Welcome to your community

    • Login
treasures.co.nz
  • your stage
  • treasures baby club
  • community
  • products
  • online shop
Search
  • forum
  • people
  • polls
  • what’s new?
  • little treasures magazine

explore site

Home » community » forum » What’s on your mind? »

Teachers question about national standards.

What would you like to talk about?

Just had interviews. National standards have been fully implimented and now my girls have gone from being above average for age to at or below. Should I be worried or is national standards just unrealistic. No one in DD1s class is at for writing they are all below she is year 5. DD1 is top of class for writing so I feel sorry for all the ones below her. Shes getting their but wonder if some of the others ever will. DD2s reading is at her age she is year 3 her comprehension is also at a year 3 level so how can her writing be at a year 1 level. To me it doesnt make sense. They are both reading at a level 1yr older than their age yet they say its only at the level they want. Shouldnt reading for their age level be at and reading above be above. I just dont get how kids can go from above to below or at so quickly when nothing has changed other than national standards.

They are bright children but it has me questioning what I do with them and whether I should get them extra help. What do you think?

Add a reply

Written by

Mellopuff
  • offline
  • 0 stories
  • 7 recommendations
Stage:
Toddler
Kids:
DD, 10 years
DD, 8 years
DS, 3 years
Location:
Christchurch
Function:
Treasures ambassador
3-year-old Toddler,
from
 Christchurch

View profile

Tuesday, 26 June 2012 4:58 a.m.

Share

Replies to this discussion

  • Tuesday, 26 June 2012 12:11 p.m.

    The reason DD1 may have not met the standard is because it's the standard for the END of the year.

    Ask the teacher if they think your children need help.

    WhitiMum 2 3
    • offline
    • 1 stories
    • 1 recommendation
    Stage:
    Toddler
    Kids:
    Charlotte, 8 years
    Finn, 6 years
    Phoebe, 4 years, 10 months
    Location:
    Whitianga
    4 years, 10-month-old Toddler,
    from
     Whitianga

    View profile

  • Tuesday, 26 June 2012 8:38 a.m.

    The report says "Mid year report 2012 learning progress in relation to national standard". So basically they are comparing them against the national standard 2 terms to early. Ok I took it that its where they should be now not at the end of the year. In which case DD1 will be fine just like her teacher said. DD2 I think will need some help with her writing so I will work on what the teacher said and ask for a review end of term 3 and if she is not making progress to where she should be then I will get her help. I did mention to the teacher that she is still getting alot of her letters and numbers back to front and wondered if that might be impacting on her writing. He said at this age its not unusual for them to still mix up letters. Their are a few dyslexic traits run in the family so might talk to the special needs teacher about the results and see what she says.

    Thanks for clarifying it all for me.

    Mellopuff
    • offline
    • 0 stories
    • 7 recommendations
    Stage:
    Toddler
    Kids:
    DD, 10 years
    DD, 8 years
    DS, 3 years
    Location:
    Christchurch
    Function:
    Treasures ambassador
    3-year-old Toddler,
    from
     Christchurch

    View profile

  • Tuesday, 26 June 2012 7:16 a.m.

    The reason DD1 may have not met the standard is because it's the standard for the END of the year.

    Ask the teacher if they think your children need help.

    WhitiMum 2 3
    • offline
    • 1 stories
    • 1 recommendation
    Stage:
    Toddler
    Kids:
    Charlotte, 8 years
    Finn, 6 years
    Phoebe, 4 years, 10 months
    Location:
    Whitianga
    4 years, 10-month-old Toddler,
    from
     Whitianga

    View profile

  • Tuesday, 26 June 2012 6:47 a.m.

    when is dd2's birthday? She could be getting a progress report or a full report against the standards depending on that. It should tell you somewhere on the written report. She may even get two full reports in one year as she moves from reporting at birth date to reporting at the end of the year. If they're progess toward end of year reports then don't stress if they're not there yet. At the end of year 3 and year 5 they're expected to be at a certain level, but they've still got half a year's learning to do yet.

    Writing is a bit of an airy fairy standard too. Ds2's report (this week) was based on some classroom samples and an assessment. As it happens this term they've been working on writing instructions which isn't his strong point. He's reported as below but if they'd based it on another style of writing he could have met or been above standard.

    You see now why so many teachers and schools were against the introduction of national standards.

    ekubo
    • offline
    • 1 stories
    • 32 recommendations
    three, from Christchurch
    Stage:
    None
    Kids:
    8 years
    11 years
    4 years, 11 months
    Location:
    Christchurch
    Function:
    Treasures ambassador
    None,
    from
     Christchurch

    View profile

  • Tuesday, 26 June 2012 6:44 a.m.

    If Kids who have always been deemend bright or ahead for their age are at or yet to reach the guidelines of national standards then that seems to me that the standards are un realistic.

    It seems safe to say every class of approx 25 students has a varying degree of abilities, If the higher acheivers are struggling to meet standards then we will just have huge numbers not meeting them.

    I am sure I read a list from our school with the percentages acheiving them. I must see if I can hunt it out.

    Chidlet
    • offline
    • 0 stories
    • 2 recommendations
    Stage:
    Tiada
    Kids:
    8 years
    Location:
    Christchurch 5
    Function:
    Treasures ambassador
    Tiada,
    from
     Christchurch 5

    View profile

  • Tuesday, 26 June 2012 6:31 a.m.

    Hi ladies

    Sorry for babbling, but hopefully helped a little.

    I am a teacher. National standards set targets for at the end of a year. They are achievable, but not all year 5 children will had 200 weeks at school-it depends on their birthday.

    If your child is being tested on Probe for her reading, the questions can be challenging: they include inferring , vocabulary, reading between the lines. Also some children don't respond well to tests.

    W.r.t writing and reading , it is often the case that the child is lower in writing than reading.
    Her report may be based on assessments, not her classroom work. Ask to have a look at her books, to see what she is doing.

    Did the teacher give you suggestions on how to help, or tell you what she needs to do next. For example in my year 2 class, I might say they need to use different sentence beginnings or use conjunctions etc, or simply use punctuation.

    Lucie88- if you think your child is higher than teacher says, ask to see her last reading test or talk to teacher at your interview.
    Often children can read really well, but don't understand /can't tell you what happens in story.

    If they are "at" standard now, they should definitely be above at the end of the year.


    PaulaF
    • offline
    • 0 stories
    • 1 recommendation
    Stage:
    Pregnant
    Kids:
    Michael, 4 years, 1 month
    Location:
    Auckland
    12 weeks pregnant,
    from
     Auckland

    View profile

  • Tuesday, 26 June 2012 6:18 a.m.

    When a teacher says ignore the standards I'd be a little concerned but not freaking out.  You don't know whether they are brushing a school performance issue under the carpet or whether it's just a matter of working hard to meet the standard.  Lots of schools haven't brought into the use of the standards so that's one aspect to consider.  They do them to meet regulatory requirements but aren't using them to see how well the school is teaching children reading, writing and maths.  Standards are like the average that most children should ideally achieve by a certain time.  There will be groups that achieve a little faster and groups that are slower which is ok.  Other individuals will also be miles ahead or miles behinds and schools need to have learning plans in place to support those children.  For year 5 she should reach the standard by roughly end of the year and at this point in the year they should be able to show you how well they are tracking againist it.  You wouldn't expect them to meet it at this stage but they should be able to tell you when she's likely to meet it and highlight any areas she needs to concentrate on, which your teacher has done.  

    When you have whole groups of kids not getting to the standard when they should be then that's where I'd be asking questions about the schools stance on it.  There are all kinds of learning styles children, individual differences and interests.  But there are also schools and teachers that just aren't teaching kids as well as they need to be.  For example your school could be spending too much time on reading and not enough time of writing skills.  The standards just focus of reading, writing and maths and standards evaluate schools on those core aspects of the curriculum.  Not the be all and end all for every kid.  So do ask why you shouldn't be worrying about it and get a better understanding of how the school is operating and see how you feel about it then.  

    Top of the class doesn't mean anything when you compare what she should be learning with all of the kids across NZ.  A bright child could just as easily be bottom of a really bright bunch of kids too.

    Here's the standard.

    http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/National-Standards/Reading-and-writing-standards/The-standards/End-of-year-5

    LittleWrigglers
    • offline
    • 0 stories
    • 2 recommendations
    Stage:
    Toddler
    Kids:
    DD 6yrs, 7 years
    DS 3yrs, 4 years, 4 months
    Location:
    Lower Hutt
    Function:
    Treasures ambassador
    4 years, 4-month-old Toddler,
    from
     Lower Hutt

    View profile

  • Tuesday, 26 June 2012 6:16 a.m.

    Tehe there was something about it in our school newsletter and the principal was clearly bagging the national standards I had a wee laugh. I like to keep on top of where my daughter is and just keep and eye on her learning myself to make sure she's where she should be, I'm really not a fan, it will be quite some time before I warm up to it.

     

    me+2
    • offline
    • 0 stories
    • 1 recommendation
    Stage:
    Toddler
    Kids:
    7 years
    3 years, 7 months
    Location:
    christchurch
    3 years, 7-month-old Toddler,
    from
     christchurch

    View profile

  • Tuesday, 26 June 2012 5:35 a.m.

    Hmm, I have a parent interview later this week, will have to see how DD is going, but I know that at least with her reading she is much brighter than the teacher gives her credit for. She is in year 2 and will happily read chapter books aimed at kids 2-3 years older (Roald Dahl etc) with maybe 1 small picture every few pages, but her homework books are only 6 pages long with 2-3 sentences on a page and the rest is a picture!

    If the teachers say not to worry I wouldn't worry, it may be that the standard has several components and by this point in the year they have only covered half, so they CAN'T be "at the standard" as half of it hasn't been taught/assesed yet.

    Lucie88
    • offline
    • 0 stories
    • 1 recommendation
    Stage:
    Baby
    Kids:
    Shiana, 7 years
    Natalia, 9 months
    Location:
    Mt Maunganui
    Function:
    Treasures ambassador
    9-month-old Baby,
    from
     Mt Maunganui

    View profile

  • Tuesday, 26 June 2012 5:10 a.m.

    Should add DD1s teacher has said not to worry about the below, at or above results as she is up with the top the class. DD2s teacher has given us some stuff to work on. But when the teachers say to ignore the standards their has to be something wrong with them surely. Maybe im just being a worry wart.

    Mellopuff
    • offline
    • 0 stories
    • 7 recommendations
    Stage:
    Toddler
    Kids:
    DD, 10 years
    DD, 8 years
    DS, 3 years
    Location:
    Christchurch
    Function:
    Treasures ambassador
    3-year-old Toddler,
    from
     Christchurch

    View profile

Login to add a reply

First time?

Read our Treasures Community Guide

Ground rules

Keeping the community happy and safe - Terms & Conditions

Ask the Forum

It’s packed with people who may have the answers! Join or Login

By posting in the Treasures Community you acknowledge that you have read and agree to be bound by the Treasures website and Treasures Baby Club Terms & Conditions, the Treasures Community Guide, and our Privacy Policy. These include your agreement not to use obscene or offensive language or to submit material that is, or may potentially be, libellous, abusive or hateful, an invasion of anyone's privacy or harmful to other users.

Join the Community

It’s easy and free; everyone’s invited and, best of all, there are lots of people, just like you, sharing advice and support.

  • Join now
  • Login

Shop online!

Buy Treasures nappies online at great prices. We offer free delivery!

  • Shop online

Little Treasures magazine

Subscribe to Little Treasures magazine.

  • Subscribe now
  • About Treasures
  • Contact the Treasures Team
  • Site Help
  • Products
  • Recipes
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Sitemap
  • Actively trying
  • Common questions
  • Problems conceiving
  • Relationships and family
  • Things you need
  • Thinking about having a baby
  • Wellbeing
  • Common questions
  • Development
  • Health and advice
  • Playtime
  • Relationships and family
  • The Birth
  • Things you need
  • Wellbeing
  • Ask the Treasures Advisory Panel
  • Common questions
  • Development
  • Health and advice
  • Playtime
  • Relationships and family
  • The early days
  • Things you need
  • Wellbeing
  • Ask the Treasures Advisory Panel
  • Common questions
  • Development
  • Health and advice
  • Playtime
  • Relationships and family
  • Things you need
  • Wellbeing

Top tags for trying

  • Infertility
  • Diet
  • Sex
  • Partner
  • Relationship
  • advice

Top tags for pregnant

  • Giving Birth
  • Weight
  • Labour
  • Sleep
  • Diet
  • Breathing

Top tags for baby

  • Breastfeeding
  • Sleep
  • Teething
  • Rash
  • Temperature
  • Routine

Top tags for toddler

  • Talking
  • Walking
  • Play
  • Nursery
  • Teeth
  • Creative

View all discussions about trying for a baby

View all discussions about pregnancy

View all discussions about babies

View all discussions about toddlers

  • Got a question? Ask the community

By posting in the Treasures Community you acknowledge that you have read and agree to be bound by the Treasures website and Treasures Baby Club Terms & Conditions, the Treasures Community Guide, and our Privacy Policy. These include your agreement not to use obscene or offensive language or to submit material that is, or may potentially be, libellous, abusive or hateful, an invasion of anyone's privacy or harmful to other users.

Close

Report details

Describe why you want to report this:

Please enter a description

Cancel Report