curriculum

[mskris]

Rosy:

I totally agree with you that the drop in T's grades is because the review period is over and the material is all new. However, the new material is sooo far above what was done previously that it's like a whole new curriculum. I'm sorry, but 3-page tests with essay questions is ridiculous for 3rd grade! Note - this week's test specifically will NOT have essay questions, an indication, I presume, that all the kids had trouble with them! This teacher is pretty good, and she does accomodate T on most things according to his 504. I just hate to see him discouraged in areas where he's always expressed interest (ie, science and math). What's the point in pushing them?

As I said before, T's test scores are way beyond special education, yet he falls short of gifted. If he can't keep up, what about the others? He's probably in the upper echelon of average at this point. He grasps concepts quickly but having to write about them baffles him. He can tell you what it's all about orally, though.

Now, I'm all for increasing kids' writing ability. My dh was in college and couldn't write a paper until I taught him. I'm a professional writer and was an English major, for heaven's sake! BUT, I don't want all the emphasis on writing to turn my son off on the basic subject matter, either. There has to be a "happy medium."

PS - this week's social studies test is all about climate! OMG, half the material is new to ME!!! Why does it rain more on the west side of a mountain than the east? What is the difference between weather and climate? This is THIRD grade!!!

Kris

[rosyred45]

Oh BOY, I can relate withe the new to this crap, if you will. I agree 100%!!! Half of hte stuff that I learned in 6th grade, group 1(upper half of the grading scale) she's being told she has to learn now, W/OUT the basic knowledge of how the heck to add more than 2 digits. like 6+9. They don't even have their addition tables, at all.....
I remember going over and over. MEMORIZING Addition facts. That's basically what I am trying to suppliment to the kids, they have no idea concepts of math because they don't know the basics.

Kris, I definately understand what you mean, I hope I didn't sound ignorant or anything with my comments. I have gotten so frustrated, I've told every teacher that I work with plus the principal and the Superintendant that I hate the new math and that the kids aren't learning the basics of what they should.

Of course the teacher referred me to the principal who was very nice in saying that times were changing.....

Then out of casual speaking I told the super that it litterally sucked. He just shrugged his shoulders. Yessirree, there's dedication. Sorry to ramble back to homework with the darn math.

Kaiti

[mskris]

Looks like we're all in the same boat, so to speak. That doesn't make it any easier for us or the kids, though. Last week we really worked with T on the social studies. He knew that climate stuff backward and forward. If he doesn't do well on the test (last Friday), then it's either test anxiety or a poorly designed test. Should be interesting to see what happened.

Of course, they had THREE tests last Friday (get it all in before the break, apparently). One in social studies, one in spelling (weekly), and one in - LIBRARY!! OMG - how to use the card catalog...if he fails that one, I dont' care! He's been to the library since he was barely able to walk and I care more about his desire to read than whether he can use the card catalog at age 8!!! The math test that was to be last Thursday is now TODAY - a day before their break and a Monday, of all days. We were out socializing until 8 pm last night and I wasn't about to cut it short to have him study math again (he was prepared Thursday, but may have forgotten some of it by today). Frankly, I'm so angry at the school right now I don't care. How ridiculous can you get?

Kris

[rosyred45]

Oh, I have to laugh about the library. Since our program is based out of our school library, I'm in there first thing in the morning and right before school gets out. Apparently now, the kids are "rotating" between specials. They are in for 30 days, then another group.
Although it is just the 6-7-8 grades.
Just sitting and listening, the librarian is playing literature teacher, having the kids pull apart the books, that dramatic irony thing.
SORRY, We did that in English. In library we learned what reference books are, how to use them, how to find things using the dewey decimal system.....

Not all of the kids have library time anymore either. Some teachers must now sign up for it during one of their "free" periods. OK, I can see that, but when are the kids going to be able to have time to be kids? Socializing....absorbing what they know and learn.....

When they come to SACC they are about ready to burst. It's a shame when I have special projects for the kids to do and all they ask is "Do we have to?" I can't plan that far ahead, without getting them ready for it, or I end up wasting things because they just want to relax with their friends.
Sorry so long, needed the vent.
Kaiti

[sierra]

Ya'll please don't get me started!

Too late. You got me started. Out here there are two driving forces that keep shoving the curriculum into earlier and earlier grades

There are the state standardized tests that schools have to keep improving on their prior scores. Otherwise they don't get as much money as they did the year before. For schools that already had high scores there's very little room for improvement. So they focus on the kids that aren't already performing above expectations and want to make them go to summer school to just focus on the standardized tests material and tactics so they can eek out a couple more points.

Plus the education pie is shrinking out here because of the economy and the state budget deficit and Ahhhnold already showing us that he's a lot more worried about saving the insurance industry money than educating kids. He's already diverting money that has been earmarked for schools. Expect me to be screaming and hollering next year when the schools have no librarians or conselors or art teachers. I'm already working up a good head of steam. But the point is that those test scores are even more important so schools can compete for a bigger slice of the shrinking pie.

Pity the poor schools that can't compete.

Also they passed a law requiring an exit exam from high school out here. If kids don't pass this test then they get a certificate of completion not a diploma. They can have straight As but no dice if they don't pass the test.

That's when they really started shoving the curriculum down kids throats. The ones already in the pipeline are probably getting the worst of it. The test is not that hard. I bet most of us could pass it. But it covers material that has not been in the curriculum in the past. So now they want kids to stay after school and go to summer school to learn what's on that test but not taught in regular class.

So few kids were passing the math portion of the test that they passed a special amendment to hold off a couple more years before they make passing the test mandatory. So this years juniors and seniors are off the hook. But the sophomores and below are still under the gun.

They chop up the curriculum every year trying to meet the standards of the previous year's tests. Moving target of course. And the text books are about 3 years behind in meeting the new curriculum. Nothing wrong with the text books. But every dang one has to be replaced because the curriculum has changed.

Now I think science texts ought to be changed out pretty frequently because science is a fast evolving field of study.

But algebra? Changed out because they are supposed to learn how to read a statistical graph that I never was exposed to until college? Wouldn't a photocopy of a worksheet be sufficient?

And how about history? Does 30,000 years ago through 400 CE need a new book every 3 years? Are we learning that much new stuff about relatively ancient history?

I wish they would settle on what they plan to teach each grade and stick with it

It would save money and it would save time. The teachers could focus on learning better teaching techniques like how to teach to different learning styles instead of cramming every year for the new material they never had to teach their grades before. Some continuing education on LDs and 504s and IEPs would be nice too.

Bottom line. I'm starting to shop around for a new state. Suggestions welcome. Tell me what you like about your neck of the woods both from a school perspective and a qualitiy of life perspective.

Maybe I ought to start a new thread.

[rosyred45]

owwwwww,,,,, we could start a new thread, but get this.... my mom teaches 7-8th grade science. This one kids has "problems". He does have an IEP, but has been using it for an excuse to get out of doing and completing what should be done.

OK, he's been to 4 different schools in 3 yrs, he IS a bright and knowledgable boy, but has been never made to answer for his actions. He's been goofing off, and actually telling the teachers that it doesn't matter, he'll pass anyway.

WHAT!!!!!!!!!! I laughed when my mom said she would love to just spend a day with him, making him responsible for his actions. Don't get me wrong, no abuse, just making him realize, :
you do this,
you get this.
I hate it when mom is right.
Any how, the principal aske dwhy they couldn't just "let him go on a couple of things." THAT MAKES ME FURIOUS!!

Forthose of us with kids that really need help, and you wanna give it to some kid who wants to work the system.?!?!?!?!?

Sorry, venting again, pms
Kaiti

[tridlette]

Kaiti, can you send your Mom across the river here to spend a day with my son??? He is that 8th grader who puts in absolutely no effort until the night before the grades are due, and whips off 22 papers, throws them at the teacher and gets full credit for everything, thus changing a 59 to an 83 in one night.

I have told him a thousand times where he will end up when he meets the "real world" that doesn't accomodate his last minute style. So far, we haven't met a teacher who doesn't find a reason to cut him the slack, so he uses his IEP to take advantage.

I haven't got the discipline to make him do the work, he just glares at me, then explodes violently if I try to stand over him. If I give him any wiggle room, he is off like a race horse in every other direction. How do I get him to do the work without losing the walls and windows of the house?

Please send me your mom, I am just up from the junction of the Schuylkill and the Blue Route. Please!

Laurie

[rosyred45]

Boy, last time we were on the blue route, we got lost and a Highway Patrol man pulled over and told us it was dangerous to do that. Well, we were trying to find Methodist Hospital. Did finally find it.

I'll send mom over...she always liked a challenge. I'm alive still, so that proves a point.

Just wondering, do you make him pay for what he breaks? Or work it off or fix it. One thing my mom did do was NEVER back down. I could push til my hearts content and she would pull a guilt trip on me in a heart beat. Whether she knew it or not, it worked and still works. I do it to my kids. It make em think.

The only thing I can say about the school work really, is actually more of a question. I don't know alot about IEP's, except they are supposed to help those that need it. Even you saying your son is taking advantage of it, is there a way for you to adjust it? Like if an assignment isn't turned in within 1 week of such and such a date, it's a "0".

If he's abusing it, that's only hurting him, like you said, the real world will be a rude awakening. Trust me.

My brother in Law is going through that as we type. He's still at home. He's 23, no job, my FIL is retired from Dupont's, MIL doesn't work, so right about now, there is NO playing room for him to bum money or anything.

Sorry so long,
Kaiti

[mskris]

Oh, Sierra, I hear you! Our school district is very good (award-winning), so there isn't too much room for improvement, but boy, are they trying to eek out a few more points on those Standards Tests!

All you hear is standards - are the kids gaining anything meaningful? NO! My son is like me - he catches on quickly, memorizes the material, passes the test, and promptly forgets what he memorized. It's hard to build on a foundation like that! I found that out when I took the SATs as a HS Senior. Though I had a 3.8 GPA, I didn't do too well on the SAT score (comparatively), because I hadn't RETAINED any of the material.

I did a little better at retaining and studying in college, but I can't say I did great on the GREs, either!

BTW - T got 100% on that science test given right before the x-mas break! However, the other two tests that day were C and D grades. I can't complain - he focused and gave his all on the first one (also the longest and most complex), and then had nothing left for the other two. Again, an indication that 8-y-olds don't have the attention/retention span needed to complete 3 tests in a single school day (especially right before a holiday break). I told T how proud I was of his effort and how his studying earned the reward, and didn't mention either of the other tests at all. There's only so much one can ask of a third grader - too bad the school doesn't understand that yet.

Kris

[rosyred45]

Give T a high five for me!!! Alot of our kids here had tests on the Thursday before school got out. I think the teacher's wanted to be able to get the last minute holiday stuff out of the way. Can't say as I blame them.

Well, kids getting off to school, have a Nice chilly day all
Kaiti

[dansmommy]

my ds's school doesn't have ABCDF grading, so maybe I'm missing something, but what would happen if you told your ds and his teacher that you don't care what grades he gets until he's taking high school level courses or foreign languages because no one will ever look at these grades anyway? Of course there should be a disclaimer somewhere that what's important is if he's learning. Since kids develop at such different rates and handwriting and attention issues vary so much at this age, it seems unfair to make a big deal about grades. DS's having a writing assessment next week, and I told him to do his best, but that the purpose of the test is to see how well the school is doing its job teaching him. NOW it just depends what the topic is. We should practice making his bed because he had an idea it might be about describing the steps for making a bed! christie