My son is in pre-k, his teacher tell me that i don't need to teach him anything at home, Should I be teaching?

Question

I feel like I should be teaching him more than what the teacher teaches him at school? can someone guide me? He knows his alphabets, sounds, numbers, what else should he know?

Answer 1

I don't know if they really meant don't teach him anything.  That's a bit misleading, but good advice if given properly.

There are some things to watch out for:

1)  Your son sees school as school and home as home.  He probably enjoys a lot of things at school.  I have noticed that when a parent starts bringing school stuff into the home exactly how it is done at school, they loose interest in it at school and decide to not chose that work any more.  It might be because it's no longer "special."  It might be because they feel pressure from a parent...it could be a million reasons.  It just happens a lot.

2)  If you teach him stuff like that, be very careful how you teach him.  I can't tell you how many children I had to retrain because they thought "b" made the sound "buhhh."  It's hard to retrain those mistakes.  

With that said, I don't think the idea is "don't teach him anything."  I think the idea should be, and I hope this is what your teacher was trying to get across, that you have the opportunity to teach him completely differently and completely different things.  Rather than sitting down and counting counters and matching them up with sandpaper letters, like at school, you can reinforce counting with cooking and counting how many eggs are needed.  Instead of teaching him all the letter sounds, which he will do at school, you can sit down and read to him so as he begins to write the words out, it clicks that there is also a connection to reading.

Take him to the zoo.  Take him to the aquarium.  Teach him about the different animals there.  When he asks a question you don't know, find the zoo keeper and ask him.  (Even do it with a question you might now)  Better yet, find the zoo keeper and help your child to realize he can ask the question.

Take him swimming if he's so interested in it.  Or maybe he likes other sports.  Maybe he likes music and wants to learn the drums...I don't know :)  

Maybe he's a fan of Thomas the Train and you can take him on a real train ride.  You can take a train to a historical village.

The point I try to make with parents is that these things - the math, reading, writing, cultural subjects...will all be available for them in the classroom.  Do not make this a huge worry at home.  Let the education at your home be more enriching and have real life connections to what they are learning in the classroom.  If you're going to teach him things, teach him things he can bring in and share the experience that the others do not have readily available in the classroom.

Let the learning at home be more enriching the school experiences and be careful not to duplicate them.  I'm assuming that is what the teacher MEANT to suggest, but probably was not thinking clearly when she suggested it.

Answer 2

Yes, you should!! Regardless of what the teacher says, always stay involved and help your child learn at home.

Actually, I also feel, being a pre-k teacher myself, that was she was said was a bit out of line. Teachers should always encourage the parents to stay involved and never tell them what or how to do something with their own child. Suggestions are fine, but never this way or that way. He/She was out of line.

Keep up the good work!

Best of luck!

Answer 3

It sounds like your son is in a horrible school. Of course you need to teach at home. It doesn't have to be all that formal and it can be as simple as taking him to the zoo and reading the signs on the animal cages. You can teach him to identify coins. You can teach him to count and the alphabet. But, most importantly you can teach him how to ask questions and find answers. Of course, he can't read yet. But, he should see you use a dictionary and see you reading. He should also be read to, this will help him develope a love of reading.

Answer 4

She is probably telling you not to sit him down and say "we are going to learn how to write your name today" - that doesn't work unless the child is receptive.  Teaching needs to be kept fun and short.  I absolutely think all the lessons can be reinforced at home - just not by sitting your child down and making him do this or that.  Preschool teachers know what they are doing by splitting up learning and play - and making work like play.  When he brings home his papers, go over them with him, have him tell you about them and what he liked about it. You will get a feel for where he is and it might be a good time to go over some things if he's not getting it. If he wants to get down and get a snack, by all means, let him go!  Am I getting my point across? I think you can definitely help, just don't drill facts into your child's head - we want him to enjoy his education at this point in his life so he can carry that love of education into his later years.

Answer 5

dear Aisha, i think you have sent your son to a wrong school. the taecher itslef doesn't make sense not to let you to teach your own son. As a teacher she should give you an advice such as to teach your son in advance way such as, if your son in k1 and he knows everything let him do k2 book in advance. In this way he will catch up even faster.

I do that to my girl 16 years ago when i know that she is capable of doing things on her own.Don't thing what the teacher had told you. As a parent we want the best for our kid.

Answer 6

You don't need to sit down and formally teach him, but you should explain things about the world, read to him every day, and answer all of his questions as thoroughly and accurately as you are able.  There are tons of things your son can learn from you without following any sort of homeschool curriculum.

Answer 7

Most schools encourage parents to work with them at home. A parent is their childs first teacher. You are the one that will ever teach him the most. That school that he is in doesnt seem to be very good. Children also need to know opposites, forwards/backwards, Sizes, shapes, colors.

Answer 8

YES....teach him what you want him to learn....don't let him become "like everyone else", he is an individual.....teach him by all means....READ to your child...that helps him develop a love for reading....as you read to him, ask him about he pictures on the pages, what he sees there and describe things...also, at the beginning, tell him who wrote it and who it was dedicated too.....develop that imagination....

http://www.rif.org/

Answer 9

He has a good start.  Practice the things that he is learning in school.  I assume that you already read to him.  There are a lot of workbooks that you can buy for his age group.  They have counting, matching, hidden pictures, etc.  He can practice writing letters and numbers.  Practice naming the letters that words start with.

It should be challenging, but fun.  They have short attention spans, and can be frustrated easily.  The most obvious things to us can be very complicated to them.

Answer 10

I think it's great that you want to be involved in teaching your child.  Here's a site with some fun activities you may want to try at home:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Answer 11

Maybe the teacher is talking about structured teaching and stressing paper work for the child. Parents are all teachers in every way. Have fun with your son and enjoy the world with him, You have so much to explore with him. There are so many ways to teach just by singing, talking and pointing out things in your community.

Answer 12

You better teach him everything he can absorb. Unless you want him to struggle in life, you better help give him all the advantage to can.

Ask that teacher to see a copy of what his/her GPA was when they started teaching your child.....I bet your shocked.

You can't really believe that a government agency knows what they are doing. He is already doomed by our governments "No child left behind" disability.

Not everyone is going to be president.

There must be winners and losers.

What do you want him to be?

Answer 13

Maybe the teacher just doesn't want you to push your child. I've know pre-k parents who have pushed reading and even multiplication on their children when they weren't ready. One grandparent went to the point that her grandchild was required to write sentence after sentence when he got home. That caused a lot of behavior problems during the day. As a parent you are an important part of your son's education. Why not focus on things that are hard to teach at school such as tying shoes. Also, you can help develop your child's critical and creative thinking skills which are vital to being successful in both school and life. Ask your child his opinion and why he feels that way, talk about current events (age appropriate of course) and ask his opinion on them, make up silly songs and stories, do art projects, ask what if questions (what if elephants could fly), teach him to make informed choices, and most importantly teach him to be independent. Of course you can always include academic activities but make it fun and developmentally appropriate. He has just begun school, you don't want him to hate learning.

Answer 14

you have to teach your child at home for further leaning...but do not exaggerate it, for the child might be bored in studying. you may teach him the basic manners like, saying thank you, sorry, excuse me, etc..

Answer 15

Sounds like he knows plenty. My daughter is 4 and in pre-k and knows the same as your son, and also shapes and colors. What the teacher suggested me, is that I should help her how to count each number individually. I.E. counting oranges by numbering them individually. I also do dotted letters for her so she could trace. I wouldn't listen to your son's teacher. If you want to help him some more, do it. Especially if he wants to do it. Some kids don't want to do extra work at home, I would say boys for the most part, but if he wants to cooperate, then it means he wants to learn more,

so go ahead and try!

Answer 16

Did the teacher have a reason you shouldn't be teaching him at home?

I think as long as your child is happy and not stressed out by what you teach him, just keep doing what you are doing.  Just teach him what he is ready to learn.  Make sure there is lots of play and creative time.

Answer 17

Your Son pre-K, he still need you to teach him some more. Only a Few teacher would say you don't need to teach your Son. But you should think it was your Son ,you teach your Son  before ,so no one can Stop you .you are a MOM more than a Teacher. Keep doing to teach your Son ,so he will be Proud of  you when he Grow up. They still have a lot to learn. Mostly Teacher they always said even your kids doing better at school you still continue teach your kids whatever free time you have .  Reading books, adding numbers, explore ..etch.

Answer 18

I would be worried about a school that says you don't need to be teaching him at home. Again the Teacher might just be encouraging you not to push your child too much and make you feel like you have to jump right into a curriculmn and push learning on him. Children naturally learn. Just give them the tools and they are off and going.

Teach him things thru everyday life. It is amazing how many skills children learn thru play. Play is their job at a young age. This is their job per say.

Sit down and play with your child. Take the time to listen and watch and see where his interest lie. take every opportunity to teach him new words and explain interesting facts with him when he asks. If he is interested in a certain animal go with it- go to the library and get books on the animals- go to the zoo, color pictures, draw, etc.

Cooking they learn how to measure and read fractions, how to sequence and learn order, learn math, learn science.

Just enjoy him. They grow up so quickly. If he is in a good school he will learn the basics and you just fill in with the extras at home.

Answer 19

yes always teach helps them more than you know

Answer 20

There is such a lack of parents being involved with their child's education today that his teacher saying that really surprised me.  I think that it is terrific that you are involved with his education and want to teach him at school, so you should do it!  

He could also be working on his colors, opposites and shapes.

Answer 21

Opposites, Letter sounds, simple math, intro to the clock, colors, shapes, comparisons (big, bigger, biggest), order (first, middle, last)

And yes, an involved parent is always important.  I wonder about teachers who don't want parents involved in their children's education.  Keep working and reinforcing at home!

Answer 22

Of course you should be teaching him!  A parent is ALWAYS the child's FIRST TEACHER!  Have fun with him:  read to him, take him for walks and talk about what you see, build with him, run and climb with him, play catch with him, help him to recognize his name (first and last), count things with him (anything:  socks, forks, birds, trees, people, books, etc.).  This is such an exciting age for a parent to be participating in their child's growth.  He will benefit from it tremendously, and you will enjoy watching him grow!

Answer 23

Parents and siblings have a role in the education of a child and no teacher should suggest that it is not your responsibility to teach.  You may not need to have a specific plan, but you can read to your child, teach him songs, color or draw with him, take him for walks, show him how to build with blocks, take him fishing, play ball with him, encourage him to pick up his toys or help in the kitchen, let him help plant a garden and tend it, show him how to polish his shoes, teach him to recite nursery rhymes, play games with him....The list goes on and on.  The more your child interacts with parents and siblings and friends, the more he will learn.

Answer 24

You are teaching him all the time without realising it.  You don't have to make any conscious effort to teach him.  Just be his mother.

Answer 25

Sounds like this teacher has no business in the classroom.  He should know his colors and basic shapes, and how the letters sound.  Basic phonics is also important, and something a lot of schools are not teaching anymore.  Coin value is also good.