Homework and teacher conference
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Homework and teacher conference
| Fri, 10-15-2004 - 10:04am |
Well, there wasn't a venting icon. I'm not really angry, just disgusted. We had parent teacher conferences last night and the good news is that dd's doing very well and far beyond where she needs to be at this point to meet the reading proficiency by the end of the year--no surprise to me as she likes reading just for fun. But we talked to the teacher about the homework situation which has gotten really irritating and is causing terrible friction at home. If you add in her reading of 15 minutes a night requirement and her math facts of 10 minutes (both of which the parent is supposed to do with her and record on logs) that's already 25 minutes. Then there is other homework that takes between at least 15-20 minutes. Hmmm, I'm no math whiz but last time I checked that's more than 20 minutes of homework which is what is listed in the school handbook as the expectation for 2nd graders. We have 2 hours for our family in the evenings before bedtime counting eating dinner. So we brought this up with the teacher and basically she said that they had to just ignore the handbook because testing of these kids at the end of the year means they have to do it at home otherwise "It's all on us the teachers" and Hello, that's their job! I do understand the pressure she feels from standardized tests but it also irritates me that if that's the case she should be focusing energy on doing as much as she can in classtime and working for a more reasonable school schedule (dd has been in school since Aug. 17th and has had 5-6 days off already not to mention the fact that school is out at 2:30 and they've got 3 solid weeks off at Christmas, then a couple legal holidays, mid winter break, spring break, and then days here and there)and spending less of their school time in fun day movie time (and I'm not talking educational films here, I'm talking Disney movies). It just irritated me that basically she told us, "I feel pressure so I think parents should do have the teaching" literally she did tell us that the learning does have to take place at home. I know a couple of you are teachers and I'm not trying to offend but it was irritating to just get excuses rather than real problem solving feedback. Dh basically told her that sometimes she's going to have to expect dd's homework packet to come back incomplete because it was stressing out us, causing dd to get all stressed out and us fighting with her, and making her not like school and she does well and likes to learn so we're not willing to let the homework issue ruin that. And the teacher seemed okay with that, we'll see. Of course we'll continue to do our best but really need to keep a balance. Thankfully, both dh and I have talk college so we could approach it on a good level and some sympathy for the frustration she may feel in trying to keep the kids focued.

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I was in 10th grade, we didn't have the internet (I don't know anyone who did at that point in time!) and I did a report on Austria. I had to have an "authentic" Austrian recipe (and bratwurst and saurkraut wouldn't do!) and cook it and bring it in. I searched through every book my library had, and ended up having to go to the university library (my parents had to take me - I wasn't 16, couldn't drive!) and we finally found a book that had some Austrian recipes. So we picked the easiest one we could find. Almond croissants. We tried very hard to make them - but they turned out AWFUL. The day I was supposed to bring it to class, we ended up buying croissants from the store, smearing them with honey, and sprinking almonds on them. LOL. NOT AT ALL like the recipe. I ended up getting a decent grade - but I worked very hard on that report and was so upset that I wasn't given a grade I felt I deserved because we couldn't cook the croissants and I couldn't get a real Austrian flag (I made one - but it wasn't REAL - my parents couldn't afford the REAL one!)
The girl that got an A - ugh. She did a report on Japan. She was a wealthy girl from a very wealthy family, and her father traveled to Japan CONSTANTLY. She brought in a real Japanese flag, Japanese money, Japanese magazines, a real kimono, real makeup and hairpieces Geishas wore, AND, her father paid 4 chefs from the local benihana's (I kid you not!) to come in and set up in the multipurpose room and they cooked chicken fried rice for the entire class. The thing that REALLY frustrated me? The paper part of her report? The actual PAPER? Was 2 pages shorter than required and she copied it straight out of a travel guide!!!!! IT is all about buying an A.
Ah yes, the life is not fair lesson. So important. Such a shame to learn it in that way!
My 6 year old has an hour of homework every night. It's really pathetic!!!!
Mindy
http://cosmosandcranium.blogspot.com/
LOL!!!! I remember you talking about that other assignment Maggie. I thought this all sounded familiar. BUT...who doesn't like clam chowder!!!???
I am supposed to be watching what I eat, and I am doing well. But I've a can of progresso clam chower screaming my name in the cupboard at home. (I am too lazy to make the real deal. And if I did? Well, it'd be all Tyler and I. And he and I are the last people that need it!)
OK, so I got the excellent college education, I got a well paying job, but I still do my own laundry and housework. ;)
Min, that experience with the rich girl and her four Benihana chefs...unreal!!!
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