Open letter to L’s teacher

Dear Miss M,

Nearly a year ago Hubs and I entrusted our 6 and 1/2 year old daughter to you, her new Year 2 teacher. We knew that Year 2 was going to be an important year, what with SATs at the end of the year and preparing the children for moving up into the juniors, and we were interested to see how that would go.

First day back at school. Open letter to L's teacher. www.FranglaiseMummy.com. Parenting and lifestyle blog.

L’s first day in Year 2

L is far from being stupid but she is sociable and a daydreamer. Like her mother, she likes a natter, and in the past this has held her learning back. However Year 2 is not the time for daydreaming in class, or chatting, and you soon made that clear to L (and us at parent consultations).

Somehow you managed, in just the last term, to draw out the fairly bright child from within her staring off into space shell, and to reveal a girl who knows her stuff and who performs well.

I remember parent consultations at the end of the Easter term, when you told us that L was often away with the fairies, that she was chatting when she should be listening, that she wasn’t checking her work, and that she was capable but was letting herself down.

Between you, Hubs and me we set up a point system where she had areas to improve on (the ones mentioned above notably), and on which she was rewarded if she came up with the goods.

You would tell me at the end of the day how she’d got on – usually 3 out of 5 or 4 out of 5 – so I knew we were making progress, but it was hard to really see what that meant.

Until our parent consultation with you last week. When we were knocked for six. We were expecting some improvement, but not to the extent that you announced.

For the first time at parent consultation I got a lump in my throat, and maybe had something in my eye too.

To hear how L had moved 3 or 4 sub-levels in her maths, reading and writing in just one year was such a pleasant surprise. For you to say that her story-writing had blown you away was just a delight.

And whilst I’d love to take the glory for this, I can’t. I think something in L has just clicked – she loves reading, which in turn has improved her writing, and somewhere along the way she’s “got” the maths too.

Whilst I think a lot of it is down to L, I know really that the majority is down to you, Miss M. I was told, when you were announced as her teacher last summer, that you were “firm but fair”, which I think is a very accurate description, and is just what she and her classmates needed.

I know that L has come on in leaps and bounds, and I’m pretty certain that her friends in her class have too.

Not only has she learnt a huge amount under your teaching – not to mention the extra-curricular activities such as harmonising in the nativity play in December – but she has also been very happy in your class.

So I just wanted to take the time to say thank you. We all knew that you were an outstanding teacher in an outstanding school, long before Ofsted came along to rubber stamp it a few months ago.

Ofsted outstanding sign written by children. Open letter to L's teacher. www.FranglaiseMummy.com. Parenting and lifestyle blog.

A sign in L’s school playground the day after Ofsted declared them an outstanding school

Sadly I think that many teachers (primary and secondary) are under-rated in this country. They work incredibly hard, only to be criticised by Ofsted, the government, the press and parents. So I wanted to say thank you for being such an amazing teacher, who has managed to draw this ability out of our daughter. And thank you for working so hard.

We will all miss you Miss M and we wish you all the best for next year, when L moves into the heady heights of Year 3.

Thank you and good luck for the future,

Sophie

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4 Responses

  1. This is such a lovely letter and congratulations to L for doing so well! Sounds like she and Curly Girl have a lot in common on the daydreaming front 🙂 I agree with you that there is an awful lot of criticism of teachers that is unfair – good for you for giving credit where it’s due x
    Michelle at Bod for tea recently posted…7 tips for running your first 10k raceMy Profile

    • Franglaise Mummy says:

      Thanks lovely. I’m just glad that the daydreaming whilst she should be working seems to have calmed down! x

  2. Such a lovely post! No wonder you are proud and happy. Teachers are great, and the best ones can work wonders with our kids. I won’t hear a word said against teachers or schools! Luckily we’ve nearly always had brilliant teachers.
    Sarah MumofThree World recently posted…Time is moneyMy Profile

    • Franglaise Mummy says:

      I am just a little sad now with Year 3 approaching as I think L’s Year 2 teacher is going to be an incredibly tough act to follow.

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