Is it better to take 7th grader week before or after Thanksgiving vacation?

[lisabees]

I am sure he'll have projects/tests the week before their week long vacation. And I don't want to deal with crowds during Thanksgiving week.

So, would you go attach a week after? Or will that be hard to make up too? It would be cheaper - but will the weather still be warm?

Lisa

 

[PrincessMo]

Hi there!

The weather should still be nice during the day. The evenings could get kinda chilly so I would definitely take long pants and some sweatshirts but mostly it will be fine.

As for taking your child out of school, that is your decision ultimately. I think no matter how you slice it he/she will have to make up the work..so I would go for the cheaper and less crowded time and have your child get the work before you go if you can because maybe he can do some at home over Thanksgiving week. That is just my opinion, you as the parent need to make that call. But being 24 and going every year in December since I was about 11 I would just let the teachers know ahead of time. That time of year alot would be review time for upcoming finals, midterms, whatever they called so I wouldn't be missing all of too much new information to start with.

If you want any help or want to chat pm me anytime!

Have A Magical Day!

 

[bobcat]

I'm a middle school teacher and I vote for the week after Thanksgiving. The couple of weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas are the hardest to teach because kids are looking forward to Christmas break. Not that he won't miss things then but there will probably be less.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

If he will have exams before Christmas, I would go before thanksgiving, but if he does not have those, I would go after. The week after is a great time and you can enjoy the Christmas activities!!!We enjoyed that week several years agon but DS was 5th grade then and it was a non issue missing school at all. This year he is 8th and we are going in January choosing a week that he is out one day for a work day.

 

[ccw]

A few years back I took our youngest son who was in 8th grade to DisneyWorld about ten days before Christmas (they did not have exams in middle school). His math teacher just about had a stroke when I sent the note in ahead of time telling about our plans (the other teachers were more relaxed about it)...but our son was a straight A student and I knew he would have lots of opportunities to learn at EPCOT and that, heck, he could have missed two days of school with a cold or something! What a great trip it was, too! Priceless mom/son moments and loads of fun, too, to see everything decorated for Christmas. That son is now a rising senior in high school and still a straight A student...obviously, missing a couple of days of middle school was not the end of his academic career! Anyway, unless you are extremely worried about your child missing a few days of school, choose the time of the year that you both would enjoy Disney the most. Have fun!

 

[lovesmurfs]

We're taking our DS (7th grade) out for the 4 days before Christmas Break begins. We'll send notes the first week of school to let the teachers know (AND I'll be on my son to make sure his grades stay up or he'll need to stay at the rental house and study while we're gone, although I'm not sure I could enforce that if push comes to shove).

DD in 2nd grade is a non-issue, particularly since she's reading at a 5th grade level.

 

[DisTeach1]

Okay, I am preparing for major flames here, but oh well. I am a middle school teacher and also mother to a soon-to-be 7th grader. We are actually taking him out of school for 7 school days in November/December. I know, I know. I'm able to do it because I job share, so I switched days with my partner. He will miss 2 days of Thanksgiving week, which I know from experience are kind of a waste, and he will miss 5 days the week after. I do admit to a little stress about it. But, we love Christmas time, and I know, that this will be the last time, because we will not do it once he starts high school, and I probably will not be job sharing in the future. So, this is our last chance to enjoy our tradition of going after Thanksgiving. I plan to bring materials that I have access to, and tutor him, and help stay caught up. And, I hope it will be okay!

 

[kaysmommie]

The weekend of Thanksgiving and the following week sound really nice for Weather and Christmas decorations. Is it crowded though? I don't like going when it is too crowded with 2 YO DS it is hard to get alot done. DD will be missing 4 days this year and it is a very big deal in first grade apparently.

 

[Grendalynn]

On the skipping school issue: I say check with your child's middle school office and see when grades close and with his teachers to find out if there are any special units or exams/tests scheduled for either of those weeks. Usually tests are given at the end or near end of a marking term. Or its the last chance to make up any missed work or ill grades...

Having a career myself in the education field (Afterschool Program Asst. Director), and my mother and sister as teachers, the most important thing I hear them squawk about is the work not being made up by them and/or the child not willing to come in afterschool for extra help if there is something that they are struggeling with from when they were out.

The parents need to be sure to put the extra effort forth when pulling a child from school. Just like missing our work, there are things that need to be done before we go, like advising the teachers so they have plenty of time to get the work together, there are things we have to get caught up on when we return and catch upon the things we missed. And important to mention - stay on top of the work while on vacation. Nothing will burn more than to bring back halfassed work or incomplete work. You may as well have not told the teacher at all and just left town...

Children are only young once. Don't pass up on the opprtunity for great family vacations and making memories that will last a life time. But be sure to do it responcibly - and the kids will remember that when they are parents! Enjoy and Have fun!

 

[WAHMto5]

Here, we always try to go the week before a Holiday since they seem to not do much the last 2 days before the kids go on vacation. They normally jump right back into school work the week after the Holiday.
HTH

 

[Alex2kMommy]

The weekend of Thanksgiving and the following week sound really nice for Weather and Christmas decorations. Is it crowded though? I don't like going when it is too crowded with 2 YO DS it is hard to get alot done. DD will be missing 4 days this year and it is a very big deal in first grade apparently.

Uh-oh... We're taking our boys in late September for our first trip to DL; DS6 will have been in 1st grade only 3 weeks or so. I'm planning to try to get in touch with her as soon as I know which teacher he will have, and I'm hoping she will be OK about our poor timing. (We had to reschedule a trip from last April, and this was the next best time to go.)

 

[ccw]

Y'all please relax about taking children out of school for a few days! Especially your little ones! With all due respect for how hard teachers work to ensure that each child is learning as much as they can every day (and I work in an elementary school so i am all about kids learning!), I have yet to see a first grader fail to advance to 2nd grade because they spent a few days with their family at Disney World instead of in class. My boys are now 27, 25, 19, and 17 and we have periodically taken them out of school for family trips (not just Disney) with no apparent impact on their ability to be great students. If anyone is thinking that kids can't learn while they are having fun, or that the only appropriate setting for learning is a school classroom, I find that very scary. Give the teacher a heads up at the earliest possible time as a courtesy and then go have fun. I'll bet your child's teacher will be very supportive.

 

[kaysmommie]

Y'all please relax about taking children out of school for a few days! Especially your little ones! With all due respect for how hard teachers work to ensure that each child is learning as much as they can every day (and I work in an elementary school so i am all about kids learning!), I have yet to see a first grader fail to advance to 2nd grade because they spent a few days with their family at Disney World instead of in class. My boys are now 27, 25, 19, and 17 and we have periodically taken them out of school for family trips (not just Disney) with no apparent impact on their ability to be great students. If anyone is thinking that kids can't learn while they are having fun, or that the only appropriate setting for learning is a school classroom, I find that very scary. Give the teacher a heads up at the earliest possible time as a courtesy and then go have fun. I'll bet your child's teacher will be very supportive.

Thanks for the encouraging words, I hope DD's teacher and principal fell that way too!

 

[InstImpres]

Lisa -
Go for it. The weekend after Thanksgiving is great...good weather, great decorations and the chance for MVMCP.

I usually take DD out for a few days in Feb. We spend the beginning of the month making sure any long term items are done in advance and that all her work is getting her full attention so she goes away on the top of her game. It makes it easier to catch up when you come back,

 

[Grendalynn]

Y'all please relax about taking children out of school for a few days! Especially your little ones! With all due respect for how hard teachers work to ensure that each child is learning as much as they can every day (and I work in an elementary school so i am all about kids learning!), I have yet to see a first grader fail to advance to 2nd grade because they spent a few days with their family at Disney World instead of in class. My boys are now 27, 25, 19, and 17 and we have periodically taken them out of school for family trips (not just Disney) with no apparent impact on their ability to be great students. If anyone is thinking that kids can't learn while they are having fun, or that the only appropriate setting for learning is a school classroom, I find that very scary. Give the teacher a heads up at the earliest possible time as a courtesy and then go have fun. I'll bet your child's teacher will be very supportive.

Amen, Sister!