Public speaking

Mollygo

^attempts have been made to contact the school^
Are primary schools different in Scotland? If you go to the office with a concern at most primary schools the bursar will arrange for you to see someone ASAP, either the head or deputy straight away or the class teacher after school (they can’t just walk out of a lesson).
I’m concerned for your DGS, but I’m also concerned about the barriers you appear to have faced at the school. It doesn’t sound reassuring.

What's a bursar in a primary school? I've never met one.
Part time school secretaries -yes.
They don't make appointments usually. They will pass on messages and find a member of the teaching staff, or the head.
But the simplest method (and it should always be the first approach), a short letter to the class teacher asking for a meet up.

Aveline is this school setting for core subjects? If he has a Maths teacher does someone other than his class teacher take him for literacy?

However, it was you who brought up the subject of the teacher being an NQT. How is that relevant?

I'd say it is relevant because he may not have the experience to know that the child doesn't have to do that. It isn't a criticism, you can't expect an NQT to know all the nuances of the National Curriculum or the different arrangements that can be made. It isn't an NQT's fault, just a lack of experience which will come with time. Every teacher has to start somewhere.

Aveline, unless you have concrete evidence of the teacher's lack of capability or professionalism, it is pure speculation and does the teacher a disservice.

You started a thread, expecting a response and that is exactly what has happened.
I (and others) have given my professional opinion, on an area which I am well qualified in. Whether you accept it or not is another matter, it doesn't bother me.

I do not intend to post again on this thread, to avoid detracting from the original concerns about the wee boy.

I wish you a pleasant Saturday.

attempts have been made to contact the school
Are primary schools different in Scotland? If you go to the office with a concern at most primary schools the bursar will arrange for you to see someone ASAP, either the head or deputy straight away or the class teacher after school (they can’t just walk out of a lesson).
I’m concerned for your DGS, but I’m also concerned about the barriers you appear to have faced at the school. It doesn’t sound reassuring.

We are as entitled to cast doubt on the teacher as you are to post your teacher's perspective. I've already said that attempts have been made to contact the school.

Aveline

Marydoll you were the one complaining about a teacher being maligned.
I'm only interested in my DGS and how he is feeling.

I fully understand your concerns and rightly so. I am annoyed, as a teacher that it has happened.
However, it was you who brought up the subject of the teacher being an NQT. How is that relevant?
Other posters then joined in, criticising a teacher, whom we know nothing about.
That rankled with me, because it was unfair.

To be honest, from my own experience, this problem could have been resolved with some persistence on the part of your DD.
If it had been brought to the attention of the management team in my school, we would have done everything in our power, to take the pressure off your grandson.

When you start a thread like this, you have to expect various opinions, even if you don't like what you hear.

Marydoll you were the one complaining about a teacher being maligned.
I'm only interested in my DGS and how he is feeling.

Aveline

The teacher's Gran can start her own thread!

Not sure what you mean, Aveline, I must be dim. A thread about what?

The teacher's Gran can start her own thread!

It's hard being a gran, when you have to bite your tongue!

Oh, isn't it!
You can gently suggest, plant a seed but after that 🤐

This poor teacher is being maligned, but we actually don't know his side of the story or if he is aware of how upset this wee boy is.
I find that very judgemental and unfair, as he cannot defend himself.
There are always two sides to a story and we only know one side of it.

How upsetting Avelline, it’s cruel forcing someone to do something they feel so scared of doing. Poor lad must be so worried. What is the teacher thinking? As a grandmother you can’t interfere I know, I bet your daughter is on the case though.
Do hope it gets sorted, it’s awful thinking if your beloved gs upset I know.🙁

It's hard being a gran, when you have to bite your tongue!
We have all been there.

Something came to mind, when I was thinking about the NQT and the maths teacher.
When I was an NQT mentor, the NQT was not in class full tine and I taught the class 1.5 days a week, to allow the NQT development time.
I wonder if the maths teacher was the mentor.

I'm just annoyed that your grandson has to suffer like this. Not all schools are like that.

It's not up to me!!! If it had been I'd have stormed the school by now. His mum my DD is the one who's been trying to speak to the school.
I saw DGS this afternoon and he told me about what he was going to say and what 'props' he was taking. Needless to say I was encouraging but trying not to make it too obvious.

Sorry Aveline, I cross posted.
Perhaps the maths teacher is the NQT’s mentor?

I’m also a bit concerned for the teacher.

It sounds as if he is in his NQT year, which is absolutely vital.
He needs support too.

Schools welcome parental involvement and strive to develop strong familial bonds.
Male primary teachers are like hens’ teeth, they should be valued and encouraged.

If your grandson is so distressed that it affects the lesson (which could may well be observed by leadership - hence the postponement of this particular lesson) it could have major repercussions for him.

But aside from this, I really can’t understand why you haven’t been more pro-active and spoken to the teacher / TA /Learning Mentor?

I apologise in advance if I’ve misunderstood anything (it wouldn’t be the first time!)

Now that is worrying!

She made an appointment but it was a Maths teacher who turned up. No problem with Maths. Goodness knows what's going on.

Aveline, I had hoped perhaps your DD might have contacted the school and explained the situation, in order to address your grandson's anxiety, just in case something else is going on.
That's what I would have done and have in the past.
Poor wee thing having to worry all weekend. 😔

Nothing to report as it was put off until next Monday.
However, DD says that he's not been himself this week. He's not slept well and has lost things at school which is most unlike him. Just forgotten them. Nothing sinister. We all just wish it could be over.

I popped in to see if Aveline had posted an update. I have been thinking of the wee soul worrying about his presentation.

MayBee70

Callistemon21

Good post, Marydoll

I do remember when DGD2 got in a bit of a spin over a presentation she had to do in about Y4. We found some good resources on Twinkl, I printed off pictures and she made a display of them and wrote under each picture. She could choose her own subject (within the parameters) and took in a cuddly toy to demonstrate the wildlife of the country she spoke about, and the toy added a bit of comfort too, I suspect.

I think that’s why show and tell is fine ( in fact I was just pondering on this thread and came up with that conclusion) because the child isn’t the complete focus of attention).

I think that’s why show and tell is fine
MayBee I think our U3A group leader must have been a primary school teacher because she still uses the Show and Tell method - one or two in the group are nearly 90

I think what some of these posts show is that some children will grow in confidence in speaking in public and others won't. One thing that is for sure, is that if you avoid these situations, the fear will become bigger and bigger. Finding a solution which works to get children over this hurdle is important so that they can do what they need to get through in their adult lives. This may not mean Public Speaking but might mean getting them to be able to speak up for themselves so they can do job interviews, approach their bank manager, etc.

My husband was very shy as a child and would have struggled with any form of public speaking but his mother would talk to anyone. Gradually he has become his mother and now chats to anyone and everyone. Our grandson had been on a family holiday with us a couple of years ago when he was 13. He went for a walk with my husband and noticed that he chatted to anyone he met. Afterwards he told his mother that he wanted to be like Grandfather so that he could feel comfortable talking to anyone. Since then he has practised and his communication skills have improved and now at 15 his confidence has grown.

Callistemon21

Good post, Marydoll

I do remember when DGD2 got in a bit of a spin over a presentation she had to do in about Y4. We found some good resources on Twinkl, I printed off pictures and she made a display of them and wrote under each picture. She could choose her own subject (within the parameters) and took in a cuddly toy to demonstrate the wildlife of the country she spoke about, and the toy added a bit of comfort too, I suspect.

I think that’s why show and tell is fine ( in fact I was just pondering on this thread and came up with that conclusion) because the child isn’t the complete focus of attention).