Little G has recently learned a new word: amazing. Or as she pronounces it: AMAZING!!!! I am taking full credit for this as I say it frequently but You must be mad says she says it, and so does Little G's father, so apparently full credit might have to be shared. Reluctantly.
Whatever. We are deriving much fun from the new word: last week we managed to reduce a whole busload of passengers to incoherent laughter and she got free silver ribbons from the nice people in Space NK, who think Little G and her word are hilarious. I am contemplating taking her into the bank to see if it works there too.
When she is not pottering about town with me and practicing her word, Little G goes to a workplace nursery. Frequent questioning about what she does there and what they feed her always elicits the same answers: painting and toast. I could find out how she really spends the day as the nursery staff have to provide a daily handover summary. With the ubiquitous targets.
I don't do this. Handover here runs rather on the lines of: You must be mad falls through the door. Little G falls upon You must be mad. I fall into the bus. Besides, I don't think my daily summaries would pass muster with the Great and Good at the Education Department.
Today Little G enjoyed: Turning the light switch on and off until forcibly removed.
She ate: With her hands, as her fork and spoon were confiscated for persistent table-drumming.
Targets Achieved: None.
Next week, apparently, the nursery is going to be teaching them all adjectives.
Amazing!
What an amazing blog! With my grand-daughter it's usually, "Oh dear, Gan," as one of us does something silly.
ReplyDeleteTargets have gone mad in nurseries. They were introduced in an effort to stop nurseries warehousing small children until school could take over - and for children who are there full time it does make sure they know their colours etc - but they've got ridiculous.
ReplyDelete(My 8-year old grandson has perfected the 'I'm not a baby' look - it's meant to be scathing but makes me double up laughing!)
It's such a waste of staff time..they should be playing with the kids not writing targets!
DeleteI think it's great, you have such fun!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was teaching in a primary school I wanted to throw a dart every time I heard or had to write down the word target.
ReplyDeleteDitto secondary school ..and one of the reasons I quit! Little G had her first assessment with targets age 6 months! I blogged about it...Horrific!
DeleteJust wonderful, Carol. This blog keeps me sane, I swear. Amazing!!
ReplyDeleteHaha we usually make the same progress with targets! Who knew nursery attendees had targets?! Doesn't surprise me though!
ReplyDeleteNot just targets but a daily sheet. what a total waste of time
DeleteLong may she continue to delight and fail to meet those ridiculous targets!
ReplyDeleteI'm working on it!
DeleteHere we have the Curriculum for Excellence and nursery follows the early level experiences/outcomes. Alongside it though are documents such as Learning through Play. Play being the vitally important element in early education. We do look to children experiencing the early learning outcomes and progressing their learning but we don't set them targets per se; we assess their developmental stage and offer them opportunities which challenge and stimulate them. We want our wee ones to enjoy nursery and engage in their learning as and when they're ready for a next step.
ReplyDeletesee..you are already speaking in technical!She was SIX MONTHS when she had her first assessment. Mad mad mad
DeleteAwe she's so sweet Carol. I left work in nurseries just before the targets came into force. What nonsense. We taught them colors,numbers,how to hang up a coat on a peg and change their shoes, money. Most of all they had fun and used their imagination. Now dinosaur boy is five his favourite saying is,"I've wanted that my whole life." It's so funny.
ReplyDeleteAlways enjoy reading of your adventures with little G, Carol. :)
ReplyDeleteLove that last line. Says it all. Little G already ahead of the game. Hahaha! In your face education system! :) Targets are the biggest nonsense to have hit the primary classroom ever. They change constantly, no one knows what they are doing, least of all the teachers, and the kids just want to get on and learn without some fool interrupting them to ask "Have you met your target?" Then of course staff have targets to ensure kids are meeting their targets. So a teacher's ability to meet their targets is beholden to a group of quite individual children all meeting all of their (too numerous to mention) targets. The world has gone quite mad! I need a lie down!
tell me about it: used to be a secondary school teacher!
ReplyDelete