Advice needed on our school's kdha assessment! | ExpatWoman.com
 

Advice needed on our school's kdha assessment!

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 11:27

Some information we received from my DS teacher has caused us very grave concern! My DS has been struggling in his current year and we decided to have a meeting with his teacher as he was become increasingly unhappy. During the meeting It was divulged that in my DS previous year, after the first term, the KDHA informed the school they had set the curriculum too low and that all the children needed to be put on a accelerated learning course! Basically when we asked her did she feel the children had been accelerated successfully she said no as it was a big chunk of the curriculum they had to cover and it was difficult for them to do. It's like teaching abc then missing d,e,f,g and starting from h, I, j!

Things started to fit into place as last year all of a sudden the homework increased exceptionally and the teacher became very frazzled to say the least. Then at the end of term we were given approximately 20 work books to study and complete over the summer period.

I am now very worried that my son has been very let down by this school and we have requested a meeting with the head immediately. My 2nd concern is that if we wish to move schools will he be able to pass the assessments he will be required to take! I feel sick to he stomach and my DH is devastated as we thought he would be getting a great education out here. It seems they were heavily relying on us parents to get the children up to speed but without actually informing us of this.

Does anyone have any advice so we can be prepared for the meeting with e head?

515
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EW GURU
Latest post on 30 January 2013 - 17:26
Heres my experience...... My kids were in an "outstanding" school in Dubai. We have recently moved country and they now attend another International British School. Kids were in top sets for all subjects while in Dubai and doing fantastic we thought. Since starting new school it's obvious that they have huge gaps in there learning and have had to work hard to catch up on most subjects. Especially in English, Science,History and Geography. Maths would have been another issue but thankfully they are naturally really strong in that subject. Basically the grades on there report cards are just not a true reflection of where they are at. There is not one subject that they were upto speed on. New school is not a super selective or in anyway outstanding school, just regular International School. If I had known how much they were missing out in Dubai, I would have spent much more time on the internet finding out exactly what they should have been learning and working with them myself. I'm not a Dubai basher. We loved our time there and would be happy to move back in the future. Just wanted to warn you.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 30 January 2013 - 14:38
Just curious to know..which grade or year in question is this? I had faced a similar situation when my learning disabled DD needed sp attention which wasn't given but no one from school accepted it and later put it on lack of skills on DD's behalf....after taking things up with school board and all found it to be lost battle and changed schools...
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 19:43
Children are sponges, you will see it! My DD is not (was not) academically strong. I realized this when at 5 she couldn't tell me numbers upto 10 or any letters! I nearly died as I thought she was on par but was just caught off guard with it as her school report was all positive. That week I worked with her everyday - she wasn't learning anything! Then, the ball dropped, within one month she could read. They are very intelligent, it may be hard week one, you may think you'll never catch him up, but one on one for one month is equivalent to three months in class (a principal told me this), so give him a week or so, then it'll all begin to come together! Good luck! I am currently in the same dilemma with my child. This gives me hope. Thanks for sharing.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 18:33
AmyAus82 advice really appreciated and now you have pointed out how important one to one can be over a month I will do so immediately! Thanks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 12:44
This could be me writing a large portion of your post OP, we may even have children in the same school. I cant offer advice as I am struggling because I feel my child is getting overwhelmed and the "gap" is getting wider but I am following AmyAus82 advice and getting a tutor AND one on one daily. The teacher is lovely but the class size is very large here
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 12:17
Thanks we are lucky he is still young enough to turn this around and yes it's good to know now rather than later. The assessment is a must, I just feel for him as its going to be a lot of studying to get him where he should be and he still needs downtime x
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 12:01
That's ok. I understand. I am just curious. Good Luck!
22
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 12:01
Hi Darien at this point I would prefer not to say until we have met with the head, but I can give you my email address and after the meeting I will be happy to advise of the outcome.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 11:54
Which school?
22
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 11:54
Thanks AmyAus82. We have been helping and until now we felt he seemed to be getting on well. He has always been a great reader and his writing has improved but it was just this piece of information was a bit if a blow. We will defiantly get him assessed and I will contact Sylvan Learning. I also feel as he is in an international school this has not helped either, as again the teacher almost admitted to us her time is spent with the children who can't speak English. Even though its supposed to be school policy they don't except children who can't speak any of the language. Another admission was, she said this policy is not used as it should be! Argh!!!!!!!! <em>edited by babyvella on 29/01/2013</em>
 
 

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