Daughter's preschool teacher isn't living up to my expectations?

Question

I work at a daycare/preschool where I, fortunately can be with my 5 yr and 2 mo old. This fall my daughter (5 yr) started in the preschool program, and I was thrilled. The teacher(my boss and the owner) has special ed. experience. My daughter had Down's Syndrome. But wanted to take some time off so she had another lady teach one day a week, then two days a week, then all 3 preschool days by Feb. Now the other lady is pretty much teaching full time. My daughter doesn't seem to respond to her as well as she did to my boss. She doesn't talk about any of her alphabet after the last letter she did before my boss quit teaching.

How or can I go about talking to my boss about this? I don't want to rat on a co-worker, but my daughter is totally unprepared for school and I wonder if another year of preschool is even gonna help if this other lady will be teaching full time. I live in a small town, so discussing it with other preschool moms is kinda out of the question. Help please.

Answer 1

Is this school geared toward Down's Syndrome or special education or is this just some experience your boss had?

I know it is important for you to be with your children but maybe your daughter needs to be in a setting that is specifically for her needs. If you want your daughter to be prepared for school, you my want to consider somewhere in your area to take her.

Obviously this new lady does not have the experience that your boss has/had or the willingness either.

Go with your motherly instinct, you know what is right.

Good Luck

Answer 2

Your child's education is important enough that you need to stand tall. Children with Down's need to feel comfortable in their environment in order to thrive. Tell your boss that you believe she is a great teacher but you feel she is not equipped to teach your daughter. Explain that your daughter was doing great with her as the teacher and that you would like to know why she stopped teaching. Remember that a child's early education (preschool) is the most important, especially for children with special needs! Good luck!

Answer 3

One other thing to consider is whether your daughter is growing in other ways.  This is a hard situation for several reasons:

--There are other factors involved that, as you said, possibly contributed to your daughter not talking about school as much.

--She has Down's Syndrome, which will make it hard to predict when you'll see signs of large amounts of learning and when you'll see signs of it taking a rest.

--You had such a great experience with your boss and are fortunate enough to have that resource.

I think even though your boss is taking a break from the work of teaching, she's not taking a break from caring about your daughter's needs.  I would not bring this up to your boss in terms of "this teacher is not doing a good job."  I would bring it up with leading the discussion along the lines of, "I think her teacher does a good job and is dedicated, but I know you have a lot more experience working with special needs children and I saw her learning a lot more in your class.  Can the three of us work together to put new ideas into the classroom to help my daughter?"

As a teacher, I love it when parents or other teachers are able to give me insights into how I can help a child learn.  It makes my job a lot easier.

Answer 4

It's hard for us to give you the "perfect" answer because we really haven't observed the teacher.  I tend to agree with the others that maybe this new teacher hasn't has the special education experience.  I would say discuss this with your director/boss and ask for the three of you to work together.  Maybe the "new" teacher does not have special ed. background but she can definately learn!  Good luck.

Answer 5

That is a difficult situation, since you are an employee there at the school. If you have the sort of relationship where you can approach your boss and say how much your daughter enjoyed being with her, etc. and turn it into a compliment to HER, while sharing a bit of your observations of the other teacher, that might help. But maybe not. I work in a preschool too and the interpersonal politics there can as tricky as in any other situation. Are you working with this teacher or in another classroom? As a parent of a 20-year-old Eagle Scout, I would just encourage you to believe the best of your children and the best of their teachers. Every teacher, every classroom they have, will be different, and you won't be in charge of that, most of the time. It's not easy with a teeny one around but I'd try to reinforce at home what your daughter is learning at school. That will help her make progress gradually, even if she has to stay with this other teacher.

Answer 6

if you feel obligated to keep your child at that school because you work there or if there isnt another school she can go to that will be better equipt to help your child. maybe you can teach her the SOUNDS of the letters at home. she should learn the sounds of the alphabet, not the names.

she needs the sounds in order to begin to read.

names of the alphabet arent important at this time.

Answer 7

You should transfer your child to a private preschool.It probably will cost a little extra money, but 95% of the skills you learn in preschool, you will carry on for the rest of your life!

Answer 8

this new teacher may not know how to teach children with special needs. i would give it another year to prepare her better.

you can ask this new teacher how she is teaching her, your daughter just might need more time to adjust to the new teacher.

also with having special needs they may suggest a special needs school for her to go to for  few years

ask your daughter if she likes her new teacher

Answer 9

Hi. My daughters are fortunately in a great preschool. I am studying about preschool education in the US and it has become more important in todays society than ever. Apparently studies have shown that this is a crucial time for development and really effects how well children will do later in their education. Also, if she is not going to be at the level of the other children her age, it will cause her to lose confidence in school as well as sense of self. Definitely approach your boss in confidence. Start off with the positive about how great she has done for your daughter and how important it is to have that special way with children, especially dealing with special needs. Let her know that "you aren't sure why" but your child has not been performing as well since she has left. I am sure there is a certain criteria that the children and teachers are supposed to meet. It doesn't sound like the woman is doing her job. If I were you I would be more concerned about my child's well being as well as the well being of the other children in her classes. She is effecting the lives of many other children and families. Good luck.

Nicole

Answer 10

Considering the situation (rural area, special needs child) you really should just pull her out and start homeschooling her. It would work wonders I'm sure.