Ask:
I know sometimes it is necessary, but my dds teacher uses it for everything. There is no warning given, she just says, "To the time out chair," and points at it. I think that is going a little too far and at least a warning should be given if it's not something really bad that has happened. She uses it for everything. That can be pretty devastating to a 4 year old. My dd got sent there because she colored the elephants ear the wrong color on a sheet. The teacher asked her why she did it and she said I have no idea. I think the teacher took it as a smart comment, but that is just something we say instead of I don't know. She sent her there again, because a little boy didn't hear the directions, so my dd told him what she said. Maybe she shouldn't have been talking, but she was only trying to help the little boy. I think she deserved a warning before being sent straight to the time out chair. She sends someone to that chair everyday.
Answer:
Honestly i'm not surprised that someone is sent to the T.O. chair every day. In a big setting like that i'm sure four year olds can get into scuffles and etc......
However i do think she is being a little tuff since she doesn't give warnings. She should tell them what behavior she doesn't approve of and then if they continue then they should be sent to time out.
Coloring an elephants ear the wrong color doesn't warrent a time out imo.
Perhaps she's been doing this along time and is burned out? If her discipline policies don't work for you find a new preschool. That's what i would do.
Answer:
[quote=Jodie
Coloring an elephants ear the wrong color doesn't warrent a time out imo.
Perhaps she's been doing this along time and is burned out? If her discipline policies don't work for you find a new preschool. That's what i would do.[/QUOTE]
I agree. I think there is more to the story. My dd had a similar coloring in Kindergarten but it was the follow directions and knowing your colors. But to send to TO chair? something doesn't seem right. have you spoken to teachr/principal/directior?
allgirls
Answer:
I was reading your post and relating it to my own child, thinking, wellll, kids do tend to use the warning as a crutch, so we have to be careful there. Then, I read that it's a 4 year old!!! Sounds like we have an impatient, non-nurtering teacher, and I would definitely come up with alternatives to suggest. My son was put in time out in preschool, once during a 15 minute recess (ummm - the rule should be 1 minute per year of age!). His doctor agreed this was overly humiliating and it doesn't teach the child anything. This teacher was called on the carpet for it (she was a helper, the normal teacher was out, she wasn't feeling well and the kids were too wild for her that day). I understand we are human, but excessiveness is bad.
Kids are kids, and sometimes misunderstand. If a kid has to worry about being put in time-out for an honest mistake, this child will be scared motionless and be anxious in fear of failing. This is very bad. I would speak w/the teacher, and if you get resistance, to the administrator.
Answer:
I really don't know if there is an administrator. It's a preschool at a church and it's the only preschool there. I don't know who is over her. There's only 3 months left, so I'm going to try to tuff it out unless something else happens. My dd came out of school trembling the last time it happened. There's only 9 kids in the class, so I don't think class size is the problem. I've seen her out in public and she always seemed to be very solemn. I didn't even want to use her but the other teacher left and went to public school and a couple of people told me they liked her, so I thought maybe it was just her look and that she is okay. I definitely won't be recommending her to anyone else.
Answer:
I would speak to the pastor in that case. I actually send my kids to 2 preschools when they are 4. One of them was a church preschool. everyone always answers to the pastor. Good Luck.
allgirls
Answer:
This definitely is not good!!! I would be talking to the teacher or whoever else is in charge. Your child is going to be disliking school soon at this rate.
Answer:
I definately think you should talk to other parents and ask there experiences with the teacher as far as time out goes and then talk to the teacher asking her about her timeout policy. 3 months is a long time. If you think something is not right especially when it comes to kids who can't speak for themselves you should say something.You may be helping more then just your own child.
Answer:
Originally Posted by Simplemom
I know sometimes it is necessary, but my dds teacher uses it for everything. There is no warning given, she just says, "To the time out chair," and points at it. I think that is going a little too far and at least a warning should be given if it's not something really bad that has happened. She uses it for everything. That can be pretty devastating to a 4 year old. My dd got sent there because she colored the elephants ear the wrong color on a sheet. The teacher asked her why she did it and she said I have no idea. I think the teacher took it as a smart comment, but that is just something we say instead of I don't know. She sent her there again, because a little boy didn't hear the directions, so my dd told him what she said. Maybe she shouldn't have been talking, but she was only trying to help the little boy. I think she deserved a warning before being sent straight to the time out chair. She sends someone to that chair everyday.
I can understand your frustration as a parent however as a teacher the dynamic in a classroom is different than it would be at home. Teachers are responsible and are in charge of 12-20 kids at times. We don't have time, a lot of the time, to give warnings. Rules are typically set at the beginning of the year and carried out throughout the year, in most classroom settings. What the teacher was probably doing was "follow through". I'm sure your dd as well as the other kids have seen many students use the T.O chair so it was probably no surprise to them to simply get a finger point.
I think a bigger concern is how often it is being used. Try and empathize with the teacher for a moment. Classroom sizes are bigger. Behavioral issues are more varied. Development issues are more common and individual and children are in some cases more defiant to their teachers. So teachers have more responsibility these days to maintain order in their classrooms than they do to teach. It's sad really.
I'm not saying your child deserved the finger point or is in any way the bad egg in the classroom. Instead I am saying the teacher is simply not discriminating behaviors amongst the children. Try to imagine what the teachers days are like now and try and understand that your dd is just another child ; it was nothing personal. Because your dd didn't get a chance to explain herself is a little diserning but maybe some events had happenned before this T.O.
I don't know really...I was just trying to offer you another perspective to look at this situation from.
Answer:
The fact that your little one was trembling disturbs me. If it was a one-time thing, well, OK. But she's very upset. I would even consider pulling her if this is so upsetting to her. I agree, though: talk to the pastor. Isn't the church one of the places that teaches forgiveness, patience and charity?
I also think 15-20 in a preschool w/one teacher would be way too many kids.