Teacher not returning calls/email

arbrighton

So the teacher was meant to spend their christmas break marking the assessments?

You are NOT being reasonable here. English teachers probably have 10 classes of 30 kids. It's a core subject. There will have been an inset and just because they weren't 'off sick' doesn't mean they aren't unwell but struggling in to do the best by their pupils. Oh and staff meetings/ training.

You want your kid's results. So do the other 299.

When is parents' evening? It is NOT usual to communicate that much at secondary level. Responding to emails has to come below teaching, marking, assessment, prep and meetings.

Oh, yeah, teachers are human and may just have their own children they want to see, and occasionally actually eat or sleep.

Set 2 in one school might actually be at the same level as set 4 in another. Or the pupil profile may be different so your daughter is just not as high up in the year group. It seems to be about YOUR wants here....

Dird

As arbrighton said, set 2 in a crap school might be set 4 in an outstanding one.

If you are so eager to improve your child's grades then maybe spend 30 minutes or whatever traveling to the school and ask the teacher for a few minutes chat? You've already wasted 3 weeks of improving your child's grades as you couldn't be bothered to leave the house.

Your child may have English class before/after a break, perfect time to catch the teacher

pollypenny

I used to spend most of Christmas break marking, then writing Y11 reports - two per pupil, language and literature!

What people forget is that teachers don't really have access to phones during the day. They're in classrooms, teaching. My 10 minutes break was sacrosanct, then lunch 50 minutes would be divided between helping individuals or, sometimes, having a kid in detention, before a quick sandwich.


Edit to add: Please, do not just turn up hoping 'to catch the teacher'. She will probably have started work at 8.30 and had tutor group time and two classes by then. A loo visit and quick coffee is surely an entitlement?

Make an appointment if you want to see her.

theoretica

How about asking your daughter instead? Hopefully she has a fair idea of what she is having trouble with. Also look at her marked and returned work - what look like the problems to you, and do the comments agree?

McKneff

Wow, I wouldnt be surprised if she thinks you are stalking/harassing her.

rach_k

I would wait at least a few more weeks. Allow the teacher time to mark tests, analyse the results, discuss with other teachers etc. Your child's teacher will be doing her best for your child but she is unlikely to have the time to hold your hand too. She will get in touch with you if your input or help is needed. As others have said, it is entirely possible that set 4 is the best place for your child... they wouldn't have moved her otherwise. Unless your child isn't making progress (have a look at her homework, ask her how she's finding the work, look at her grades), I would take a step back and ask about it again at parents' evening. Try not to think of sets of a certain number as right or wrong - they're just different and a child wrongly placed in a 'better' set will probably do worse than if they were in the right one for them.

That said, there is no reason you can't do some extra English work at home anyway. Without meaning to be rude (and I do appreciate that often people don't write their best English on forums), perhaps you could both do some work together. Ask your child to help you write a letter to the bank, start a blog, both read the same book and talk about it. There are lots of ways you can encourage her.

Rosemary7391

As it's English - take your daughter to the library? In my opinion, nothing beats seeing the language in use for learning. Plus it's fun! Unless there is a specific problem you know to address (look at her exercise book?), that's probably the most straightforward way, and it shouldn't stress your daughter out either.

Mr.Generous

Reading! The biggest thing you can do for any child to help them education wise is to get them reading. If they read for leisure they are far more likely to be 'wise and successful'.

kingfisherblue

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Reading! The biggest thing you can do for any child to help them education wise is to get them reading. If they read for leisure they are far more likely to be 'wise and successful'.

I have to agree with this - and the best way to encourage your daughter, is to lead by example. If children see parents reading for pleasure, they are more likely to do the same.

arbrighton

Dird wrote: »

As arbrighton said, set 2 in a crap school might be set 4 in an outstanding one.

If you are so eager to improve your child's grades then maybe spend 30 minutes or whatever traveling to the school and ask the teacher for a few minutes chat? You've already wasted 3 weeks of improving your child's grades as you couldn't be bothered to leave the house.

Your child may have English class before/after a break, perfect time to catch the teacher

NO! you won't just be allowed to wander in to the school and even if you turn up at reception, you won't be encouraged.

You can't just 'catch' a secondary teacher. Nor is it how it is done

They have duties to get to, prep to do. Heaven forbid they might catch a chance to go to the toilet