I thought this might be fun or interesting. I am an elementary school teacher certified in K-6th grade. I want to offer to answer any questions you may have ever wanted to ask a teacher. No rules, ANYTHING and EVERYTHING is allowed don't be afraid. Ask away....
Educators helping me with this thread are:
*Sarahjoy
*Staysinvegas
*Maxswolfsuit
Please PM me if your question goes unanswered as sometimes they're accidentally overlooked. Thanks!
Quoting mom0092:
Good question
Due to No Child Left Behind, we are required to have the entire class at or above the same mastery of standards at the same time. This makes it difficult to challenge other students who are above their level. We can't work with a student who is above level to challenge them if another student over there is reading on a Kindergarten level. It's difficult to provide a totally different lesson plan for a single child. I do try to challenge the students who need it. I suggest you look into any challenge programs your daughter's school may offer.
This is exactly why we will be homeschooling starting this fall. My school age children (pre-k, attending K in the fall; and K, attending 1st in the fall) are extremely bored in school, though thankfully are not to the point of getting into trouble...Yet. They have already mastered all of the skills and subjects presented, before going into school. However, I was told that they (the school) could not officially SAY that my children had mastered them (even though they had) , until all the other children in their grade level mastered them as well.
They also refused to move them up any grade levels or give them advanced work, because it "may alienate them from their peer group". Where else, except school, are we forced to mingle and socialize ONLY with people of our same age? Ugh.
Does your teach in a traditional education model or in a more contemporary educational model, i.e. Montessori, international baccalaureate, language immersion, dual immersion, Waldorf, etc.?
Do you think the effectiveness of different educational models depend on the way the student learns or how the school executes on the model? Or have you seen any difference at all between the different models?
Quoting mom0092:
Quoting Meal:
how often do let the parents know if a child has not turned in his or hers homework? what do you think of a parent requesting a weekly list of items due for the week?
I have had so many students who never completed schoolwork and/or homework. When they don't do work that I know they can do, they miss out on needed practice. I let parents know ASAP. I try for the same day. It's actually a disciplinary issue in my classroom so parents surely know when I send home weekly behavior reports. I try not to assign homework unless it's unavoidable but I always let parents know when I do. I would be MORE THAN HAPPY to provide a list of what is due for a parent who wished to know. As I have said so many times, BACK-UP THE TEACHER. I would LOVE it if more parents cared enough to make sure their child was completing his or her work.
OK thank you the reason i am asking is because I have asked over4 times for her to email me or send me something about the assignments so instead she waits until the last week of school to send me an email stating he is mising 15 pages of homework!!! I NEVER KNEW EXISTED. I am just so frustrated because i knew my child and was trying to keep this from happening and it did!! he does not have the time to make it up!! as they are out of class on thursday @915 am.... So i asked my son aboutt the assignments he swears he turned most of them in there are a few he said he didnt do or finish but cannot find them now. she has lost things before because i have handed some of his work to her because he fergot it at home and such and she has tried calling me a liar about it....
Quoting 0123456:Do you expect some sort of problem from kids from single-parent homes?
I wouldn't say I expect a "problem". But I do expect other things, especially in kids who are not well-adjusted to having only one parent around. (or the PARENT isn't adjusted to being the only parent.) I am a single mom of two boys ages 7 & 9 myself so I feel I have a better connection and understanding with those students/parents. I don't know why you ask but considering I am quite knowledgeable on the topic. If you would like or need to elaborate more on this let me know. Message me or something. :-)
My daughter (1st grade) is having problems with controlling her talking in class. I have a post about it on this forum but I would really appreciate a teachers view. Long story short, she is an honor roll student and very sweet, just talks too much. What do you think could be done in the classroom and at home that could help her, or is it just an age thing? Here's a link to my post in case you're curious.
Quoting Barabell:Does your teach in a traditional education model or in a more contemporary educational model, i.e. Montessori, international baccalaureate, language immersion, dual immersion, Waldorf, etc.?
Do you think the effectiveness of different educational models depend on the way the student learns or how the school executes on the model? Or have you seen any difference at all between the different models?
I am not clear on exactly what you are asking....
Quoting kameka:My daughter (1st grade) is having problems with controlling her talking in class. I have a post about it on this forum but I would really appreciate a teachers view. Long story short, she is an honor roll student and very sweet, just talks too much. What do you think could be done in the classroom and at home that could help her, or is it just an age thing? Here's a link to my post in case you're curious.
I had to giggle at your post because it seems that the sweet, bright, and intelligent kids are almost always talkers. I have had many in my class and I am the mother of one. I like to believe they are just full of knowledge, wisdom, and life and they want to share it! :-) If she is well behaved other than her talking issue, I honestly wouldn't worry too much, especially at the 1st grade level. There's not much you can do especially if she is behaving in all other areas. If the talking alone is in fact extremely excessive and a big issue, first try some positive motivation. Clearly explain that if she goes a day without getting in trouble for talking she'll get to pick one toy from the Dollar Tree (or whatever you think of). If that doesn't work it might take a little more tough love. Again I wouldn't worry, as you said, she will most likely be able to control herself better as she gets a little older. First graders are a chatty bunch to start with. Let me know if I answered your concern well enough. :-)
Quoting Meal:
OK thank you the reason i am asking is because I have asked over4 times for her to email me or send me something about the assignments so instead she waits until the last week of school to send me an email stating he is mising 15 pages of homework!!! I NEVER KNEW EXISTED. I am just so frustrated because i knew my child and was trying to keep this from happening and it did!! he does not have the time to make it up!! as they are out of class on thursday @915 am.... So i asked my son aboutt the assignments he swears he turned most of them in there are a few he said he didnt do or finish but cannot find them now. she has lost things before because i have handed some of his work to her because he fergot it at home and such and she has tried calling me a liar about it....
I can't believe she is still wanting work this late in the year. Because of NCLB lots of school districts will not let teachers give students a zero on missing assignments. I made sure I had all my students' work in by last Monday. I didn't want to deal with tons of last-minute grading. I don't take true grades on homework to start with. You either did it and got a 100, or you didn't and got a 0. I can't speak for his teacher because for all I know, she may or may not be a nut-case but the number ONE famous response when I ask a student about missing work is"
STUDENT: "Oh gee?....Well I turned it in!"
ME: "Well, you still have it because I don't."
They will then look or pretend to look through their folder(s) and upon not finding it:
STUDENT: "I turned it in so you must have lost it."
I'm not saying this is the case with you at all but 99% of the time, I will look through the student's folders myself and guess what I find? That 2 month old worksheet that was never even completed. SHOCKING! I hope you can work something out with your kiddo, I am a mom too, been there, done that, hate that.
Quoting YuppyMom:Why is it, that schools do not make it common knowledge that kindergarten is not mandatory when this is the case?
Every U.S. state has laws that require any child between 6 and 17 years of age to attend a public or private school. Even though a child might be very smart, it is not a good idea for them to start school with the first grade. As a result the child would probably have difficulty adjusting to a school environment. Basic things like getting along, following rules, and socializing are introduced in kindergarten as well as other skills vital to success in first grade and the years beyond.
Please note that Kindergarten IS mandatory in many states including Alaska, Arizona*, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland,Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina*, Tennessee, and Virginia.
*State offers waiver under special circumstances. (Usually medical etc.)
A first grade teacher who I work with received a student who had moved to our state only in the 2nd week of first grade in her home state which did not require Kindergarten attendance. Her mother for whatever reason did not send her to kindergarten while also not taking any time to teach her basic kindergarten skills. This child in first grade in our state ended up having to be placed in kindergarten because she could not write or read what so ever. I recommend sending kids to kindergarten.
Age appropriate chores
- mom0092
on May. 24, 2010 at 12:02 AM