I feel bad

[la79al]

We found out today that neither DSS nor DSD will have schoolwork to do while we are in Disney. While I'm happy that we don't have to worry about finding time to make sure it all gets done, I feel bad that they will return from vacation to have extra work. I keep hoping that maybe they will come back spouting some random facts they found in DW and their teachers will give them a break. And the poor kids don't even know yet that we're going.

 

[daleswife]

My DD had a weeks worth of homework from our September trip. Now granted she is just in 1st grade, but she still had quite a bit to do. Her teacher gave her a week to get it all done, but DD likes doing the school work and had all of it done in three days.

 

[pacrosby]

I always find these discussions so interesting as schools can be sooo different.

We went in December..............3 kids in school (Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th). No one (teachers/administrators) so much as peeped about it (except to say "have a great trip"). No one (my kids) had homework to do while they were on vacation. No one (my kids) had any work to make-up when they returned. They were gone 9 days and missed 7 days of school. There were no problems getting right back into the swing of things; no problems 'catching up'.

I just feel so badly listening to all you parents who have to jump through such mega hoops. I honestly don't know what I'd do if our school system was so controlling. As a middle-aged adult I prefer to make my own decisions regarding what is right for my family.

Sorry................I know that wasn't helpful. Just got me thinking

 

[Deesknee]

Given a choice my kids would have rathered make up the work when they got back. Hope yours feel the same.

Usually, the teachers were awesome. Some have even given projects that now are tucked away as souveniers to look back on. Things like journals are so great to review years later.

However one year they had a math teacher who had serious issues. She sent DS' with 13 pages of complicated problems to do. They spent hours each of the 7 nights we were away doing them. (BTW, they were actually missing 3 days of school, due to a holiday & in service day). NONE OF WHICH SHE COLLECTED and none of their class mates were assigned.! I understand trying to get class plans together to send with kids can be confusing. She claimed she made a mistake. But, if it was a mistake, why not give the kids some extra credit or something. I understand we all make mistakes, but geesh.

 

[MomtoEmIs&Ow]

My kids didn't have any homework lasttime we went either. They were in grade 1 and 8. I thought that DD in grade 8 would at least have some

 

[ancestry]

My kids are 7 and in second grade. We are pulling them out for 6 days in May (actually 5 1/2 as the one day is an early dismissal day). Neither of them have to do any make up schoolwork either. Neither teacher batted an eyelash. In fact both teachers said to me what a great experience this is for the kids and that we are providing educational experiences that would not be able to be given in the classroom. The one teacher did ask that my daughter keep writing in her journal during the trip but she is free to write about her daily Disney activities.

 

[ShannonMB]

DD is only in 3rd grade, but so far, we have always gotten make-up work when she gets back, if at all. I think she preferred it that way, Disney was play time, then when she got back was time to go back to work. I'm sure they'll be fine!

 

[la79al]

Thanks guys. Maybe there is hope for my poor kiddos. DSS does have an animal report they will be working on next week so I'm hoping that he will pick an animal they have at AK and be able to get some pics and maybe even some info. DSD is doing a scrapbook for 4H so I'm thinking I will have her keep a journal too, maybe something in that will end up helping diminish the schoolwork.

 

[Hannathy]

Be prepared for a lot of work for the 13 yr old depending on his classes. The trouble with that age is as they move ahead they have to cover what they did for the week AND learn and do the current work- which can be very tough in something like algebra. I would make sure he has a very clear weekend his first one back to do work. I know by 13 my DD would have had a lot of trouble missing a week. Little ones no problem but as they get into middle and then high school it gets very tough.

 

[mjkacmom]

Good luck - if I pulled dd13 out of school, she'd kill me. I pulled her once last year for the Great Wolf Lodge (they had one day off, the other she missed), and when she realized it, she was not happy with me. We did take her out for 3 days in 6th grade, with no work up-front, and it took a bit for her to catch up.

Most teachers here don't give the word ahead of time.

 

[mjkacmom]

I always find these discussions so interesting as schools can be sooo different.

We went in December..............3 kids in school (Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th). No one (teachers/administrators) so much as peeped about it (except to say "have a great trip"). No one (my kids) had homework to do while they were on vacation. No one (my kids) had any work to make-up when they returned. They were gone 9 days and missed 7 days of school. There were no problems getting right back into the swing of things; no problems 'catching up'.

I just feel so badly listening to all you parents who have to jump through such mega hoops. I honestly don't know what I'd do if our school system was so controlling. As a middle-aged adult I prefer to make my own decisions regarding what is right for my family.

Sorry................I know that wasn't helpful. Just got me thinking

Just don't expect this when they get to middle school - usually a whole different ballgame!

 

[ccgirl]

When my DD missed a week of K she was sent with homework during the trip. I met with the teach beforehand and asked any questions needed. This was above and beyond for the teacher IMHO. This year, she is missing school in two weeks (1st grade) they send them with a travel journal and when they get back they have to makeup the week of homework. We have been saving her "free homework" passes all year and have 8 of them. We can turn one in for each sheet of paper. Sometimes she has 3 sheets a night. I will still have her do all homework so she is not behind. I think it more than fair. IMHO, teachers shouldn't be expected to do extra work so our children don't have to make up work when they return. I guess I liken it to if I missed a week of work, I would have to work on anything that occured during my missed week up on my return. This is the reason that after 2nd grade I would not pull her out of school. I think it just gets more difficult for her to play "catch up".

 

[NickTim&Sami'smom]

My daughter is in 2nd grade and my son in 6th. We thought this year we would get a problem from the middle school. In September I had sent a note with each of the kids the first week explaining when we were going and for how long. (Sept 17 - the 24th.) And at middle school open house was waiting for the long talk and got... Oh my God I remember going. Please have a great time wish we were going with you, Don't worry about Tim's work, We will put a bin for all his papers and he can make it up when he returns. They also said they do not send schoolwork for family vacations, Family time is the foundation for a healthy happy student. Oh my, we were not expecting this and was very happy. We got back and Tim had it done in 3 day's. Granted Tim is all A's all the time but WOW. My daughter's teacher never read the first note (she loses everything and the most unorganized teacher we ever had) but did not have a problem with it. We are going in October this year.

 

[seashoreCM]

You should extrapolate what their school work would be during the days they are missing and have them bring and do that work (or do some of that work before going).

 

[blessedby3]

We ask for our kids work before we go and it has always been given to us for our dd in elementary school. With our son in middle and high school he has had to make it up when we get back. He doesnt mind--it gets done

 

[MSSANDRA]

We took DS out in K-1-3-5-8 and only 3rd grade did he have a lot of make up work. Most years we got everything way ahead and had it done before we left. 3rd grade we got it right before we left and tried to do some of it while at WDW. We hated it. DS was tired at night and too excited in the am. We ended up waiting till we got back and did most of it. In our district they have 2 days for each day they are out to get any make-up work done, so he had two weeks. It was hard work, and I admit I helped more than I should or normaly would but he got it done and grades never were an issue.

Enjoy your trip and do not stress over the work until you return!!!

 

[pacrosby]

Just don't expect this when they get to middle school - usually a whole different ballgame!

I'm sure you are right and I'll just deal with it when the time comes. I actually know many people who take their kids out of school for vacations even in middle school and high school. Not all parents' work schedules jive with school vacation time and given the choice of unexcused absences or no family vacations.....................they prefer unexcused absences. The kids' all do fine and if the teacher's have a problem with it then that's just too bad.

My kid, my family, my choice.................my mantra

 

[MSSANDRA]

I'm sure you are right and I'll just deal with it when the time comes. I actually know many people who take their kids out of school for vacations even in middle school and high school. Not all parents' work schedules jive with school vacation time and given the choice of unexcused absences or no family vacations.....................they prefer unexcused absences. The kids' all do fine and if the teacher's have a problem with it then that's just too bad.

My kid, my family, my choice.................my mantra

But do not forget that there will come a time you have to give your children input in the decission. We started doing that in middle school. He was fine for middle school, but HS is a whole differnt ball game! There is no way he would be ok missing a week for anything. He has honnors and AP classes and is only allowed to miss 7 days for ANY reason and pass the class, much less excell in the class. He knows what GPA he needs for his college choice and what he has to do to get that. I respect that. DN passed on a family WDW trip becuase he knew it would cost him his starting place on the football team.

I loved our offf season vacations and never regret them, but we knew when it was time to give up that and we did.

 

[pacrosby]

But do not forget that there will come a time you have to give your children input in the decission. We started doing that in middle school. He was fine for middle school, but HS is a whole differnt ball game! There is no way he would be ok missing a week for anything. He has honnors and AP classes and is only allowed to miss 7 days for ANY reason and pass the class, much less excell in the class. He knows what GPA he needs for his college choice and what he has to do to get that. I respect that. DN passed on a family WDW trip becuase he knew it would cost him his starting place on the football team.

I loved our offf season vacations and never regret them, but we knew when it was time to give up that and we did.

Oh certainly I realize that my kids will have input as they get older but my kids may see things differently. Some kids want to be starters on the football team and accepted early entrance into Ivy league colleges, others have different dreams and desires. Of course at this stage of the game there's no way to predict exactly which way my kids will go but the messages we send as parents can influence the decisions our kids will make. Only time will tell.

Right now, we're talking about today. And 'today' I'm taking them out and am not feeling the least bit guilty

 

[deedeetoo]

My school system has a policy that they will not give you work ahead of time. The reason they give for this is that they don't know exactly what will be covered while your kids are gone. When you get back they give you everything the kids did in class (worksheets and stuff) plus the homework for the week and give you one week to get it all in (and do your current homework). So basically the kids have a huge amount of work when they get back. I think they do this to try and discourage people from going during school. They don't prohibit you from going, they just make it really miserable when you get back so you'll never do it again.