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How are your Yr1 colleagues ?

Last post 03/10/09 at 06:36 by Ramblinrosie, 64 replies
Post started by Hedda Gabler on 18/09/09 at 23:53

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  • Hedda Gabler avatar
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    Posted by: Hedda Gabler 18/09/2009 at 23:53
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    My Yr 1 colleagues  are looking pale and exhausted.

    These five year old  EYFS graduates are causing  anarchy now they have crossed the Key Stage.

    Feedback would be that although  the children have arrived with skills and knowledge- they cannot focus on being taught for any length of time.

    Have we really done the children or the staff any favours?
  • Minxy12 avatar
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    Posted by: Minxy12 19/09/2009 at 00:20
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    my colleagues say the same but then I wouldnt expect the children to be able to focus for too long - short sharp teaching - some children are just 5 and thank goodness foundation stage principles are being used in Yr1 now!
  • Leapyearbaby64 avatar
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    Posted by: Leapyearbaby64 19/09/2009 at 07:08
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    We are assuming they are just a different bunch of children. We have 6 who cannot write their names. They are definitely not as forthcoming or confident as the previous cohort.
  • Miss Pious avatar
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    Posted by: Miss Pious 19/09/2009 at 16:24
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    Leapyearbaby64:
    We are assuming they are just a different bunch of children. We have 6 who cannot write their names. They are definitely not as forthcoming or confident as the previous cohort.

    I would agree with all the comments about the lack of concentration in comparison to rpevious years and also the willingness to settle down to teacher directed activities - and there definitely appears to be more behaviour related incidences in comparison to other cohors, even though other cohorts had more "challenging" chidlren....

     

    Not sure the progressionw ill be there if this continues for too long....as the quality of output and effort doesn't appear to be wholly as expected.....
  • Spice0012 avatar
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    Posted by: Spice0012 19/09/2009 at 23:01
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     I have been teaching Year One for four years now (prev class YrR/N) and this year my class are to be honest wearing me out!

    Last year we had our seperate R and N classrooms made into one unit, my dep head as questioned the amount of directed teaching times the unit completes and the free play/child initated times, also that the timetables should be more sturctured the last half term of summer before yr 1,if that makes a difference i do not know as I have experience in both key stages. But i do know that my current class are unable to listen for more than a few mins, can not safely sit on a chairs, very poor pencil skills, poor logic skills and unable/ very unwilling to settle for teacher directed activity. Also some children because they never choose to 'play' an activity have never developed skills in key areas - painting, construction, models and gross motor skills. Sorry moan over!Big Smile

    I am so glad that others are having the same problem - I know its not me personally!

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    Posted by: 2bgr8 20/09/2009 at 00:07
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     This thread has made my night!  I've just moved back to Y1 after a few years in Y2 and thought I'd lost my touch!  All the comments above could be talking about my class.  

    I'm so glad it's not just me!

  • cinderella1 avatar
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    Posted by: cinderella1 20/09/2009 at 10:59
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     So is the well balanced mix of adult led activities and child led  taking place at your schools?

     
  • cinderella1 avatar
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    Posted by: cinderella1 20/09/2009 at 11:00
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     Whats their reading and writing like? Ive heard some good things about letters and sounds and how well the children have done.

  • Miss Pious avatar
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    Posted by: Miss Pious 20/09/2009 at 11:15
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    cinderella1:

     Whats their reading and writing like? Ive heard some good things about letters and sounds and how well the children have done.

    More willing to write - less comptetent as for reading far poorer though they generally have a good grasp of phonics- work that one out!!!
  • Minxy12 avatar
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    Posted by: Minxy12 20/09/2009 at 11:28
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    This is not a criticism of YR1 teachers generally so please no offence but......

    Walked into yr class to see how my old class had settled. Gobsmacked. Children who had beautiful handwriting, were using handwriting books at end of reception, were now regressing to joining up dots, colouring in the pictures, and to top it all they were all sitting down at tables with the teacher scurrying around. After countless discussions about the needs of these children, foundation curriculum, teaching methods, quality first teaching etc etc, i was so disappointed. When I observed said teacher last year at this time she was doing exactly the same thing, we discussed it and agreed that she needed to really look at their learning and take them forward. But hey ho, when the cats away, let's do anything we flaming well like! grrrrrrrrrrrr. Other yr1 class group handwriting, others doing related activities.

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