Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[theherd123]

Just thought i would post this poem as a copy was given to me when i first started to train as a teacher and i think its very powerful

 

I can honestly say i have never met an 'average student' as i refuse to see them in that way.

 

 

The Average Child

by Mike Buscemi

 

I don’t cause teachers trouble;

My grades have been okay.

I listen in my classes.

I’m in school every day.

My teachers think I’m average;

My parents think so too.

I wish I didn’t know that, though;

There’s lots I’d like to do.

 

I’d like to build a rocket;

I read a book on how.

Or start a stamp collection…

But no use trying now.

 

’Cause, since I found I’m average,

I’m smart enough you see

To know there’s nothing special

I should expect of me.

 

I’m part of that majority,

That hump part of the bell,

Who spends his life unnoticed

In an average kind of hell.

Edited March 3, 2008 by Guest

[bronze]

Oh that poem was written for me (apart from the parents bit)

[Snowy]

That poem is so true, but there should be no such thing as an average child! Teachers are doing a brilliant job, but I disagree with a lot that they HAVE to do, ie all children encouraged to achieve the same in all subjects, not allowed to be good in some and bad in others. Concentrating on their poor areas at the expense of those they are good at.

 

When he was at school my then 14 year old son's report said that he was a valued member of the school rugby team. I was blazing. He wasn't in the school rugby team - he never got a game beause he wasn't good enough. However he was playing rugby for a local club who always gave him a game, even if he wasn't the best

[Guest]

I always hate it when parents evening for the KS3 kids happen (the ONE good thing about my current school is they only have them at KS4). I NEVER know who most of the kids are. I'm terrible with names at the best of times - in KS4 I give the kids nicknames until I learn their names, often the nicknames stick and spread (currently I teach 3 boys known as Big Geek, Medium Geek and Small Geek!). Often they proudly tell their parents at parents evening that they have a special nickname.

 

But those KS3 kids - if the parents come on their own at least I know who I'm talking about, when the kids come and I can't remember their name I'm flummoxed. Often I look down the list (which I add extra names on to to make it look full...) and say "oh what's your surname?".

 

Teaching ICT half the time I see the backs of their heads or the top of their heads. Faces are not always so easy to pick out.

 

Oh and yes - identikit reports for years 7 to 9 followed by fully personalised reports for 10 & 11 where I have the option of statement banks but choose not to use them.

 

Of course James' parents evenings are REALLY useful, he is a very complex little boy with a number of special needs which are addressed very well by his school. As some of you know he also has a very winning personality so his teacher is as keen to tell me about his progress as I am to hear about it. Actually she even sends me a weekly email!

[AJuff]

Mmmmmm, what an interesting selection of thoughts. I work as a Reception teacher in an Ofsted outstanding school and I am surprised at what I have read.

 

Parents evenings are looming at my school following recent assessments. Im my opinion half the parents won't listen to the 'they need to learn x. y and z before the end of the academic year or they will be below the National average' They will only accept it when they read it in the written report and then follows a rush of helping their child at home! Far too many parents are too wrapped up in complaining of ink on their child sweatshirt and how many pieces of their child's work is displayed! Parents at my school can be the bane of my life! Kids are great though!

[Chicken Licken]

'Outstanding' aaaaghh. I work in a school that aspires to be 'outstanding' all that seems to happen is all the really good stuff we do to make a real difference in the lives of our young people is totally devalued and increasingly marginalised by the SMT as it is largely unquantifiable. All they want are 8 qualifications with points at GCSE. This means even kids who can and will only ever achieve P levels are expected to pass at the equivalent of A to G. Sorry - I am ranting, but tuesday is a horrendous day with my year 10 boys. At parents evening the ones I want to see never turn up and I usually seem to get savaged by at least one childs parents about how the provision we offer is not suitable for the child...Aaaagh I would much rather they progress to reach their potential rather than what the government thinks they should aspire too. I am far too child centred for the school I work in!

 

On the report front I free write all my comments for the small groups I teach. I am not looking forward to the tutor reports for tmy year 10 tutor group. I must admit when I taught mainstream we made good use of comment banks!

[AJuff]

AAAgh reports, they seem to be looming large!

[Yorkshire Pudding]

Our reports have gone over to a twice a year style which offers a only a summary of what has been covered in each subject grade, the child's attainment grade or NC level and a grade for their effort.

 

I loathe these reports as they give me no chance to personalise them!

 

It makes parents evenings all the more important, it's often the only time you get to actually tell the parent about how well the child is doing, point out successes and achievements. We have a policy of the children attending parents' evenings with parents so that they hear their teachers' comments first-hand - older students occasionally attend without their parents if they can't come! We also have two target-setting days for students each year.

 

I was surpirsed to hear that some don't think it's worthwhile attending parents evenings - if you already have a good idea of your child's progress that's excellent. However I know some children whose parents never attend and the kids are demoralised by this - we do try to run on time and I realise it's inconvenient, but it gives a vital boost to children when parents are willing to show their support by attending.

[chickencam]

we have got 2 parents evenings next week one for DS his first in yr7 so it will be good to meet all of his teachers and get their views on him and one for ED in yr9 who is choosing her GCSE options at the moment and is unsure of which language to choose and whether to go for history or geography. ED's parents evening have been realy badly organised in the past and the new head is trying to get an appointments system going but some of the teachers won't play ball

 

we then have YD's in a couple of weeks who is still at primary school, she seems to be doing really well this year but sometimes you get a suprise like the time we were told that she was being unkind to her clasmates which was a big shock, it was mostly because she was having trouble making friends and girls being girls they were all being a bit spiteful. We hopefully have sorted that out now but it is really difficult because there are only 15 girls in her year and about 45 boys spread over 2 classes so if they don't get on there isn't much choice