My Son's Social Studies Fair Project

[PrincessParty]

OP I was up late with DD (10) last night who after a 4 day weekend came to me at 9PM to say she had to write notes on the first 18 chapters of her novel. I just sat at the kitchen table with her, but she did it all.

She got up this AM and said "Oh I have a science test today." With a "Good luck on that" I shoved her out the door!

She came home today and feels ok about the science test and the teacher didn't collect their notes today.

Hang in there!!!!!!!! I need more hair dye! The project looks great!

 

[descovy]

Yeah I didn't get the topic as a Social Studies Fair project either, but the teacher allowed it. As for us doing the work, I do not let my kids surf online for one of the reasons mentioned above, safety. I will search for it & print it & hand it to him. Then he has to be the one to do the report. And in a few weeks....Science Fair! Ugh!!!

Really? Wow... Our school sends kids notes all the time telling them what websites to go to, etc... for their research. As in "child" see www.website.com to help you with your International Explorers project... (not addressing this to mom) talking 3rd & 4th grade here.

In the living room, I can keep tabs (if for nothing else she doesn't stray to webkins or American Girl.com) that she is on safe sites.

They teach in library/computer lab/ etc... *how* to look stuff up for them selves... in books, and yes on computers. That's what Research is... it is a valuable skill for a child to earn. To know where to find information and be able to pick out the relevent parts for your project.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

is due....TOMORROW!!! Did he tell us? NO! Now we are working overtime to get him to do his report and the board done. His topic, The History of the New Orleans Saints. I hated doing this crap when I was in school, I refuse to do this for him. This is HIS project for HIS grade. He gets 2 A's for this. Any other parents have this problem of finding out the last possible minute?

My son has done this to my wife a number of times. I say that he has done it to her because I don't bail my boys out when they make mistakes.

She has helped them every time, and they continue to make the same mistake. I love my wife more than life itself, but she just can't help herself when it comes to our children...

 

[C.Ann]

My son has done this to my wife a number of times. I say that he has done it to her because I don't bail my boys out when they make mistakes.

She has helped them every time, and they continue to make the same mistake. I love my wife more than life itself, but she just can't help herself when it comes to our children...

Frustrating, isn't it? And as long as she continues to "bail them out", they will continue to count on it..

As for using the internet for research, if the OP doesn't want her child doing so without supervision, it could have been done by him - with supervision - LONG before the night before the project was due..

 

[minkydog]

I have to agree. At 9 yrs old the kid would not have done the project completely without help...even if he had started it 1 week before it was due. My 9 yr old would still need help finding info online and I really wouldn't want her surfing on her own. The project looks very nice...but look at the cut/paste. I don't think Mom did that.

Jess

My kids did. And we didn't use the internet either. We took them to the library where the checked out books on their topics. They came home and figured it out.None of this printing stuff off the internet and pasting it to a poster; everything was handwritten and hand-crafted. The only thing I ever helped with was some of the reading. my oldest didn't read well until he was 10-11yo. His comprehension was well above grade level though so he liked to check out what he called "real books"--ie, not children's books.

My son has done this to my wife a number of times. I say that he has done it to her because I don't bail my boys out when they make mistakes.

This.

 

[themilesfamily]

The project turned out beautifully!

If this was a one-time situation -- an honest mistake where my child forgot a deadline -- I would certainly help him out in a bind. We all make mistakes and we count on our loved ones in times of difficulty.

If it were a chronic thing, I probably wouldn't help and would be looking for a solution to the procrastinating.

If anyone out there has a child who's a chronic procrastinator, here are a couple of good links:

http://life.familyeducation.com/behavioral-problems/responsibilities/36530.html

http://www.ritaemmett.com/child_articles.htm

 

[golfgal]

Truthfully...at 9 yrs old, I think a child should get time in the school library to do any research required for a project. Not everyone has internet access and the school libraries have the appropriate filters to keep reseach safe.

Jess

Our kids do get time in school to work on some projects but not science fair projects. Our schools also have large computer labs that are open before and after school so kids that don't have access to a computer at home can use them, they also have an activity bus they can take home if their parents can't pick them up.

As for getting on to the wrong websites, we just taught our kids to search from Google or Yahoo and not the address bar and read the description. If it didn't sound right ask us. We haven't had any issues doing that.

 

[Cindy B]

Most school libraries have a subscription service or "paid" research site where students are allowed to access. In our district, the concept of notes and research starts in the end of 2nd-3rd grade. Part of the 3rd grade technology concept is to create their own Powerpoint project with three credible sources in a pretty close to MLA citation. This is considered a standard for this grade.

9 years old is what 3rd-4th grade. It can be done.

 

[golfgal]

Most school libraries have a subscription service or "paid" research site where students are allowed to access. In our district, the concept of notes and research starts in the end of 2nd-3rd grade. Part of the 3rd grade technology concept is to create their own Powerpoint project with three credible sources in a pretty close to MLA citation. This is considered a standard for this grade.

9 years old is what 3rd-4th grade. It can be done.

Exactly--we can access our research sites remotely too-which is really nice for the kids. They also have a way they can type papers at home, upload them to a storage spot at school, access them from school to keep working on them during class and do the same from home too. They can use flash drives too but this is easier since they can't forget them at home. Technology is amazing and a heck of a lot easier then using the old paper card catalogs at the library .

 

[shortbun]

Ya know, when my son was his age, the teachers kept us parents apprised of the large assignments. I think your son failed to do his work but his teacher also failed to do theirs. Learning to plan for things like this should not come from panic but from adults helping to lay out the plan several times so the child knows how to do it. Had my son picked his favorite team, he would have come home immediately and done the work.
Ask the teachers to communicate about large projects so you can be sure he does the work over time rather than panic the whole family.

I agree that outlining a report, taking notes, flash drives and other computer sites at school that can be accessed at home are the norm here too. We are a poor, urban school system and we have had all of this for a long time. Again, your school system may be failing you. Teachers in our school system would have asked to see progress on this type of assignment at a few junctures.

 

[Sinderelli]

Most school libraries have a subscription service or "paid" research site where students are allowed to access. In our district, the concept of notes and research starts in the end of 2nd-3rd grade. Part of the 3rd grade technology concept is to create their own Powerpoint project with three credible sources in a pretty close to MLA citation. This is considered a standard for this grade.

9 years old is what 3rd-4th grade. It can be done.

You're right- it can be done- for some children. However, it's not fair to paint all children with the same brushstroke. All kids learn differently- ask any teacher about the "differentiated instruction" methods they use in their classrooms.

***This is not in regards to the OP's DS, just 3rd-4th grade in general.

 

[golfgal]

Ya know, when my son was his age, the teachers kept us parents apprised of the large assignments. I think your son failed to do his work but his teacher also failed to do theirs. Learning to plan for things like this should not come from panic but from adults helping to lay out the plan several times so the child knows how to do it. Had my son picked his favorite team, he would have come home immediately and done the work.
Ask the teachers to communicate about large projects so you can be sure he does the work over time rather than panic the whole family.

I agree that outlining a report, taking notes, flash drives and other computer sites at school that can be accessed at home are the norm here too. We are a poor, urban school system and we have had all of this for a long time. Again, your school system may be failing you. Teachers in our school system would have asked to see progress on this type of assignment at a few junctures.

You're right- it can be done- for some children. However, it's not fair to paint all children with the same brushstroke. All kids learn differently- ask any teacher about the "differentiated instruction" methods they use in their classrooms.

***This is not in regards to the OP's DS, just 3rd-4th grade in general.

Not every assignment is just about what gets put on the paper or tagboard. The main reason to assign a big project is to learn about time management, getting an assignment that is due in 3 weeks and how to budget out time to do the research and put the project together. It is also about learning how to be responsible for listening in class and knowing what is due when. I would bet that if you went into this classroom there is a BIG note on the board about this project and when it is due, especially since the teacher gave the kids the materials to complete the project. The actual information gathered is secondary to what the project is really about. A good teacher will get this and purposely NOT tell the parents about it because in high school, they have to do this stuff all on their own and even worse, into the business world and this is where they start practicing for that time.

Also, just like with all homework/tests, some kids are going to do better than others and yes, some 9 year olds will excel at gathering information and putting it together and some will barley be able to turn on a computer and then everything in between. This is how teachers can gauge how a child is doing. Third grade is a HUGE year for discovering learning disabilities. Many kids with more mild learning disabilities have enough of a base to make it through K-2nd grade without too much difficulty but 3rd grade is a lot more demanding. Projects such as these can be very beneficial for teachers to see if kids have learning disabilities--unless of course the parents do all the work (which the teachers know too) and then a parent is only hurting their child further.

 

[Cindy B]

You're right- it can be done- for some children. However, it's not fair to paint all children with the same brushstroke. All kids learn differently- ask any teacher about the "differentiated instruction" methods they use in their classrooms.

***This is not in regards to the OP's DS, just 3rd-4th grade in general.

I understand all about differentiated instruction. I'm just stating that this is a technology standard for all students in my state (NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards). All students unless they are under APA have to adhere to these standards. APA students have different set of standards.

Differentiated instruction in this case could include audio prompts, chunking the assignment, allowing students to do a video taped performance instead of a written, student choice on an assignment, etc. The books or materials used could have been at different levels, etc.

For all we know that this assignment was differentiated already. I see a "choice" theme, access to materials and such.

This is just the technology standard for all students in 3-4th grade. Technology and social studies are not NJASK tested subjects in this grade, so there is a bit of leeway with the standards. However, if you are under a state review school (which I was) the state authorities are much stricter with all standards-- even including the non tested NJASK standards.

 

[Bluestars]

I think your son's project turned out great. I used to hate it when my kids would forget a big project until right before it was do. I am in the habit of asking every week if there are any projects due soon. Luckily, they do most of them at school.

 

[5lilfish]

Most school libraries have a subscription service or "paid" research site where students are allowed to access. In our district, the concept of notes and research starts in the end of 2nd-3rd grade. Part of the 3rd grade technology concept is to create their own Powerpoint project with three credible sources in a pretty close to MLA citation. This is considered a standard for this grade.

9 years old is what 3rd-4th grade. It can be done.

My DD did the powerpoint research project in 3rd grade too. It was done completely in school...where the computers have filters and can only go to certain research sites.

As I said, me DD knows how to use the internet but I still don't like the idea of her surfing for info without help.

Jess

 

[shelbys mommy]

The grade is in, 2 A+!!!! He wasn't going to enter it in the fair itself, but after he got those grades, he decided to enter it in. He didn't have to have a display for the assignment for the grade, but can choose to have a display for it for the actual fair & judging. My reply was "Good luck finding a display for that topic." I can't even begin to think of a display for that, so he pulled out his Saints football tickets, football cards with the Saints players on it, his picture of when he met Mike McKenzie & his Saints hat.

As far as computer usage at school, it basically blows. They have 5 computers that all the kids need to get on, they get maybe 5 mins max, depending on how computer literate the student is. One child was taking too long looking things up & my son said she could have his time also, because we have internet at home.

I've written his teacher many letters about assignements or grades etc and got no reply back from her ever. The school system here sucks. I hate it. But until we can afford to move, we are stuck.

 

[Bluestars]

That's great! Especially for a last minute project. I hope he has good luck in the competition.

Reminds me of the time my son waited until the last day to do a poster. He did it of an Indian structure. When he was doing it, he ran out of ink in his brown marker, so we ran up to the store to get another one. When he used the new one, it was a different color. He hated the poster and actually cried the next morning because he was so embarrassed. The poster won best in the school, best in the state and runner up in the region. Sometimes things just work out.

 

[golfgal]

The grade is in, 2 A+!!!! He wasn't going to enter it in the fair itself, but after he got those grades, he decided to enter it in. He didn't have to have a display for the assignment for the grade, but can choose to have a display for it for the actual fair & judging. My reply was "Good luck finding a display for that topic." I can't even begin to think of a display for that, so he pulled out his Saints football tickets, football cards with the Saints players on it, his picture of when he met Mike McKenzie & his Saints hat.

As far as computer usage at school, it basically blows. They have 5 computers that all the kids need to get on, they get maybe 5 mins max, depending on how computer literate the student is. One child was taking too long looking things up & my son said she could have his time also, because we have internet at home.

I've written his teacher many letters about assignements or grades etc and got no reply back from her ever. The school system here sucks. I hate it. But until we can afford to move, we are stuck.

5 computers

WOW-I think I would start a technology fundraiser to get some more computers into the school so kids can at least keep up with current technology. You can't even work at McDonalds without knowing how to use a computer these days.

 

[shelbys mommy]

Well he did not place & his highly devestated. He's crying & all upset. DH & I both told him how proud we were of him. I knew this would happen if he did not place. He did get a participant ribbon for entering though.