Let's be honest~~

[vickilyn32]

Forgot to add, for the mask, use a piece of aluminum foil to put over her face and mold it to her face. Use that as the beginning of the mask. lay it on newspaper, and put the paper mache over the aluminum foil. After it dryes, paint it.

[StrugglingAgain]

MY ds had to make a mask of a character in a book he read. The book was Davey Crockett. The teacher suggested using a paper bag, but no holes for eyes because she wanted to hang them up. We opted to use a small box (just the size to fit over his head) and COVERED it with brown paper. We needed to use the box so that there was a hard form to glue the fake fur on that we found at a craft store to make a coon skin cap. It wouldn't have stayed being glued only on a paper bag. WELL, just to put it mildly, she couldn't hang his because it was toooooo heavy. He was devastated!!!! Once again, the "mask" cost us about $10 AND dh and I had to do 90% of it. And afterall.....let's NOT think out of the box!!!! I have no idea what these children are supposed to learn....most of the children in the neighborhood's parents did theirs also. **Sigh** WE already did the third grade!!

[mskris]

Well, now, IMO, the creative assignments are much more fun and easier to get my ds to do. He's very artistic, so anything that requires drawing, painting, etc. he is very willing to do, and can mostly do by himself! LOL, plus, it's more fun for all of us.

I'd much rather have him have to do a poster than write a paper. Yes, I still have to help him with the main ideas, but once he's on the way, he can take off with it.

I guess we're all different. I agree, though, projects like that do require some guidance from us parents, and the younger the kids are, the more guidance required. I don't remember my parents helping me much with homework, except to brainstorm. My mom did help me out with math sometimes, but otherwise, I was a self-starter. I was artistic, too, so there weren't creative problems. By 8th grade I was typing, so Mom no longer typed up my papers, either.

I guess the question is whether the curriculum today is harder or not. I think they've just pushed it to younger and younger ages - so what they expect of 3rd graders they can't do on their own, whereas a 6th grader could, KWIM?

CamisMom: go to the craft store and get beads and string to make jewelry. Also try clay (she could make clay beads and then string them). Do a "rainstick" made from a paper towel roll and dried beans or peas (cover each end with self-stick labels), and have her paint and decorate it with beads and feathers. For the mask you can use paper mache (that gets messy, though), or maybe clay for that, too? Now THIS project I could have some fun with! he, he.

Kris

[camismom]

Well, all these are great suggestions and I appreciate them all.... I guess the point I was trying to make is that they have projects like this alot and all require us spending money. Fortunately we are able to do so.... but I know nt all parents are. It just bothers me sometimes that these teachers seem to be in the frame of mind that we can all just take off to the craft store and buy the items needed whenever they want us to. It's the same as them being given homework often that requires internet research. Well, what about the kids that don't have computers at home?? Believe it or not, there are still people out there that don't... ya know? And besides, these artisitic type project might be more fun for some.... it all just depends on if our children know what to do, which 9 out of 10 I'm betting don't, so parents have to step in and help. Heck, I've already "served" my 12 years... I don't want to have to do it again!!

[rosyred45]

Oh as you are talking of the standards and stuff and curiculum. Just want to say that I think they are trying to go-go-go, when all of the kids are so exausted.

In the thread about Mikey's desk, the kids are being taught charcter ed and all of that too. Which is fine, but they need to go back to teaching regular old memorization. That's just my opinion anyhow. Get back to basics.

It needs to go back, when I was in school just learning basics, figure it out to memorize it. You did it your way. 5+2=7......you could put 5 pencils out then add 2 more, you could use your fingers and toes, use objects.

For some reason Mikey learns things better when it is concrete, but when he has it down, he's got it. They aren't leaving room for different learning styles and it's hurting the kids.

Man, I'm dreading science fair time

[camismom]

rosyred45 said:

Man, I'm dreading science fair time

Oh yeah... Science Fair project are fun! ...... NOT!

[mskris]

CamisMom:

You are sooo right about the money issue! I am sick and tired of paying high taxes and then being asked to send in money for, oh, lets see:

The fundraiser
Bake sales
Pretzel sales on Weds
Homeroom parties
Projects (either buy or send $)
School supplies (either buy or send $)
Book sales

Auuuuuggggghhhh! You're right, we can afford it, but I'm sure there are some who can't. When I was a kid, the school provided pencils, paper, crayons, clay, etc. We did buy our own notebooks and pens in the higher grades, though. It gets ridiculous! And when you have more than one kid in the school....it sure adds up!

Kris

[rosyred45]

What cracks me up around here is the way the parents are abou the school parties. They try to one up each other for ideas because they want their kids to be the most popular.

Heck I'd just like it if my kid could fit IN, as I typed that, NO, I don't want my kid to fit in that way, I want him to be his own person not drobbling on with the crowd.

I laughed last year, the parents threw a shower for the teacher. I had to go out and get something for her.... not that the idea isn't nice, but when I already have the Non edible items to buy for all the parties, it gets a little old

Off the box