Written by Melanie Loxton, Primary School Teacher

This month we focus on what skills our children are learning at the start of this new year, and we re-visit our theme of “There’s always one” who is swimming upstream.

Each year it takes a number of weeks to get the ‘feel’ of a new class. As a teacher one forms such strong attachments to a class that it takes a while to switch allegiance to the little strangers who now inhabit your class. It also takes more than a week or two to really get to know each child’s individual strengths and weaknesses, so when parents ask us after the first week “how is he doing?” it really is too soon to tell! You might rather ask “how is he settling in?”.

Some children take a while to settle and learn the new norms and standards. I also find that each class has an identifying characteristic. It seems like generalizing, but there is definitely a “main moan” about each new class. Last year it was the lack of listening skills. (Every year it’s the lack of listening skills!) This year it’s the constant chatting. I noticed just today, though, that they are much better than previous years about not shouting out at me when we are having a lesson on the mat. Some years it’s particularly rough boys or particularly demanding children.

Different groups of children interact in different ways and behave as a group in different ways. Different groups of parents behave in defining ways too. One year it is the playground-lurking parents, who need to stay after the bell and watch their child lead into class. Another year it is the non-signing parents who as a group seem to be not very diligent about checking homework. Still another year there were the parents who could not seem to send healthy lunches to school.

Please remember that when we raise an issue with you, that we have seen (in my case) ten years worth of “norms” multiplied by the 28 (or more) children per year. If we are asking you to sign the homework book daily, then it’s because we believe it is an achievable and necessary requirement. If it was not, then we would have noticed over the past 10 years that most classes were not managing to get this right and we would have realized it was not a realistic expectation.

There is always one who has left their book at home/aftercare

As I always state, exceptions are fine. Everyone has an ‘off day’. It is only when the same child keeps being ‘forgetful’ that this bad habit needs to be addressed. You can help by checking their bag and bookbag the night before school (mornings are too hectic). Note that I do not say you must pack it for them – from Grade 2 we expect our pupils to be responsible for their own packing, but supervision is welcome.

When you collect them from school or aftercare, make it a habit to do a quick check of belongings so that if one is not there it will be quicker to locate than if you only realize at home that the item is missing. If it is a personal item, eg. Swimming cap, IT MUST BE MARKED WITH THEIR NAME! There should be some form of punishment or loss of priveledge for habitual ‘forgetting’. Often, carelessness is just laziness because there is no healthy fear of the consequences. A child will think twice about dashing out the door without checking their belongings if they know there will be trouble at home or school for irresponsibility.

There is always one whose homework is not done or signed

Of course I am referring more to the younger children here where supervision and assistance is still necessary. Older children should be more in charge of their own homework BUT this doesn’t mean you should be blissfully unaware of what they are up to. A constant checking eye will keep you up to speed about what they are learning, how they are doing in tests, and any communication from their teacher. As teachers, we do understand the odd time when life has been too hectic. Also, if there has been a family birthday or special visitor, a little note to explain why homework was not done means that there will be understanding and grace. However, there are parents who do not make homework a daily priority who are doing their child a major disservice as well as showing disrespect to the requirements of the school.

Sometimes days go by with question marks in the signing block before a parent sees the homework book. Often there has been a note from the teacher which needed a response or a notice about a special event which the child is now not prepared for. I tell my children that if mom or dad has been too busy to sign, then they must leave the book and a pen on mom or dad’s pillow so that they will not go to bed without signing! We can start to expect our Grade 2’s to take responsibility for these things as they will be the ones to face the questions from their teacher the next morning.

Children who care enough about staying out of trouble and doing the right thing will chase you the parent to do the right thing too! Be pleased if this is the case, because half your battle is won if your child cares about being diligent.