Is there some of your child's homework that disturbs you?

[browneyes]

My dd is doing algebra. She's in the 4th grade! She came home plotting points and I wanted to scream just looking at that stuff! I can handle any part of algebra except plotting points. She loved my reaction. She's gonna be bringing home more points to plot just to see me cringe. Somehow, my reaction spurs her to want to learn more about algebra.

 

[Serena]

LOL, yeah, my oldest loves telling me about her homework.

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

I'm in 4th year Engineering, so some of my "homework" is so hard it scares *me.*

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

LOL... whatever it takes, to make her want to learn algebra!!!

My son is a 7th grader and is currently doing algebra 2. I enjoy math so luckily I am able to help him with questions. He is basically doing it independent study so I am his teacher! Next is advanced math, then calculus, then physics. I think I had better brush up on my math!

 

[kbeverina]

My 4th grade son had to explain to me today what a "stem and leaf plot" is-- I think I got that name right. It's something to do with math. I had never heard of it before.

 

[JasonLyons]

someties my daughter makes me feel like Jethro Bodine

 

[browneyes]

That's why we have kids, Jason. To make us feel like an Oxford gradu-ate (Oxford Arkansas that is).

#1 Disney Fan, I'd really freak if I saw your homework. I bet you've had every math there is to take!

Kbeverina, stem and leaf plot? Don't tell me I gotta go study for my dd's homework for tomorrow.

CJMickeyMouse, I'm going for that reverse psychology technique.

Laurie, how's Bri doing in all those classes she was dreading?

 

[Serena]

Her Physics class is going really well. She went from an F on midterm to a B. She just had to get herself together.
She was able to go from her Advanced Algebra 4 back to 3. She was on A track which means they had 3 semesters in our normal two.
They put her back into track B in 3 so she can get a handle on it easier. She already had it, but this time she may understand it. So far she isn't into what she thought was hard to understand yet. So right now, she's coasting.

 

[browneyes]

LOL! All that math for math is confusing. I'm glad she's doing better in both, Laurie.

 

[Serena]

LOL, sorry, I guess it is confusing now that I read it again. I'll just say she is doing much better.

 

[Pin Wizard]

LOL! Points? Leaf plots? I only remember bare basics from 7th or 8th grade. My algebra class now is a real eye opener, and we haven't come across anything like those two yet. Why must they change things? Today DS came home and told me they had a test on "big" verbs and linking verbs. "Big" verbs???????? What is THAT? I told DS they were known as action verbs when I was a kid. What the heck does "big" have to do with verbs??????????????????? Seems useless!

 

[Mermaid02]

My dd is taking all accelerated classes.... needless to say ALL her homework scares me. She's taking her SAT's in January.... and she's only in 7th grade. We told her to keep studying- hopefully she'll get scholarships for college!

 

[Serena]

Mermaid, SAT's in 7t grade? That's pretty good.

 

[Mskanga]

I am so lucky this year, DD is in 4th grade and her Math teacher does not believe in giving math homework, she says Math is something to do at school because if kids have a question she can answer it and if they need help , they can provide it, I can handle just about anything else....Math?? No thanks, ask daddy !!
A big problem I have with it is that I went to school in Spain and although things are the same, we call them differently and some things we do differently too, so DH is the one in charge when Math homework comes home!

 

[damo]

Mermaid, how come your daughter is taking her SAT's in Grade 7? Just curious. In Canada, we take SSAT's in 7th or 8th grade (secondary school assessment tests for getting into private high schools).

If it's just for practice, you may want to read this http://www.kovr13.com/05may02/052802c.htm

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

Mermaid, you daughter sounds like my son! He is currently in 7th grade and taking Algebra 2, freshman english, third year HS Spanish, etc... etc....

He took the ACT last year as a 6th grader and scored a 22. He will take the ACT again this year and possibly the SAT 1 also. He enjoys taking the tests just to see all of the white knuckles of the kids who are under a lot of pressure while he is under none.

Good luck to your daughter! I do think it's a good experience for them.

 

[Amy]

Mermaid, my DS in 7th grade is taking the SAT in January, too! He's in our advanced program, and this is something thru Johns Hopkins University, where they have "enrichment" activities/classes for kids. When he was in 3rd grade, he took the 8th grade standardized tests to qualify for Carnegie-Mellon University's enrichment program.

damo, the theory behind having kids take these tests so young is because it's felt that they're so advanced that the regular standardized tests for their grade level don't really measure their ability - they "top out" on them. So these kids take tests way above their grade level to see exactly how advanced they really are.

I kind of look at him taking the SAT in 7th grade as a fantastic opportunity - there's absolutely no pressure on him to get a good score. And he'll see what the SAT is like so when he takes it "for real" in high school, he'll know what to expect.

As for homework, both my boys are doing stem and leaf plots and I have no idea what they are. Simple subject and simple predicate? English/spelling - write the definition of the word and then give a synonym and antonym. Ok, but what's a synonym for saliva? Or an antonym for trellis? Ugh!

 

[Mermaid02]

Amy.... Megan is participating in the Johns Hopkins CTY Talent Search too! She was soooo excited when we got the letter saying she qualified. I was iffy as to her participating but she really wants to so why hold her back?

 

[browneyes]

I almost got my dd an Iquest test prep the other day (for Christmas). The SAT thing came with it, but I thought 4th grade is too early to start looking at stuff like that. I might be wrong if she might take it in a couple of years anyway! Have any of your kids tried it?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Boy oh boy...my dd was just saying how she wants to go to Harvard yesterday. She is in 6th. However she is not in any accelerated classes and is an average student.
I just don't know how she will compete with kids that are ahead of her. I suppose it is doable.

BTW What colleges have your acclerated kids have an interest in going too?????...because I better get on the ball and find out what I need to do to help her in the direction she wants to go.

WOW kudos to your kids! SATs in middle school, I have learned something new today, thanks.