The Homework Battle!

[poky]

You just say all the letters! That's why I love it!!

Yup. From my HS spanish: vowels are "ah" "eh" "ee" "oh" "ooh", and emphasis is always on the next-to-last syllable unless there's an accent mark somewhere else in the word. You'll get *really* close with just that.

[madeintaiwan]

I feel; however, that the policy of schools to dictate what I do in MY home with MY children in MY freetime is unjust.

This bothered me. There are jobless, homeless, starving, abused, and undereducated people in this country. I would never call the requirement of homework UNJUST. It's homework. There are battles and actual injustices that are far greater to me that I'm not going to get all twisted up about homework.

That said. It's your home, your free time , your children and YOU have the choice whether or not to have your children do homework. I can get on board with THAT. I'm just not into the whole my kid should get a homework pass just because I don't believe in it. Like you said, it's only 10% of her grade, who cares if she doesn't get straight A's in the 2nd grade. Sounds like you were able to get it worked out.

I don't know if I understand the rationale behind all the take your child out of public school and pay for private school or homeschool opinions.

Because you dictate the curriculum and requirements when you homeschool, and might have more pull or say in a private school. Yes, our tax dollars pay for the public schools, but that doesn't mean we create the curriculum or rules unless we work there or run for the school board.

I'm curious if you've discussed this with the teachers in your family and/or asked how they would feel if they'd received a similar edict from one of their parents?

[Vanquisher]

Yes, and both elementary teachers don't give out homework. My mother, a recipient of teacher of the year, gave me the book titles and research.

They agree that homework has gotten out of control and are also against it for all levels of student abilities.


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[AmeliePoulain]

Jenn-

Here's an example- Vive. In French, it's Vivvvvvvvvvv. In Spanish it's ViVAY. I can't wrap my head around it!

J.

It's more like vee-veh. It's great your child is in this program. My sister teaches spanish immersion and there is always a long waiting list. She has applied what she teaches with her own 3 year old from the beginning and my niece switches back and forth with ease and remembes who only speaks spanish. My sister has been telling her "en espanol" since she started talking. When she started talking she would say things like "brinca, jump!" (while jumping) or "mir, sleep!" when she was sleepy. It was funny that she would say both words. The last time I talked to her on the phone she talked to me in english the whole time and I could hear my sister saying "en espanol" but once she knows you speak english she only talks to you in english. I asked her in spanish "why don't you talk to me in spanish" she said "because I'm going to go to school and I have to speak english" lol. My sister says she has no idea where she got that. She wants to start her in the spanish immersion program as well.

I also apply spanish in learning french. It is very similar but what I have sooo much trouble with is the pronounciation because in spanish everything is pronounced exactly as it is written, not so in french.

[DCJenn]

As long as I've got google translate with a microphone in the computer, I'm all set.

The Spanish program is at our local elementary school. It's an in-district charter academy (academy here means "through 8th grade") If it was Chinese, or Russian or whatever, he'd be going because it's two streets over from our house. I do think it's a pretty cool thing though- the goal is that they'll all be equally fluent in both languages by 4th grade.

Jenn

[AmeliePoulain]

As long as I've got google translate with a microphone in the computer, I'm all set.

The Spanish program is at our local elementary school. It's an in-district charter academy (academy here means "through 8th grade") If it was Chinese, or Russian or whatever, he'd be going because it's two streets over from our house. I do think it's a pretty cool thing though- the goal is that they'll all be equally fluent in both languages by 4th grade.

Jenn

You are right. Learning a second language is a great intellectual achievement no matter which language. I really hope to one day be fluent in French.

[AmeliePoulain]

I had a HS Psych teacher that would constantly say "you can pick your nose, you can pick your friends, hell you can even pick your friends' nose, but you can't pick your family!" kind of like your signature line.

[PrincessFiona]

I have to say that my experience with the Fl schools was painful. They do give s level of busywork that is obnoxious. I often wondered if it is because of their low ranking. When Andrew was in KindeegRten his teacher was a homework nazi. The kids also had to perform multiple classroom plays and memorize lines etc. The last play was attended by only 2 parents and me. At the end of the year an organized teacher put together a petition and most parents signed it. From what I hear, things aren't much different. Sometimes schools are receptive though.

[Vanquisher]

So, after hearing from the teacher that it wasn't gonna change, and me deciding not to change either and talk to the principal sometime soon, all parents have received three-four e-mails regarding this issue.


The homework packet that is going home this week does not have the comprehension and grammar activities. Instead, it has suggestions of activities you can do at home (not graded). As a grade level, we decided to try this route in order to alleviate time spent on work outside of school. Please let me know how this goes this week.

Then this one:

We have changed the format of our homework!!!:} No more extra worksheets! But this means you need to review the papers that come home so your child still gets extra practice on the skills taught!
Reading for 20 minutes, spelling activities (which are necessary for the test), math practice sheets and 1 minute oral reading nightly.

Then this one:


Also, beginning next week, we will be having a pretest each Monday in Spelling. If your child gets 10 out of 10 correct on the pretest, he or she will be exempt from Spelling homework activities. We will still be focusing on the spelling patterns during the school day, so there would be no need to work on those at home.

Me (and probably some other parents) = winning!


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[Phoebe]

yeah! Squeaky wheel gets the grease!

[scrub-jay]

Wow H, that is great news!! How is the actual homework load panning out for A? Do you think other parents complained too?

[v-girl]

Yay!

[ides]

Great!

[ladymoreta]

That's awesome! I'm so glad it sounds like she actually listened instead of just getting defensive like some teachers might. It sounds like she's going to be a great teacher!