OT: 2nd grade project a bit much?

[drcbpearce]

Ok, I just want a little feedback from my DIS friends. My DD7 is in 2nd grade. Last Wed she brought home packet with instructions on this 'project' that is to be completed by the following Wed. They are supposed to complete a research paper on a person they have chosen, as well as a poster with pictures and 10 facts about this person that they will have to present in class. They are supposed to go to the library and choose a book or two on the person and use the internet as well. In the instructions it says 'you have 7 WHOLE days, including a weekend to finish'. Ok. That weekend, is a holiday weekend and they are out of school tomorrow. Many ppl take advantage of these weekends and go out of town. How often are you excited to be given work to do over a holiday weekend? I'm unhappy because it seems to be quite a large project for children that are not necessarily independent students just yet. It is going to require quite alot of parental involvement as well. Don't get me wrong, I am all for helping my children when they need assistance. But a second grader doing a research paper? It sounds more like a 4th/5th/6th grade kind of thing, not 2nd. Tell me I'm not alone in thinking this is, well, over the top for a bunch of 7 and 8 year olds.

 

[juliebean]

I have a 9th grade son and a 3rd grade daughter. She had almost an identical project in 2nd. I do think we had a little more time, it's a little tough with the holiday weekend - our library is closed Sun and Mon. Third grade is rolling the same way. She just finished a bridge project, it had to span at least 12 inches, be self supporting and hold two rolls of pennies, she had to identify the stress points and names of structural things like joists - plus a written report. Pain in the behind...elementary school is not the same anymore! That being said, based on how my 9th grader is doing and projects they do in HS - I think they are being well prepared, so I'm good with it.

 

[palavra]

How long is the research paper? I have a 2nd grade daughter, and I am assuming that you mean writing a page or two?

My daughter had a week to complete a power point research project. She chose to do the story of the Titanic. We did not have to go to the library because she already had a couple of books on the Titanic and could use the internet too.

I know this might not be a popular opinion, but I would be thankful that the teacher was encouraging your child to do more than you might think your child is capable of. It will take some work on your part as well, and I do understand that that can be frustrating, especially over a holiday weekend.

For future reference, you might mention to the teacher that holiday weekends are often not an optimal time for large scale projects. She honestly might not have thought about it.

 

[Hannathy]

Nope sorry not over the top, right on course. You are kidding when you think that would be a project for an upper elementary student?

 

[effervescent]

It doesn't sound over the top to me either. My DS1 did something similar when he was in public school around that age. Research and writing are important skills that your child will use all through their educational career. The expectations do not seem out of line for that age group.

 

[bushdianee]

I teach first grade and I am going to give an assignment for my students to do a "mini"research paper on an animal of their choice. They will identify their animal, tell where it lives, what it looks like, etc. they will do part of the research at school and part at home. They will also make a habitat for their animal. I am going to give them close to a month to complete. I am just waiting for my instruction letter to be translated into Spanish before I can assign the project. It should be interesting to see what comes in. In the past I've had some really elaborate projects and some drawings come in. I don't assign much homework so hopefully parents won't get too upset. I can see a couple of my English Language Learners having to do most of it in school as some of them don't have too much parental participation at home.

 

[girlieeee]

I think it all depends on what exactly the teacher is looking for. I mean, the teacher may consider a "paper" one or two short paragraphs. The "facts" could be one sentence each. Not a big deal. IF the teacher expects more over a holiday weekend, that is a little overboard.

My son had a project in 1st grade where he had a paper/posterboard due and that was fun to do. This year (5th grade) he had to write a decent summary of 8 seperate battles of the revolutionary war and put them in a timeline on a posterboard. THAT was a lot of work for him & me!

 

[drcbpearce]

Nope sorry not over the top, right on course. You are kidding when you think that would be a project for an upper elementary student?

Nope, not kidding. why would that not be in line with upper elementary grades? would it be too simple? IDK.

 

[Marionnette]

Ok, I just want a little feedback from my DIS friends. My DD7 is in 2nd grade. Last Wed she brought home packet with instructions on this 'project' that is to be completed by the following Wed. They are supposed to complete a research paper on a person they have chosen, as well as a poster with pictures and 10 facts about this person that they will have to present in class. They are supposed to go to the library and choose a book or two on the person and use the internet as well. In the instructions it says 'you have 7 WHOLE days, including a weekend to finish'. Ok. That weekend, is a holiday weekend and they are out of school tomorrow. Many ppl take advantage of these weekends and go out of town. How often are you excited to be given work to do over a holiday weekend? I'm unhappy because it seems to be quite a large project for children that are not necessarily independent students just yet. It is going to require quite alot of parental involvement as well. Don't get me wrong, I am all for helping my children when they need assistance. But a second grader doing a research paper? It sounds more like a 4th/5th/6th grade kind of thing, not 2nd. Tell me I'm not alone in thinking this is, well, over the top for a bunch of 7 and 8 year olds.

I have college-age children now. I was never a fan of projects, especially when the kids were young. More often than not, they ended up being more of a project for Mom than a positive learning experience for the kids. So you have my sympathies. TBH, I don't think many teachers see these projects as annoyances. They honestly believe that the kids and parents will enjoy the enrichment.

The project seems very similar to the ones that my kids used to get. They were often given over long weekends, especially when the teachers had an in-service on the Monday that the kids were off.

I'm sure that they don't expect your second grader to choose research books for their project but more likely grade-level appropriate biographies. The internet research has me concerned because it requires the parents to pre-screen the websites. More work for Mom or Dad. Did the teacher provide a list of suggested people to write about and websites to visit?

And yeah, it stinks that the teacher chose a holiday weekend for the assignment. But your child had/has Wed. Thurs. Mon. and Tues nights to work on it without having to touch it during the weekend itself. So the teacher will reason that there is plenty of time to complete the project without ruining your weekend. I'm not saying that I agree with that reasoning but it's an argument that I've heard time and again.

BTW, if you think that's bad, just wait. As they got older my kids had major research projects and papers that we assigned over winter break. And they we required to read a number of books from a reading list every summer PLUS take a computerized test on each at the school library with a deadline that fell three weeks before the start of school. Yet they never discussed those books once the school year began.

AND there were the math packets that counted as their first test grade which was due on the first full day of school. Never mind that the kids were on block scheduling and didn't have math for a full semester prior to the summer and may not have math for another full semester after returning, let's make sure that we keep their math skills up during what is supposed to be their vacation from school.

Yes, op, it will get much worse.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

When my son was in the 2nd grade we had to do the same kind of project, but I actually loved it because he did his on Walt Disney. They actually all had to dress up like their famous person in history that they did their report on. That was the hardest part for most parents.

I think it's good that they start this early because as they get older, the projects get harder.

 

[drcbpearce]

I teach first grade and I am going to give an assignment for my students to do a "mini"research paper on an animal of their choice. They will identify their animal, tell where it lives, what it looks like, etc. they will do part of the research at school and part at home. They will also make a habitat for their animal. I am going to give them close to a month to complete. I am just waiting for my instruction letter to be translated into Spanish before I can assign the project. It should be interesting to see what comes in. In the past I've had some really elaborate projects and some drawings come in. I don't assign much homework so hopefully parents won't get too upset. I can see a couple of my English Language Learners having to do most of it in school as some of them don't have too much parental participation at home.

Your project does not sound unreasonable at all, and would be quite fun. And the fact that you are allowing time during class and at home for it to be done and more than adequate time to complete make it even more reasonable in my mind.

 

[crisi]

Just wait. They will get more and more elaborate.

But this is in line with what my kids did for homework in 2nd grade. With the timeline.

One thing that helps is to have on hand age appropriate books - something factual, something biographical, something fiction, something about animals. Send the teacher an email and ask what is coming up so you can have the materials on hand. Because you are right - the buying posterboard or finding a book at the last minute is not fun.

 

[drcbpearce]

I have college-age children now. I was never a fan of projects, especially when the kids were young. More often than not, they ended up being more of a project for Mom than a positive learning experience for the kids. So you have my sympathies. TBH, I don't think many teachers see these projects as annoyances. They honestly believe that the kids and parents will enjoy the enrichment.

The project seems very similar to the ones that my kids used to get. They were often given over long weekends, especially when the teachers had an in-service on the Monday that the kids were off.

I'm sure that they don't expect your second grader to choose research books for their project but more likely grade-level appropriate biographies. The internet research has me concerned because it requires the parents to pre-screen the websites. More work for Mom or Dad. Did the teacher provide a list of suggested people to write about and websites to visit?

And yeah, it stinks that the teacher chose a holiday weekend for the assignment. But your child had/has Wed. Thurs. Mon. and Tues nights to work on it without having to touch it during the weekend itself. So the teacher will reason that there is plenty of time to complete the project without ruining your weekend. I'm not saying that I agree with that reasoning but it's an argument that I've heard time and again.

BTW, if you think that's bad, just wait. As they got older my kids had major research projects and papers that we assigned over winter break. And they we required to read a number of books from a reading list every summer PLUS take a computerized test on each at the school library with a deadline that fell three weeks before the start of school. Yet they never discussed those books once the school year began.

AND there were the math packets that counted as their first test grade which was due on the first full day of school. Never mind that the kids were on block scheduling and didn't have math for a full semester prior to the summer and may not have math for another full semester after returning, let's make sure that we keep their math skills up during what is supposed to be their vacation from school.

Yes, op, it will get much worse.

yay me. what I get to look forward to. blah. I guess I probably wouldn't be so unhappy about it if we had more time to complete it and a litttle advance warning. Just a quick email a few days ahead of time giving us a heads up. What it feels like is an assignment for parents. I have no problem assisting with homework, I am just surprised they are assigning something like this in 2nd grade. When my DS was in 2nd grade, he had to do a very short paper on a president. That seemed much more appropriate than a research paper/biography on Carrie Underwood. Oh well.

 

[azdizzymom]

Seems like a normal 2nd grade project to me. In 3rd grade we had a week to a recipe. My son had to assist in 'cooking' a recipe. Do a poster board with pictures and have it typed up so it could go in a cookbook.

School is so much different than when most of us were in school. There are so many 'standards' the teachers have to meet (varying from state to state). It seems parents do realize or go to open house and get book stating standards but don't read. Teachers have so much to teach and so little time in class to do this. Class sizes are bigger, there are kids who need extra help who require more assistance than normal, etc. Add to that the time kids spend going to the restroom (these breaks which shouldn't take more than 5 minutes with a class seem to take 10 minutes minimum cause of playing in bathroom, goofing off, etc.). Kindergarten has changed since my youngest (8th grade now) was in it. I sub and see all different grades and what is expected. It is a lot. Kids can't be expected to just glue in kindergarten, learn to read in first grade, learn math in 2nd grade, multiplication and cursive in third, etc.

Project is normal and is not just an 'upper class' project. For eighth grade my son had less than a week to research 4 people and do a 'wall of fame' and 'wall of shame' poster. It only gets harder and so many kids don't have parents who care or help. BUT you can also tell those whose parents do the whole project for them (not implying this in anyone's case here). I judge the elementary science fair. You can tell the projects the parents do because you ask the specific questions and kids have NO IDEA what the project is about, what research means, etc. I would give a better score to a simpler project I know the kid did than to a much harder project I could tell the parent did.

 

[drcbpearce]

Now you guys have got me really worried. My DS is in 5th grade and he gets projects to do as well, but he's more independent and doesn't need so much assistance. I know it gets tougher the older they get, and I totally expect that. Writing and researching skills are very important as you've pointed out, I can't argue with that. I've been thru enough education myself to know that is true. And to push yourself is a good thing as well. I guess I"m frustrated by the whole timing of the project and that we were given no advance warning this was being sent home. One of my friends had no idea about it, until I just asked what her thoughts were. Her DD hadn't given her the paper and I guess she didn't find it in the backpack. so now they're scrambling to get everything on a holiday wknd when the library is closed today and tomorrow.
Yes, I will send the teacher an email and let her know that I'm unhappy w/the timing of this and ask that she give us a heads up next time around so we're not caught offguard.

Thanks for the input!

 

[undertheradar]

This looks like an easy project. A short paper including 10 facts, 2nd grade= couple of paragraphs?, and a poster about the person. Add in a visit to the library, sounds like a fun learning experience.

 

[Marionnette]

yay me. what I get to look forward to. blah. I guess I probably wouldn't be so unhappy about it if we had more time to complete it and a litttle advance warning. Just a quick email a few days ahead of time giving us a heads up. What it feels like is an assignment for parents. I have no problem assisting with homework, I am just surprised they are assigning something like this in 2nd grade. When my DS was in 2nd grade, he had to do a very short paper on a president. That seemed much more appropriate than a research paper/biography on Carrie Underwood. Oh well.

Again, you have my sympathies. BTDT.

Does it have to be Carrie Underwood or are you being facetious? An easier subject would be Ben Franklin. Tons of books about him that are written on an early elementary level. Check Amazon's section on children's books, there are 67 listed for ages 4-8!

 

[drcbpearce]

Seems like a normal 2nd grade project to me. In 3rd grade we had a week to a recipe. My son had to assist in 'cooking' a recipe. Do a poster board with pictures and have it typed up so it could go in a cookbook.

School is so much different than when most of us were in school. There are so many 'standards' the teachers have to meet (varying from state to state). It seems parents do realize or go to open house and get book stating standards but don't read. Teachers have so much to teach and so little time in class to do this. Class sizes are bigger, there are kids who need extra help who require more assistance than normal, etc. Add to that the time kids spend going to the restroom (these breaks which shouldn't take more than 5 minutes with a class seem to take 10 minutes minimum cause of playing in bathroom, goofing off, etc.). Kindergarten has changed since my youngest (8th grade now) was in it. I sub and see all different grades and what is expected. It is a lot. Kids can't be expected to just glue in kindergarten, learn to read in first grade, learn math in 2nd grade, multiplication and cursive in third, etc.

Project is normal and is not just an 'upper class' project. For eighth grade my son had less than a week to research 4 people and do a 'wall of fame' and 'wall of shame' poster. It only gets harder and so many kids don't have parents who care or help. BUT you can also tell those whose parents do the whole project for them (not implying this in anyone's case here). I judge the elementary science fair. You can tell the projects the parents do because you ask the specific questions and kids have NO IDEA what the project is about, what research means, etc. I would give a better score to a simpler project I know the kid did than to a much harder project I could tell the parent did.

How crazy! my DS also had to do the recipe thing, almost exactly the same as yours w/photos and recipe instructions and all. And yes, you make all valid points about the way school is going these days, they are expecting things at much earlier ages and putting alot more pressure on the teachers. funny you made the comment about the science fair. My mother was a teacher for 30 yrs and she said basically the same thing. She thought this project was a bit much on short notice.

 

[drcbpearce]

Again, you have my sympathies. BTDT.

Does it have to be Carrie Underwood or are you being facetious? An easier subject would be Ben Franklin. Tons of books about him that are written on an early elementary level. Check Amazon's section on children's books, there are 67 listed for ages 4-8!

Oh Ben Franklin would be wonderful! But, Carrie is who my daughter chose. IDK why, she's not someone we listen to. But she is from our state, that's probably the attraction.

 

[Hannathy]

Yes, I will send the teacher an email and let her know that I'm unhappy w/the timing of this and ask that she give us a heads up next time around so we're not caught offguard.

Thanks for the input!

Uhhh you won't be getting a "heads up" that is what she did she gave them an assignment. The teacher doesn't send home notice that I'll be giving an assignment!