Educational opportunities?

[Scherzermk]

My second grader will be missing 6 days of school for our eastern Caribbean cruise in May. I want to come up with a list of educational experiences that could replace some of her schoolwork. So far, I have Kennedy Space Center and the butterfly garden (they did life cycle of the butterfly this year). I know this is a great experience for her. I am not really worried about what she misses, but I don't want to spend the rest of the year on makeup work.
Any ideas to pitch to the teacher? Tia

 

[TestingH2O]

While travel is a great life experience and creates important family memories, when you look at a Disney cruise, you're not talking about an educational trip. I don't think anyone will argue that it isn't important but it isn't a replacement for school.

Seeing the space center or butterfly garden would certainly be educational. You could even argue there's a chance to look at geography and engineering.

At its core though, this is a vacation. Teachers carefully design curriculum to help students progress through a set of skills over the course of a year. I would hope, as a parent, you would respect their professionalism and instead ask how to best partner with the school to support your daughter catching up in a timely manner. Perhaps, instead of trying to avoid make up work, ask what she could do ahead.

 

[ajo]

When we've missed school days for vacations, we always ask the teachers in advance if there is any work that can be completed either before we leave or before we return. The response has varied depending on the teacher, but we've done everything from no school work at all to doing all of the homework for that time period. When we missed days in second grade, the teacher gave us a "travel packet" to complete. It was a way to document the vacation in fun ways, e.g., name something on your vacation with each letter from A to Z.

 

[Kimberly9701]

When we've missed school days for vacations, we always ask the teachers in advance if there is any work that can be completed either before we leave or before we return. The response has varied depending on the teacher, but we've done everything from no school work at all to doing all of the homework for that time period. When we missed days in second grade, the teacher gave us a "travel packet" to complete. It was a way to document the vacation in fun ways, e.g., name something on your vacation with each letter from A to Z.

Oh my goodness you were lucky!!!
This year when my KINDERGARTEN son missed 2 weeks of school due to our vacation.. I asked if I could bring homework with us - I would much rather spend a little time per day doing that rather than doing makeup work.
She informed me that she didn't have the lesson plans yet and to just go enjoy our vacay.. We did leave within 12 days of school starting, so I though "Ok maybe they won't have.a lot of homework In beginning of year." And went on our merry way.

This is what I was handed the first day we returned to school- along with a "he missed 10 days of school so he has 10 days to make it up." And his Pearsons (an online reading site that they have to do 30 minutes per night) has been updated as well, so he can just double up on that. Then she smiled. I was FLOORED. He's FIVE years old! And had, at that time, 3-4 days of 2 hour per day football.

Needless to say, the next 2 weeks were not fun.

 

[TrySomethingNew]

We've talked with the teacher ahead of time (several weeks ahead) and have gotten variable responses depending on grade. At the younger grades we propose a journal in addition to the schoolwork-some agree, some don't care. We get most make up work after the missed days. We aim to get it done ASAP for the teacher as we chose to take child out of school. Most recently, I took youngest out (3rd grade) to take a cross country Amtrak trip to LA (visit my sister, incl couple days at DL). Teacher gave no makeup work (totally shocked), but I made a booklet up of all the states we travelled through, maps, state flags, etc. and we made a journal, so DD did get in a little learning and got to go over it all with dad when she returned. Anyway, we look to work with the teachers around any missed time due to travel.
Good luck!!

 

[TrySomethingNew]

Oh my goodness you were lucky!!!
This year when my KINDERGARTEN son missed 2 weeks of school due to our vacation.. I asked if I could bring homework with us - I would much rather spend a little time per day doing that rather than doing makeup work.
She informed me that she didn't have the lesson plans yet and to just go enjoy our vacay.. We did leave within 12 days of school starting, so I though "Ok maybe they won't have.a lot of homework In beginning of year." And went on our merry way.

This is what I was handed the first day we returned to school- along with a "he missed 10 days of school so he has 10 days to make it up." And his Pearsons (an online reading site that they have to do 30 minutes per night) has been updated as well, so he can just double up on that. Then she smiled. I was FLOORED. He's FIVE years old! And had, at that time, 3-4 days of 2 hour per day football.

Needless to say, the next 2 weeks were not fun. View attachment 159067

WOW!! We've only ever seen this much makeup work from oldest's 8th grade teacher!!

 

[KristiMc]

Oh my goodness you were lucky!!!
This year when my KINDERGARTEN son missed 2 weeks of school due to our vacation.. I asked if I could bring homework with us - I would much rather spend a little time per day doing that rather than doing makeup work.
She informed me that she didn't have the lesson plans yet and to just go enjoy our vacay.. We did leave within 12 days of school starting, so I though "Ok maybe they won't have.a lot of homework In beginning of year." And went on our merry way.

This is what I was handed the first day we returned to school- along with a "he missed 10 days of school so he has 10 days to make it up." And his Pearsons (an online reading site that they have to do 30 minutes per night) has been updated as well, so he can just double up on that. Then she smiled. I was FLOORED. He's FIVE years old! And had, at that time, 3-4 days of 2 hour per day football.

Needless to say, the next 2 weeks were not fun. View attachment 159067

That is a lot of work. We use to take our kids out (1 week max) until they reached 4th grade. After that I decided it wasn't a vacation if we had to worry about getting work done or doubling up once we are back. Now we only go during breaks.

 

[cdoc29]

Since no one listed anything here are some ideas.....

St. Thomas - Coral World, educational opportunity about sea life that can be listed as marine biology

Tortola - 1780 Lower Estate Sugar Work Museum, has an excellent history of BVI from the early days up to today. Exhibits on colonial life, slavery, cotton plantations as well as information on plants, animals and fish native to BVI.
Virgin Islands Maritime Museum, history on the maritime trade of the BVI including the RMS Rhone

Castaway Cay - Stingray Interaction, educational opportunity to learn about this particular marine life up close and personal.

On Board - Kids Clubs, arts and crafts.... I cannot tell you how many art projects we got over the course of a week, They also had activities like “super sloppy science” and Any one can cook” while entertaining the kids do learn things in these activities.

Hope these help, It is a vacation but why can’t learning be fun?

 

[TestingH2O]

Hope these help, It is a vacation but why can’t learning be fun?

Learning can, and should, be fun. But a school day is a complete program. It's unrealistic to assume vacation experiences would REPLACE a student's regular educational program. As I said above, vacations are an important supplement that should be supported, but it's unfair to think you can replace it. That's why it's important to work WITH the school not try to "get out of" things.

Would you just take a daily vitamin and not eat? No, you take that in addition to your healthy diet to optimize how you feel.

 

[hubbard53]

Exposure to diverse cultures, history of other countries, and the biology behind many cruise related excursions - even the midship detective agency - is a much greater educational experience than monotonous match worksheets and other canned things like "puppy patterns".

The curriculum is designed to pass state standard tests, not teach life skills and experience. Schools don't teach life skills anymore and some would argue that the lack of said lofe skills contributes to the well documented lack of "success" within some of the latest generations (millennials).

when we last cruised, our kindergarten son returned and gave an oral report on the islands he visited and the saints for whom they were named... It was relevant b/c he's in Catholic school

 

[Kimberly9701]

WOW!! We've only ever seen this much makeup work from oldest's 8th grade teacher!!

Right?! I don't remember having that much homework in kindergarten. And like I said, all of the makeup work was in addition to his daily homework and online reading lessons/tests..and football. His bedtime is 8 and we weren't even close to that those 2 weeks. I don't get home from work til @ 6.

That is a lot of work. We use to take our kids out (1 week max) until they reached 4th grade. After that I decided it wasn't a vacation if we had to worry about getting work done or doubling up once we are back. Now we only go during breaks.

Our cruise/DW trip is in Novemeber and he'll be in 1st grade, I'm hoping we can take homework with us..but regardless 2016 will be our last year of school season vacations. His breaks aren't long enough so we will just have to switch to summer. - which is why I'm looking at a Med cruise for 2017.

My second grader will be missing 6 days of school for our eastern Caribbean cruise in May. I want to come up with a list of educational experiences that could replace some of her schoolwork. So far, I have Kennedy Space Center and the butterfly garden (they did life cycle of the butterfly this year). I know this is a great experience for her. I am not really worried about what she misses, but I don't want to spend the rest of the year on makeup work.
Any ideas to pitch to the teacher? Tia

To answer you actual question-
I always incorporate education in to our traveling. Disney World didn't provide the best opportunity for that last year- to be fair -Epcot did..but on our Key West portion he was definitely learning! We rented a car to drive there, and on the way I told him about Florida history, the Everglades, and the Overseas Railroad (which he was fascinated by, but I did make the story more appropriate for a 5 year old). We did unfortunately see a water spout while there so hurricanes and waterspouts got covered lol. We also did all of the museums and light house in Key West and bought books about different lighthouses on the east coast. Did a day trip to Dry Tortugas, so that provided a history lesson experience as well as learning about coral reefs and different marine life (I was an avid diver before he was born so I'm biased to hyping up said marine life and can't wait til he can dive!). And we visited Ft Zachary which is agin- history. I'm an ex South Floridian so I didn't have to read up an any of this.. But other places we go I'll learn about local culture/history/food/animals/important facts and always work it in, along with continent, and capitals etc. He loves it!

I do think travel is an important part of a child's (and adult's) education. I've subscribed to something called Little Passports since he was 3, and he gets so excited every month when it arrives in the mail! I'm letting him pick the countries he would like to visit as he's learning about them. (Although right now Antartica is top of his list and that's not happening lol) In school they do learn geography/other cultures but no where near as much as what I'm trying to instill in him. In my opinion- learning about the world can only make you a more well rounded, informed, and successful individual, which is what we all want our children to be .
So no, I don't think you'll get our of regular class work- but if she learns about the islands she's visiting then she will definitely come back to school more educated.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Exposure to diverse cultures, history of other countries, and the biology behind many cruise related excursions - even the midship detective agency - is a much greater educational experience than monotonous match worksheets and other canned things like "puppy patterns".

The curriculum is designed to pass state standard tests, not teach life skills and experience. Schools don't teach life skills anymore and some would argue that the lack of said lofe skills contributes to the well documented lack of "success" within some of the latest generations (millennials).

when we last cruised, our kindergarten son returned and gave an oral report on the islands he visited and the saints for whom they were named... It was relevant b/c he's in Catholic school

My son is in Catholic School as well, and I'm generally happy with what they are learning. His pre school and pre k were amazing too. They do make an effort to teach beyond standardized testing, and I was impressed that in preschool he was learning geography, child involved fund raising, different cultures, different periods of art and music influence, as well as the standard reading/writing/science/music/iPad/computer classes etc.
I don't remember myself having that kind of education at age 3/4/5..and I went to private schools as well- so I do think this generation has an advantage over us on that front.
But they do not have the time to go as in debth as we as parents can do with first hand experiences and providing "fun" learning for our children- which in turn will stick with them much longer than a lesson and a quiz.

 

[joannamet]

I'm always entertained by the varied opinions of people on the Disboards about education. For a second grader the focus should be on reading and math so bring enough reading materials for her to read for 20 - 30 minutes most days. Its a good way to wind down at bedtime. Math worksheets are extremely important because repetition is the only way to master and internalize basic math facts but worksheets are a bummer on a busy vacation. If she has good math skills then just ask for the make up work when you get home. Most second graders should only have 20 - 30 minutes of homework per night. It shouldn't be a big deal to add some make up work to that. If you approach it with a 'no big deal' attitude, she probably will too.

I abhor journals as school work on vacation. Nothing spoils a kid's vacation faster than having to write about it and nothing spoils my vacation more than having to make my kid write about it. Just take advantage of what the Caribbean has to offer. Read up on the history of the ports together before you go. If you have to do a journal, prep it beforehand with expectations and then just add a few sentences each day while you're on the trip. Keep it simple and enjoy the trip.

 

[MUN]

My second grader will be missing 6 days of school for our eastern Caribbean cruise in May. I want to come up with a list of educational experiences that could replace some of her schoolwork. So far, I have Kennedy Space Center and the butterfly garden (they did life cycle of the butterfly this year). I know this is a great experience for her. I am not really worried about what she misses, but I don't want to spend the rest of the year on makeup work.
Any ideas to pitch to the teacher? Tia

2nd grade and you're worried about missing a few days of school? Let me ask you this question. In 10 years will you remember the trip more or the missed school?

Enjoy your cruise!

MUN

 

[Kimberly9701]

I'm always entertained by the varied opinions of people on the Disboards about education. For a second grader the focus should be on reading and math so bring enough reading materials for her to read for 20 - 30 minutes most days. Its a good way to wind down at bedtime. Math worksheets are extremely important because repetition is the only way to master and internalize basic math facts but worksheets are a bummer on a busy vacation. If she has good math skills then just ask for the make up work when you get home. Most second graders should only have 20 - 30 minutes of homework per night. It shouldn't be a big deal to add some make up work to that. If you approach it with a 'no big deal' attitude, she probably will too.

I abhor journals as school work on vacation. Nothing spoils a kid's vacation faster than having to write about it and nothing spoils my vacation more than having to make my kid write about it. Just take advantage of what the Caribbean has to offer. Read up on the history of the ports together before you go. If you have to do a journal, prep it beforehand with expectations and then just add a few sentences each day while you're on the trip. Keep it simple and enjoy the trip.

I'll agree with you on the journal portion, but not at all should a child's main focus be reading and math. That is what has created so many ignorant to other culture/religions/where a country is located on the map Americans. Math can be incorporated in to everything and it should be. I'm in finance so trust me, I'm not downplaying the value of math. And reading- yes 100%. But by 2nd grade they are already proficient readers, so buy them a book about where you are visiting- 2 in 1 educational experience.

Learning about where you visit is fun. Returning and discussing what the child has learned is fun. Learning pre trip/ during trip/different language/ discussing when arrive home is what embeds that "learning" into a child's brain.

 

[joannamet]

One of the problems with education is that financors (and everybody else) think they know more about education than educators.

 

[Kimberly9701]

One of the problems with education is that financors (and everybody else) think they know more about education than educators.

I have great respect for teachers..especially early childhood ones. I know that I couldn't do it!!

But it would be a grave disservice to my child, and his future, if I thought his teacher was supposed to be his only educator. Parents and teachers are a team. When I chose a pre school I went with a list of questions, took notes, interviewed 3 schools, and made my decision on what I felt was best for him. Parent teacher communication is huge to me, I want to know what you are doing in your lesson plans, and I will incorporate that in to our learning at home as well- teamwork inside and outside of the class room. And the schools we attend subscribe to that theory - which is why I send him there. Even as a baby he came home with the sign language words that they were working on in class, and I'd work with him at home...parent/teacher teamwork. I can't stress that enough. But it's my responsibility as his parent to go beyond that.

And as for geography/history/second language/science- yes they cover these, but at the 4-7 year old age there is not enough time during school hours for a child to really learn those other subjects if their parents don't provide an assist.

A small child's brain is like a sponge..they can soak up so much right now.. Why not provide the content to do that?

I don't think anyone on this thread was trying to replace their child's teacher..just add to their child's knowledge.

 

[Mrslissaaa]

Oh my goodness you were lucky!!!
This year when my KINDERGARTEN son missed 2 weeks of school due to our vacation.. I asked if I could bring homework with us - I would much rather spend a little time per day doing that rather than doing makeup work.
She informed me that she didn't have the lesson plans yet and to just go enjoy our vacay.. We did leave within 12 days of school starting, so I though "Ok maybe they won't have.a lot of homework In beginning of year." And went on our merry way.

This is what I was handed the first day we returned to school- along with a "he missed 10 days of school so he has 10 days to make it up." And his Pearsons (an online reading site that they have to do 30 minutes per night) has been updated as well, so he can just double up on that. Then she smiled. I was FLOORED. He's FIVE years old! And had, at that time, 3-4 days of 2 hour per day football.

Needless to say, the next 2 weeks were not fun. View attachment 159067

I've taught kindergarten and this is absolutely ridiculous!!! Be sure to keep up on daily reading.

 

[TestingH2O]

I don't think anyone on this thread was trying to replace their child's teacher..just add to their child's knowledge.

I think the responses agree that vacation is a great extension of the current academic program. However, the OP explicitly asked people for ideas to pitch that could replace missed work.

I agree wholeheartedly that schools and families need to be partners. It's the only way to do service to the kids. Supporting and exploring your own child's interests is a privilege you get as a parent that a teacher, who has many students with many interests, just doesn't have. Working together and keeping communications open allows for the best outcomes for kids.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I've taught kindergarten and this is absolutely ridiculous!!! Be sure to keep up on daily reading.

Oh we do! My favorite book in 5th grade was Jane Eyre lol.. I'm kind of a book nerd, and hoping my son will follow in my footsteps on that front.
We go to B&N on Sunday's to have "coffee" (he loves drinking a hot chocolate in a 'coffee cup' or a frappucino sans caffeine) and discuss our week. We pick up a book while there and read it together..then he plays with the train table before we go home.
I like their online reading program but I LOVE books..actual books. I only use my ebooks while traveling, and his kindle the same. While home we read old fashioned books.lol

As ridiculous as I think their homework gets, I'll reiterate my previous statement that kids these days are so much more knowledgable than we were at their age. People make the argument that they're loosing their childhood stage.. And I don't want him to loose the time of just being a "kid" but the world is different now than when we grew up. My mother stayed home with us, I don't have that choice.. I have a demanding career and am the sole provider for my family.. So yes, I heavily rely on his teachers to assist me, but I use our available time together to learn while having fun.

I think the responses agree that vacation is a great extension of the current academic program. However, the OP explicitly asked people for ideas to pitch that could replace missed work.

I agree wholeheartedly that schools and families need to be partners. It's the only way to do service to the kids. Supporting and exploring your own child's interests is a privilege you get as a parent that a teacher, who has many students with many interests, just doesn't have. Working together and keeping communications open allows for the best outcomes for kids.

True. I was addressing the previous comment of "the responses being amusing".