teacher and she apologized for the mistake and said she would try to make my daughter feel more comfortable in the class. She sounded sincere, but I am very gullible and am not sure if she was. I'm glad we spoke, though.

Thanks everyone for your help! :)

Erica
 
EricaH said:
Update - I spoke with the teacher and she apologized for the mistake and said she would try to make my daughter feel more comfortable in the class. She sounded sincere, but I am very gullible and am not sure if she was. I'm glad we spoke, though.

Thanks everyone for your help! :)

Erica
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Glad things were worked out without you needing to take it to another level.

BTW, I like the suggestion of giving her a copy of Strunk and White's if she continues to teach the content incorrectly.
 
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