Am I crazy or does this seem like a huge project UPDATE pg 3

[DizBelle]

So there's no value to work unless it has a grade attached to it?

I think of busy work as colouring, crossword puzzles, etc. Since this assignment appears to have educational value, I think it would be a good experience for the kids.

Um, coloring and crossword puzzles have educational value. Why do you think they don't?

 

[Tink9721]

It's school! 180 days, that's all. I can see having a little fun on the last day of school, but I don't get the idea that school work should end because it is close to the end of the year.

I plan accordingly, I have enough grades, but my students have assignments, tests, homework, etc. up until the last day of school. To be honest, my kids appreciate the structure. No complaints from them or the parents that I am aware of. I know some teachers that don't teach on Friday afternoons because it's Friday .

Let me clarify what I meant. I don't think that kids should do nothing the last week of school, but I think for 5th graders, that's too much work for that short period of time.

 

[daisyduck123]

It's only 5th grade.

I would let my kid skip the project & stay home that last week.

It's been a tough year...may as well start vacation early.

(1st grade public school teacher )

 

[Tink9721]

It's only 5th grade.

I would let my kid skip the project & stay home that last week.

It's been a tough year...may as well start vacation early.

(1st grade public school teacher )

Even when I was in 8th grade, we didn't do any work the last 2 or 3 days of school. 5th graders should get to have fun while they still can, before they get to high school

 

[Ohiodislover]

OP back.

Well, I was mistaken. I thought they would have 3 days this week in the classroom to work on the group project. They only have 1, Yesterday, today and tomorrow, they do not have class d/t other end of the year events. The only day they were given to work on the project was Monday. On Friday they have a test.

So far, we cannot find an evening where everyone can meet. Still trying to figure out a place/time over the weekend. This weekend is HS graduation so a bit busy for people. My daughter has an end of the year sleepover/party from Sat afternoon till Sun at noon. I will not make her miss it for a project, and the other mothers feel the same. We have 2 graduation open houses on Sat, and one on Sun to attend also.

At least all the kids read the book over the weekend. The were able to discuss which essay questions each will answer on Monday, and chose what chapters they will act out, and who will play what.

Like I said earlier, I have no problem working till the end of school. But rushing at the end with a group project is not working out (at least for the group my dd is in). I still don't feel like the teacher is being fair or realistic to ASSUME that the kids have the time outside of class on such short notice.

I would have even taken The Hobbit project this week instead of this one. At least my daughter's grade wouldn't have been dependent on others.

 

[agnes!]

Just thought of something...are the kids bringing props and maybe wearing simple (SIMPLE) costume pieces? Maybe your DD could bring her sword and all the kids could wear a hat or a robe or something that would represent their particular character? I would have the kids do ANYTHING that is easy/simple, independent of trying to get together and that would dress up their reader's theatre presentation. Oh! and if you have a party store around or Halloween stuff, see if you can find toy beards for the bearded characters.

The kids could print out the book-title and chapter-titles on regular computer-paper, someone could come through before the scene and 'present' each selection (haha, like the ring-girls for boxing and wresting). A (simple, remember?) program with a listing of the scenes & parts-played, could be done up by a 5th-grader on their computer fairly easily...I'm trying to think of basically window-dressing or little bits the kids could do without too much effort that would (in effect) "frame" their presentation and flesh it out. Like when you're writing a paper for class and you put a title-page with an illustration on the front... you're "framing" your work and saying to the reader or to your audience "I thought my work was good enough to put in a 'frame'" and the audience (including the grading-teacher) will tend to have an even better opinion of the work that's been done.

agnes!

 

[MushyMushy]

OP back.

Well, I was mistaken. I thought they would have 3 days this week in the classroom to work on the group project. They only have 1, Yesterday, today and tomorrow, they do not have class d/t other end of the year events. The only day they were given to work on the project was Monday. On Friday they have a test.

So far, we cannot find an evening where everyone can meet. Still trying to figure out a place/time over the weekend. This weekend is HS graduation so a bit busy for people. My daughter has an end of the year sleepover/party from Sat afternoon till Sun at noon. I will not make her miss it for a project, and the other mothers feel the same. We have 2 graduation open houses on Sat, and one on Sun to attend also.

At least all the kids read the book over the weekend. The were able to discuss which essay questions each will answer on Monday, and chose what chapters they will act out, and who will play what.

Like I said earlier, I have no problem working till the end of school. But rushing at the end with a group project is not working out (at least for the group my dd is in). I still don't feel like the teacher is being fair or realistic to ASSUME that the kids have the time outside of class on such short notice.

I would have even taken The Hobbit project this week instead of this one. At least my daughter's grade wouldn't have been dependent on others.

Okay, I've changed my mind -- the project is too much.

If it was all to be done in class, then it would have been a great way for the teacher to end the year. But having to meet after school and having NO time in the classroom? No, it's over the top.

I'm not a fan of group projects that are to be done after school, even if it's something as simple as an essay question and reader's theater.

 

[DizBelle]

Even when I was in 8th grade, we didn't do any work the last 2 or 3 days of school. 5th graders should get to have fun while they still can, before they get to high school

Are you serious? Aren't the kids going to have fun on their summer vacation from school?

I don't have a problem with the project itself but it certainly does not seem like enough time was allowed to get it done. The teacher should have assigned it 2 weeks earlier at least.

 

[jrmasm]

OP, if I misunderstood, I apologize but regardless of how miserable the situation is, my children's social life does not come before their school work. Even at the end of the school year.

This would be a Tim Gunn 'make it work' situation.

 

[Teacher03]

Okay, I've changed my mind -- the project is too much.

If it was all to be done in class, then it would have been a great way for the teacher to end the year. But having to meet after school and having NO time in the classroom? No, it's over the top.

I'm not a fan of group projects that are to be done after school, even if it's something as simple as an essay question and reader's theater.

Me too! It sounds like a great project, but enough class time should be given for it to be completed in school.

 

[Scurvy]

Okay, I've changed my mind -- the project is too much.

If it was all to be done in class, then it would have been a great way for the teacher to end the year. But having to meet after school and having NO time in the classroom? No, it's over the top.

I'm not a fan of group projects that are to be done after school, even if it's something as simple as an essay question and reader's theater.

I agree. This sounds like incredibly poor planning on the teacher's part.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

Me too! It sounds like a great project, but enough class time should be given for it to be completed in school.

Yes, I agree. I originally assumed that the group component could be done during class time. I agree that it is unrealistic to try to coordinate kids' schedules with such little notice.

OP - let's hope the kids will be given the bulk of the day on Monday to work on the assignment. If that is the case, I still think that it is very doable. It should only take the kids a couple of hours to iron out the skits.

I must say, though, that I also fall into the 'suck it up' category of parenting. Life isn't always fair, and having to work when others are having fun is just something we have to get used to. My child would be doing the project even if it meant curtailing some of the fun activities she had scheduled over the weekend. YMMV.

 

[Tink9721]

Are you serious? Aren't the kids going to have fun on their summer vacation from school?

I don't have a problem with the project itself but it certainly does not seem like enough time was allowed to get it done. The teacher should have assigned it 2 weeks earlier at least.

They're in 5th grade! I didn't mean the whole last week, just one day. Why is that so ridiculous? I have no problem with the fact that as a high school junior, I work right up to the final bell, but I think in 5th grade you can work for 179 days and have fun for 1.

I don't have a problem with it either, but I agree they should have more time.

 

[diznygirl]

OP - too bad you don't have my son's teacher. She assigned a project that was due the last week of school. When they ran out of time to present she gave them all an A. Easiest A ever.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I just had one finish fifth grade. After reading this thread, I am so glad all group projects have been done in class!!

I am wondering if the teacher could be saying these are to be really simple skits. If the kids have a chance to talk in class, they could write their part at home by themselves. They wouldn't necessarily have to get together.

I say this because we had an invention project that had a very short time frame. There must have been some complaints because we got an e-mail that the kids had been told that these were supposed to be simple to make such as using cardboard. They weren't supposed to make the actual invention.

I agree it seems like a lot to try and coordinate schedules in such a short time!

 

[JVL1018]

Book reports are only boring if you make them boring. DD17 makes video reports all the time. Or power points. They are very interesting. When I taught 3rd grade I had the kids do book reports every 6 weeks. Usually they had some sort of project attached to it, like making a poster or acting out part of it. The best book reports were the Cereal Box book reports. They covered an empty cereal box with paper and made it look like a book, with the title on the side and on the front, maybe some pictures. On the back of the box they had to write the the 5 Ws & an H--short paragraphs, cuz it 's on a cereal box. I would line them up on the window sill like a book shelf and you'd be surprised how they would draw kids in. They just couldn't help but pick them up and read the book reports.

Hey my 4th grade daughter finished one like that for May. I don't think she's had a regular book report all year-there is one due each month and they are all fun and interesting and the kids love to do them--well my kid anyway.