How mean is this?

[Jordan's MOM]

People who have taken children out of school for Disney trips please help!

I don't realy have a problem taking DS (9) out for our January trip but was wondering how is the best way to get make up work done. Do you make them do any of it on the trip? DS gets car sick so on the drive is not a good option. Hate for him to have so much when we get back but also hate to put a damper on the trip by having to do homework at disney.Would this be just too mean? Am hoping to get work and do some before we go but don't know if teacher will agree to this.
Thanks so much, Jordan's mom.

 

[CindyAnn]

My son was in grade 2 last year when we pulled him out for 7 days to go to WDW. Since he's in French immersion my main concern was that his vocabulary acquisition would suffer. His teacher had told us just to make sure he read a book in French every day and she would tell us which pages of his math workbook should be completed, and that was that. We spent about an hour on the way down and an hour on the way back in the plane to take care of the math. DS and I got up early most mornings to read in French together, and I also sometimes packed a French book to take to the parks with us, though I admit we found few good opportunities that way. He would read for an hour or so every day (in English) in any case, but English reading is pure fun, from his perspective. I had suggested a much more rigourous approach to his teacher, who basically said "forget it - go and have fun!". DS is a very good student, fortunately, and had no difficulties when we returned.

DS can read for hours in the car, so I would consider getting him to work during a car trip, but as you say, I certainly wouldn't if he suffered from car sickness. I think a combination of before the trip (which in retrospect I think we should have done), during, and after is probably the easiest to manage.

 

[calmax]

Hi,
We took our son out of kindergarten 2 years ago and believe it or not, he had a packet of homework to do while he was away from class. We had him do a little every morning before we went to Disney. WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!! Last year, we took him out of 1st grade and he again came home with a 40 page math packet plus reading and writing. This time, we gave him the choice and reminded him of how much he didn't like taking his work with him. He chose to do all of it BEFORE we left which was wonderful for all of us!! He only had his journal to do during and we let him do that every other day. This worked out so much better and we were able to just enjoy WDW and not have to think about school at all!!
Good Luck!!!

 

[BounceyOne]

I don't think it is mean to have them do a little homework at WDW. We all need a little down time in our hotel rooms this is a good time for the children to do a alittle of their work.
If they can do it all before you leave, even better, but if not, don't sweat it. After all you'll be at Disney, the happiest place on earth

 

[Dream]

We took our kids (1st and 4th) out of school for 4 days last Jan. to go to Disney. DS had no work assigned other than a daily jounal which is a great keepsake when you think about it! We all enjoyed our daily journaling while resting up for another "round" in the parks! My DD's teacher did not believe in giving make up work for kids pulled out for family vacations so she made up all of her work a little at a time during the first week back at school. Painless for the kids and I saw no reflection of the trip in their grades. Teachers don't always love me for pulling the kids out for Disney but family time is as important as school time and that's a good lesson for all to learn! I would not make my kids do "homework" at Disney...might as well leave em in school! Disney is magic and homework is NOT...don't detract from the experience for them or for you! School will be there when you all get home!
ps...I am taking them out again this year to go to Disney the week before Christmas!

 

[Cherch]

We have taken our kids out during the spring every year for our annual Disney trip.
They usually have some work to do and they usually get most of it done on the flight.
Otherwise we have them do 1 paper a day which is while they are waiting for the shower
in the morning. It isn't mean as the alternative is a full week of school. (I'll bet they opt
for doing homework at WDW )

 

[StilesMom]

I don't think it is mean to ask them to do some work during the vacation. My DD was in second grade last May when we pulled her out of school for 6 days. She did some of her work on the plane and while DS was napping in the afternoons, she spent some quiet time doing her schoolwork. She didn't mind a bit because she realized that the alternative was having ALOT of work to do once we got home. Also - I think it is only fair to both her and the teacher to be "caught up" with her work when she returns.