School Policy...*(&^&%!!!!!

[Sonoran Silkies]

I have no idea what NCLB is. I assume some mandated test in your state.

I personally have no problems with the idea of teaching to the test. If it is material that a child should know at a certain level, then testing for it, and teaching to it shouldn't be a problem. If it is not someting that a child should know, then it shouldn't be tested. I do have problems with some of the tests, and some testing procedures. To a certain extent the amount of time spent testing should be controlled.

Thorough, planned well in advance, teaching plans have been a part of teaching requirements as long as I can remember.

 

[Camelot Farms]

We have SOL's in our state...Standards Of Learning. That is how schools/teachers and students are measured.

For example, one of the SOL's that I remember from DD's Kindergarten is George Washington was the 1st President. That was something that she had to be able to repeat back during SOL testing.

Schools have to teach to the test or they lose funding opportunities. Education has become a political wrench and our teachers and children are paying the price for it.

DS is 19 and he laughed when DD told him that 3rd grade was hard. Then she pulled out some of her 'stuff' and he was silenced! He told her that some of the things that she does in 3rd grade, he didnt have to do til 5th.

Long gone is fingerpainting, paste, playdough, naps, snacks and general socializing for younger children....

 

[Lucky Ducky]

NCLB= No Child Left Behind

 

[babylady4]

My oldest DD was punushed every week in first grade for her personality. The teacher gave out behavior reports on Fridays and my daughter never got anything higher than needs improvement... Super Duper was the highest level and her friends would always get them.....

Even the last week of school.... I wanted to kick this woman to the curb for emotionally beating this child up every single week!

 

[citrusdreams]

Quote:
While I'm sure some people would disagree, I completely agree with you here. I was kept home in instances like this too. I think kids need to learn a lot of things, but stressing over money at that age isn't the way.

IMOHO, giving a child an allowance, based on jobs done, and requiring them to save a percentage of it, no matter how much they earned, is a better lesson in money management. They learn they have to save, they learn they have to earn, they learn if they want more they have to do more chores. There are no credit cards, no loans, nothing but what they have in their hand after saving. I don't believe the situation you're describing teaches them anything but discrimination. But that's MOHO, I'm sure others would disagree.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
While I'm sure some people would disagree, I completely agree with you here. I was kept home in instances like this too. I think kids need to learn a lot of things, but stressing over money at that age isn't the way.

IMOHO, giving a child an allowance, based on jobs done, and requiring them to save a percentage of it, no matter how much they earned, is a better lesson in money management. They learn they have to save, they learn they have to earn, they learn if they want more they have to do more chores. There are no credit cards, no loans, nothing but what they have in their hand after saving. I don't believe the situation you're describing teaches them anything but discrimination. But that's MOHO, I'm sure others would disagree.

I agree with you!

 

[Whispering Winds]

We don't have the strike rule, but my third grader has coupons they get to collect, and he is so excited because if he is good all week, he gets a $5 voucher. When he has collected $50 worth he gets to go to the office and "buy" a tee or a toy that his prin. has in stock. He is so motivated about this. He was also horrified because one of the kids that is a behavioral mess, and should have been held back in K and parents wouldn't agree, lost three of his "weekly" tickets they get for behaviour. All on the first full dayof school.

As far as being a good parent, I want to be accountable for him, I want to be there for the teacher's meetings and whatever else I can do to help, but I hate the thought of him being penalized because of something I forgot to do . . .I am glad I don't have to sign an agenda yet. That starts in 7th grade as far as I know where we live.

I still say the best thing in life is a plan. Have a sunny day plan and a rainy day plan and things just fall into place a whole lot better.

As far as poverty, yes it can and does affect a child's learning. My dear friend is a second grade teacher and she told me one time that she is very careful about how she talks to a child, as she has no idea of what that child came to school from. How true. If some little kid is worrying about his mommy being beat on the night before, or his little belly is empty because he wasn't able to eat that morning, then its going to affect his ability to learn. Just because the schools have free meals doesn't mean that the paperwork was filled out and he is able to eat. There is paperwork that HAS to be filled out before they are allowed to eat, they have to be put in their financial "category" bad as I hate to say it. My friend I just mentioned has a little boy in her class who has come to school with NO supplies whatsoever, and the Curves in town has a wonderful owner who donates $300 worth of supplies to our little school, and when my friend told this sad little boy who hadn't smiled yet, that she was going to get him his very own backpack, he smiled for the first time. It's heartbreaking what some of these children endure in their short little lives. Think his mom would be there to sign something? Doubtful.

 

[Emzyyy]

We had Green light, Yellow Light, and Red Light when we got in trouble and just had to stay in for recess on red. Im now in a highschool of more than 2,000 kids in as many halls as A-Q and with that many halls its hard to keep an eye on all these kids.

 

[briana1975]

Quote:
That is funny emzyyy, I use a traffic light at home for behavior issues.

 

[fowltemptress]

Quote:
Wow . . . we had that a long time ago. Weird how some things don't change.

I remember just going to sharpen my pencil and switching mine back to green, since the teacher rarely bothered to remember that I'd been a brat. But it was always my own fault . . . nothing Mom did (or failed to do) would earn me a yellow or red.