Would this concern you?

AugustaBride04

Hailey's preschool sent home evaluations. On the eval, it indicated that she had excellent grip and writing with her right hand. The problem is she is LEFT handed and always has been. So I ask Hailey "What hand do you write with at school?". All on her own she says "I write with this hand at school (points to her right hand) and I write with this hand at home (points to her left hand)."  I ask "Why do you write with that hand (points to right hand) at school?"  Hailey "Because Mrs. K makes me". Me to myself - WTF?  So, I understand that some kids that are left handed may use their right hand too. So DH, myself, my parents all start watching her like a hawk to see what she uses. It's always, always her left hand.

So, I emailed her teacher a nice, casual email to the effect of, Hey, did you perhaps make a mistake? You indicated H is right handed and she is really left handed. I would like to follow-up with you tomorrow am.  She writes back and says simply, yes it was a mistake.  So I talk with both teachers the next day, they both say they know H is left handed and that's how they work with her etc. It was just a mistake.  I tell them what Hailey said about writing with her right hand at school (leaving out the Mrs. K makes me part) and they glaze right over it. I left the issue stressing that we need to be consistent and ensure we are working with her the same way ie: left handed. They agreed.

I'm still bothered by it though. I mean, why would Hailey say that? If she was going to make something up, it would be freakishly outlandish. She has no reason to lie about it. I also found out when talking to the teachers that they messed up another kids evaluation too. And yes, I realize 3 year old evals are not that big of a deal and I'm not questioning anything else on there but this. I do think the right handed - left handed aspect is important.  Would you still be concerned or leave it at this?  Thanks for reading.

 

dleigh2020

If they are trying to change which hand she uses they are fighting an uphill battle. That would be the last thing I wanted to do as her teacher but that us just me. I would have her write with both hands. Her left should look "strong" and "legible." Her right hand writing should appear weaker. If they look similar they are trying to change which hand she uses. And yes I would be a little concerned not some much about the mistakes on the evals as I would be about them trying to change her dominate hand.

Melliebugs

I don't know much about right and left handed other than it isn't truely determined until Kindergarten. My kids used both right and left and it worked itself out. I would be irritated that they made two mistakes. They probably only have 12 kids for two teachers. That would be problem number one and problem number two is how they are going about it. I tend to believe my kid to a certain degree.

amanda_holbird@hotmail.com

Yes, that would concern me if they are trying to change her from being left-handed to right-handed especially if she does everything and writes much better left-handed.  Ethan is left-handed and I actually walked in to pick him up one day (this was a year ago when he was in preschool) to see that the teacher had placed a pencil/crayon in his right hand, and her hand was over his, and she was helping him trace.  I called her out on it and said he was left handed.  She actually admitted that he did use his left hand, but she really didn't think he was left handed.  We talked about it a few days later and she told me that he was doing much better with his left hand than right.  Well, duh!  As far as I know, he's not having any issues in pre-k using his left hand, but now I'm going to ask him this evening if his teachers try to get him to write/draw, etc., with his right hand. 

seansgirl2006

Yes, that would really bother me.  If the teacher really was trying to make her, and I believe that she was, that is completely ridiculous.  That being said, I think you did a good job addressing it and am not sure what else you could do.  I think I would leave it alone unless something comes up with it again.  I would let it got for a bit and then ask Hailey about it again.  It does sound like she was telling the truth. 

Kerrin

I would let it go.  It was probably a mistake. 

You are right, she has no reason to make up a story about this, but I've learned that with Ava (she'll be 4 this month)...she'll make up a story about ANYTHING.  Even if she has no reason to.  She told me the other day that a lady at daycare hits her.  It was a very elaborate story and quite believable.  I'm very friendly with the woman she was referring to, and being that the room she claims it happened in is monitored and staffed with 3 people, it's just not somethign said woman could have gotten away with, not that she would do it to begin with.  Especially when Ava said it happens EVERY day.

While I took Ava's statement seriously, I also reminded her that we shouldn't make up stories about hitting, etc., b/c it's very serious and people will get in alot of trouble. And i made her go apologize to the teacher for making up stories about her.

Last week she told me that her teacher told them they couldn't wear underwear to school anymore. What???  I've caught her 3 times in the last week trying to leave the house without underwear.  So clearly, she's misunderstanding some conversations.

So my point is that H may have misunderstood something that her teacher said, and is just running with it.  And she probably believes whatever she's telling you to be true. 

maykat

Yes, would concern me.

Alec is left-handed and he has been attempting to start writing with his right hand.  I observed him in his pre-K class and his teachers always encourage him to do all hands activities with his left and then go to his right.  He is starting to use both.

ebearwife

P's teacher made a spelling mistake on her evaluation.  I mean, it bothers me but how smart does a Preschool teacher need to be?  Its not AP Calculus for COL.  I'm just happy this lady exists and is willing to tolerate 15 3yos so that P can go to school three times a week.  She comes across as pretty spacey, but we'll worry about the Harvard aps next year I guess. 

As for the "forcing" her to write right handed, well, that is pretty old school.  Its what happened to my left handed father.  I'd just make sure it wasn't happening at all moving forward.  Volunteer one day and see what happens at writing time.  The "glazing" over and "everybody on one page" thing is pretty much par for the course these days.  Its hard to know what is really happening anywhere - take the PSU scandal for instance.  Everybody up there hosed the whole world for several years.

seansgirl2006

ebearwife:

P's teacher made a spelling mistake on her evaluation.  I mean, it bothers me but how smart does a Preschool teacher need to be?  Its not AP Calculus for COL.  I'm just happy this lady exists and is willing to tolerate 15 3yos so that P can go to school three times a week.  She comes across as pretty spacey, but we'll worry about the Harvard aps next year I guess. 

I would hope you didn't mean for it too but I think that comes across as very rude.  I am a preschool teacher and have a degree.  I am a professional just like anyone else.  Just because I teach 4 year olds does not mean I'm a dummy and that anyone off the street could do it.  Also, I do make spelling mistakes.  I bet you do too.  I think the point the OP was making was more the issue of forcing her child to use her R hand, not that she made a mistake. 

Also, to piggy back Kerrin, she has a good point.  The kids in my class tell their parents all kinds of crazy things.  It's not that they are always lying or trying to be manipulative, but at that age they do it all the time.  I had a parent tell me a few weeks into school that she was concerned her child was never using the bathroom at school.  What?!  He had told her that he was scared of our bathroom and never went at school.  She believed him and literally thought that from 8:15-2:45 he was never using the bathroom.  We assured her that he does use it throughout the day just fine.  From a teacher's point of view, it is nice when a parent asks what happened (like you did, AugustaBride) instead of just assumming.  I still think the whole situation the OP described was fishy but I would let it go and just watch it from now on. 

maykat

seansgirl2006:

ebearwife:

P's teacher made a spelling mistake on her evaluation.  I mean, it bothers me but how smart does a Preschool teacher need to be?  Its not AP Calculus for COL.  I'm just happy this lady exists and is willing to tolerate 15 3yos so that P can go to school three times a week.  She comes across as pretty spacey, but we'll worry about the Harvard aps next year I guess. 

I would hope you didn't mean for it too but I think that comes across as very rude. 

I agree that this came off as very rude.  Many of our preschool teachers have degrees and regardless if they don't have a degree they are still extremely smart and talented at what they do. 

And everyone makes spelling mistakes.

 

MLvK

maykat:

seansgirl2006:

ebearwife:

P's teacher made a spelling mistake on her evaluation.  I mean, it bothers me but how smart does a Preschool teacher need to be?  Its not AP Calculus for COL.  I'm just happy this lady exists and is willing to tolerate 15 3yos so that P can go to school three times a week.  She comes across as pretty spacey, but we'll worry about the Harvard aps next year I guess. 

I would hope you didn't mean for it too but I think that comes across as very rude. 

I agree that this came off as very rude.  Many of our preschool teachers have degrees and regardless if they don't have a degree they are still extremely smart and talented at what they do. 

Everyone makes spelling mistakes.  

 

Martha, seriously?  You went to Tech.  I guess that makes you super smart and above a preschool teacher.  (rolls eyes)  Better hope you don't make any type-o's.   

Everyone makes spelling mistakes.   

yellowtulips80

It is so sad that some folks can't accept that some people are left handed.  I'm a left handed teacher.  I can do most things with either hand.  This has been a strange school year in that I have three kids in my class that teachers (or someone) in their past have changed their handedness.  These kids struggle with basic things like how to hold a pencil.  Because no one ever taught them the left way.  Please accept children the way they are.  As an adult I get the occasional weird comment from other adults.  Righties take a lot of things for granted and don't realize that sometimes us lefties struggle with the most mundane daily tasks, like using a pair of scissors. There is nothing wrong with being left handed.  It takes patience to be left handed.

Now to get off my soap box...If your child is really left handed please try to find a lefty mentor to teach her to hold a pencil, tie her shoes, and use a pair of scissors.  Don't rely on a preschool teacher (who probably knows no better) to establish these basics.

 

lrn327

MLvK:

maykat:

seansgirl2006:

ebearwife:

P's teacher made a spelling mistake on her evaluation.  I mean, it bothers me but how smart does a Preschool teacher need to be?  Its not AP Calculus for COL.  I'm just happy this lady exists and is willing to tolerate 15 3yos so that P can go to school three times a week.  She comes across as pretty spacey, but we'll worry about the Harvard aps next year I guess. 

I would hope you didn't mean for it too but I think that comes across as very rude. 

I agree that this came off as very rude.  Many of our preschool teachers have degrees and regardless if they don't have a degree they are still extremely smart and talented at what they do. 

Everyone makes spelling mistakes.  

 

Martha, seriously?  You went to Tech.  I guess that makes you super smart and above a preschool teacher.  (rolls eyes)  Better hope you don't make any type-o's.   

Everyone makes spelling mistakes.   

Whoops, I make spelling mistakes too.  I guess I'm not very smart....  

C's teachers make occasional spelling mistakes too, and they all have degrees (masters in some cases).  I'd actually rather having them supervising and caring for my child than editing their writing. 

lrn327

And I totally forgot to address the OP.  I think it's great you brought it up with the teachers.  Since you've addressed it with them, if it really was happening, you've probably nipped it in the bud.  I wouldn't worry too much about it, but just keep an eye on it.