My daughter started school this year and she is a very quiet girl but I feel she is getting forgotten, all of the other children have 20+ merit awards and she is only 8. I know she isn't naughty but she doesn't participate as she is so shy, how do I brouch this subject with the teachers or is it not worth the hassle?
4 Replies
They are just merit awards, pretty meaningless really.
Has she noticed that she has 8 versus the other kids? If she hasn't and doesn't seem to care, I would let it go.
Personally I wouldn't even mention the awards to the teacher. I'd mention your daughters shyness. I'd find ways to help your daughter be more outspoken.
My son is very quiet and reserved which is often interpreted by teachers as shyness.
My sons teacher he had last year was very robust, extroverted and loud (also had a very strong kiwi accent that took him a while to get used to lol), he just never responded well to the way she taught (she'd often force my son to participate, speak in front of the class etc. It made him go further back into his shell)
This year his teacher is much more softly spoken and engaged with him on a different level. He's excelling this year, maybe it's just a case of not gelling well with the teacher.
And she's only 6 months into her first year of school, it is a huge adjustment. If her reports are good, she's on par academically and is relatively enjoying school then I wouldn't worry.
Merit certificates are no indication of how she's actually doing in the grand scheme of things, they are more teachers observations, if she's shy and quiet she's probably achieving more than anyone is noticing.
Maggie Dent's Facebook page has some great articles on introverted children. Here is a link to one.
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/02/18/465999756/how-parents-and-teac....
You are always your childs advocate - its always worth the hassle. Just ask the teacher for a chat or meeting & discuss. Never feel you shouldn't approach a school about concerns.