Need help with 4th grade English

[golfgal]

It is also possible that the teacher gave verbal directions in school as to what she wanted for the "complete" sentences and the kid didn't listen. At this age it is very common to give partial directions on the worksheet and the rest of the directions verbally to teach the kids to put the two together. How many people get worksheets at work with complete directions . It is a learned skill.

 

[hucifer]

Frankly, I'm more confused by the "respect creation" part than the complete sentence part.

Me too! I totally didn't understand the sentence and I thought her son's response made more sense than the teacher's request.

 

[EMom]

Here's a suggestion I used to give to students regarding this issue:

Write an answer in such a way that even if I had never read the question, I would know what had been asked. "You recycle" is indeed a complete sentence. But it does not connect to the issue of respecting creation, which is what was asked about in the question. If the answer had been, " One way in which we can respect creation is to recycle," I would think the question was either (1) List ways in which we can respect creation, or maybe (2) What does recycling accomplish?" (or something along those lines)

Once I saw the other 3 answers, all adressing "ways to respect creation", it would be obvious that the first question/option I'd thought of was in fact the question asked. So perhaps what this teacher is looking for is an answer that indicates the question asked. Have your child read his answer to himself and ask, "Does my reply make it clear what the question was?"

 

[Shelton123]

I've never been to Catholic school and up until now I've always had to repeat the question in my answer :rofl

 

[MM27]

Just a quick response here...my son is also in 4th grade-my daughter in 8th. When doing work in 4th I remember the teacher being firm on the students writing full sentences for answers..& this was math! I think they just want them to get into the habit because of state tests. (And yes, catholic school here too!)

I teach Math, Science and SS. We actually do a lot of writing in math. Students need to be able to explain why and how they solved a problem.

It looks like a complete sentence to me. Subject and verb is all that is needed to make a " complete sentence".

If the teacher wants the sentence to restate the question that should be explicitly stated. It would be wrong to assume that anyone would interprit "complete sentence" to mean restate the question in the answer. I know I would never interpret it that way. I answer any question I am given with the least amount of words because I know that the CEO or board or whom ever asked it just wants the answer and not a dissertation.

But how do you know the teacher didn't tell the students? I don't accept sentences like that in my classroom either. I teach in a public school. Every time they have questions to complete, I will remind them that they must include the question in their answer. I don't always write that on the top of the paper. My verbal directions should be followed the same as written directions. As another poster mentioned, I tell them that if I didn't know what the question was I should be able to figure it out by reading their answer.

One of their questions today was, "What do geographers use lines of longitude and latitude for?"
I had a student that answered, They use them for finding exact locations.
Okay, that's true, but in my classroom that answer is not getting full credit. I'll write on their paper EXPLAIN THE 'THEY and THEM'.

 

[shelly3girls]

I would be willing to bet that the teacher has told the kids numerous times that complete answers should restate the question. Her note may seem vague but from my experience the kids should almost always know what she means especially by 4th grade.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Complete sentances for me has always meant "more than 2 words--elaborate".

Years of public school experiance right here--not to mention 5 years of Honors English.

"Recycling is one way that we can respect creation" would be acceptable.

"You recycle", while a complete sentance, is 1st and 2nd grade level. The teacher probably is looking for expansion of writing, so that it is 4th grade level, and age-appropriate.