OT: 2nd grade project a bit much?

[dfarner]

this is one of the main reasons I DID pull mine out (in 2nd and 4th grades), and we homeschool (for 2 years now). Best thing we ever did!!

I was expected to be their teacher, so I thought "ok, no problem, I WILL be their teacher", but instead of doing it from 4pm to bedtime when they're tired, grumpy and just *done* with school-type stuff (and then on the weekends too), we simply now do it whenever it suits us. It's awesome... if you're thinking of it, I'd really give it some serious research and thought.

we do projects that are 100% relevant to each child and what they find interesting at that moment (because that is when they actually learn something - not just memorizing facts for a couple of days to spew back on a test), field trips galore, travel a whole bunch, take classes w/ other homeschoolers (right now science, shakespeare and art), have science fairs, art fairs, around the world night, put on shakespeare plays, do community service projects, etc, w/ our homeschool group, have weekly park day w/ our homeschool group (70 families in our group) - oh, and we even have an awesome yearbook. We go to the library a lot, the kids take gymnastics, dd11 takes an extra art class during the week, they have sleepovers in the middle of the week w/ their homeschool friends (and non-homeschool friends on the weekends), we do everything off-season (cheaper and less crowded everywhere!)... in early Dec we went to Great Wolf Lodge in PA for 5 days w/ about 20 homeschool families for CHEAP (homeschool rates). ahhhh, it's the life

I can't recommend it enough for anyone thinking of doing it.

Wow, it sounds like you have a very full calendar! When do you have time to do things like reduce fractions, find equivalent equations, identify helping verbs, plot coordinate pairs, and learn the difference between a waxing and waning crescent moon?

 

[pacrosby]

this is one of the main reasons I DID pull mine out (in 2nd and 4th grades), and we homeschool (for 2 years now). Best thing we ever did!!

I was expected to be their teacher, so I thought "ok, no problem, I WILL be their teacher", but instead of doing it from 4pm to bedtime when they're tired, grumpy and just *done* with school-type stuff (and then on the weekends too), we simply now do it whenever it suits us. It's awesome... if you're thinking of it, I'd really give it some serious research and thought.

we do projects that are 100% relevant to each child and what they find interesting at that moment (because that is when they actually learn something - not just memorizing facts for a couple of days to spew back on a test), field trips galore, travel a whole bunch, take classes w/ other homeschoolers (right now science, shakespeare and art), have science fairs, art fairs, around the world night, put on shakespeare plays, do community service projects, etc, w/ our homeschool group, have weekly park day w/ our homeschool group (70 families in our group) - oh, and we even have an awesome yearbook. We go to the library a lot, the kids take gymnastics, dd11 takes an extra art class during the week, they have sleepovers in the middle of the week w/ their homeschool friends (and non-homeschool friends on the weekends), we do everything off-season (cheaper and less crowded everywhere!)... in early Dec we went to Great Wolf Lodge in PA for 5 days w/ about 20 homeschool families for CHEAP (homeschool rates). ahhhh, it's the life

I can't recommend it enough for anyone thinking of doing it.

sounds wonderful I'd love to be able to live our lives on our own terms. I feel so squelched by the constrainsts of the school day and the school calender. Before I quit my career to be a sahm I worked for myself and got used to having control over my life. Then comes kids and with that the world of public school education. No more! LOL I have 4 kids so it it would be quite the undertaking to homeschool. I'm alittle ADD myself....not sure I could be organized enough. I will say I find myself lurking on the homeschool chat thread LOL Who knows what the future holds. For now I'll live vicariously through you all.

Enjoy

 

[pacrosby]

My daughter did learn how to do power points in computer class this year (2nd grade). She also did a research project on an animal of her choice last year in first grade which included library research. I find it hard to believe that my daughter's school is that advanced. I thought early research projects and computer skills were an integral part of early elementary school today.

Hey, it is what it is. And I live in a consistently high performing state as far as education is concerned. Not being defensive just saying that I'm sure they know what they are doing.

The truth is that 1st and 2nd graders are STILL learning to be competent readers. I know alot of schools these days feel the need to push push push but the truth is development is development. No matter how hard you push a good percentage of early elementary aged kids are not going to have mastered the necessary reading and writing skills to effectively use the computer for research/report writing/etc. I'd rather see them strengthen the basics first. Then build on them. Apparently that is also the philosophy of our school.

As far as those who've questioned why some parents don't feel they should have to help. I think there's a big difference between being available to answer questions and offer advice and having to sit alongside and do it with them. I am of the opinion that homework is review and/or, in the case of a project, an opportunity to put into practice the skills they have learned in class. Therefore they IMO should be able to do it on their own. A parent should not be expected to have to TEACH the material. If they do, the school isn't doing their job.

Personally it's disturbing to hear the number of people who seem to just accept that as par for the course and yet, explains why so many teachers do it. They get away with it.

 

[drcbpearce]

Since you say your DD has reading issues, make this fun, and have this be her reading assignment for the time being dont make her read something else as well. My guys have always had to read so many minutes a day, if they had a project due, then that would be their reading assignment. DS8 has been reading a little bit about DaVinci every day, and as I am typing this he is rattling on about him. I like that idea and that will be her reading tomorrow.

This is not the teacher's fault. You need to get in the habit of checking backpack or assigment books until the child is old enough, and even then you need to check on them. I have been sitting next to parents at basketball games and I will mention that one of my kids was working on said project before we left and they had no idea because they never checked or asked their kid if they had homework or projects. And our stuff in posted online too![/QUOTE]I have to disagree with you on one point. I really feel, as do many other parents of children in DD's class, that the timing was really poorly chosen. And it was essentially sprung on us, on a Thursday before a holiday weekend. I initially posted it was Wed, but when I looked at the paper again, it was actually Thurs. I do check DD's backpack daily, b/c I know all too well, they don't always tell us everything. I would so love it if they were able to post assignments/projects online, but they do not. I don't like being caught offguard with things like this and none of us had any clue something of this, um, magnitude(?) was coming.

 

[Hannathy]

Since you say your DD has reading issues, make this fun, and have this be her reading assignment for the time being dont make her read something else as well. My guys have always had to read so many minutes a day, if they had a project due, then that would be their reading assignment. DS8 has been reading a little bit about DaVinci every day, and as I am typing this he is rattling on about him. I like that idea and that will be her reading tomorrow.

This is not the teacher's fault. You need to get in the habit of checking backpack or assigment books until the child is old enough, and even then you need to check on them. I have been sitting next to parents at basketball games and I will mention that one of my kids was working on said project before we left and they had no idea because they never checked or asked their kid if they had homework or projects. And our stuff in posted online too!

I have to disagree with you on one point. I really feel, as do many other parents of children in DD's class, that the timing was really poorly chosen. And it was essentially sprung on us, on a Thursday before a holiday weekend. I initially posted it was Wed, but when I looked at the paper again, it was actually Thurs. I do check DD's backpack daily, b/c I know all too well, they don't always tell us everything. I would so love it if they were able to post assignments/projects online, but they do not. I don't like being caught offguard with things like this and none of us had any clue something of this, um, magnitude(?) was coming.[/QUOTE]


But you weren't caught off guard your DD was given an assignment and then the due date. I really don't understand the advanced warning. I really don't and I'm not trying to be difficult. None of my kids ever had a teacher tell them until they told them of a project. I mean what do you want her to do send a note "oh by the way I'm going to give them a homework assignment on Tuesday"

So now you know from now until your child graduates projects of this magnitude and greater will be coming and at increasing frequencies!

Lay in the supply of poster board, markers and printer ink and paper it only gets worse. Glue sticks and double stick tape are also needed!

 

[Mkrop]

Since you say your DD has reading issues, make this fun, and have this be her reading assignment for the time being dont make her read something else as well. My guys have always had to read so many minutes a day, if they had a project due, then that would be their reading assignment. DS8 has been reading a little bit about DaVinci every day, and as I am typing this he is rattling on about him. I like that idea and that will be her reading tomorrow.

This is not the teacher's fault. You need to get in the habit of checking backpack or assigment books until the child is old enough, and even then you need to check on them. I have been sitting next to parents at basketball games and I will mention that one of my kids was working on said project before we left and they had no idea because they never checked or asked their kid if they had homework or projects. And our stuff in posted online too!

I have to disagree with you on one point. I really feel, as do many other parents of children in DD's class, that the timing was really poorly chosen. And it was essentially sprung on us, on a Thursday before a holiday weekend. I initially posted it was Wed, but when I looked at the paper again, it was actually Thurs. I do check DD's backpack daily, b/c I know all too well, they don't always tell us everything. I would so love it if they were able to post assignments/projects online, but they do not. I don't like being caught offguard with things like this and none of us had any clue something of this, um, magnitude(?) was coming.[/QUOTE]

I am not trying to be difficult but obviously the teacher thinks the project can be done in X amount of time. She sent it home and gave you a deadline. Long weekends and holidays dont matter at school. I think maybe you have been spoiled so far (and I dont mean that to me be mean) bc you been getting advanced notice or have nto had this with your older son. This type of thing happens all the time at school. Think the college professor will care if it is a holiday weekend in the middle of a semester, or your boss will care if the project is due on MLK day. Nope it is due when it is due.

 

[pacrosby]

]

I am not trying to be difficult but obviously the teacher thinks the project can be done in X amount of time. She sent it home and gave you a deadline. Long weekends and holidays dont matter at school. I think maybe you have been spoiled so far (and I dont mean that to me be mean) bc you been getting advanced notice or have nto had this with your older son. This type of thing happens all the time at school. Think the college professor will care if it is a holiday weekend in the middle of a semester, or your boss will care if the project is due on MLK day. Nope it is due when it is due.

IDK. I think you are using your own personal frame of reference here and just expecting that it is the norm. We are talking about a 2nd grader NOT a college student or an adult in the work force. The OP feels that perhaps it is a bit over the top for her 2nd grader and many here have actually agreed that their elementary schools would never do that. I know ours wouldn't.

A 2nd grade teacher should KNOW that at least a portion of the class is going to require a fair amount of parent assistance for a project like that. And with or without the assistance, we're talking a project that is going to require a few days of effort. How about simply being considerate? Weekends are sacred to many of us. And holiday weekends are frequently the very weekends that families try and schedule special activities and get-aways. No. It was unnecesary. Why couldn't she have assigned it earlier in the week or waited until the kids came back on Tuesday. Unnecessary and short sighted.

 

[drcbpearce]

I have to disagree with you on one point. I really feel, as do many other parents of children in DD's class, that the timing was really poorly chosen. And it was essentially sprung on us, on a Thursday before a holiday weekend. I initially posted it was Wed, but when I looked at the paper again, it was actually Thurs. I do check DD's backpack daily, b/c I know all too well, they don't always tell us everything. I would so love it if they were able to post assignments/projects online, but they do not. I don't like being caught offguard with things like this and none of us had any clue something of this, um, magnitude(?) was coming.

But you weren't caught off guard your DD was given an assignment and then the due date. I really don't understand the advanced warning. I really don't and I'm not trying to be difficult. None of my kids ever had a teacher tell them until they told them of a project. I mean what do you want her to do send a note "oh by the way I'm going to give them a homework assignment on Tuesday"

No. I expect homework on a daily basis. You have completely missed my point. This is the first project of this size that DD has been assigned all year, which is one reason it came as such a surprise. I don't expect teachers to tell us every single little thing that is going on in a classroom. I don't need to know that. I know they are busy, stretched way too thin, paid too little and expected to do too much. However, when there is something way outside the norm for the class, such as this project, just an email a day or two in advance, would be wonderful and greatly appreciated by all parents. Wouldn't you like to have something like that? I know there are teachers who send out a monthly letter discussing what is going on in class and what we should see coming home. I love teachers like that. I'm sorry you've never experienced it, b/c it's really a wonderful thing. They are taking the time to communicate with the parents, since we are really partners in education. I do my very best to make sure my children's teachers know how much they are appreciated, always.

 

[drcbpearce]

I am not trying to be difficult but obviously the teacher thinks the project can be done in X amount of time. She sent it home and gave you a deadline. Long weekends and holidays dont matter at school. I think maybe you have been spoiled so far (and I dont mean that to me be mean) bc you been getting advanced notice or have nto had this with your older son. This type of thing happens all the time at school. Think the college professor will care if it is a holiday weekend in the middle of a semester, or your boss will care if the project is due on MLK day. Nope it is due when it is due.

If this were high school or college, your point would be valid. But these are 7 and 8 yo children. No one, including you, likes being given work that has to be done over a long weekend. You would do it, grudgingly, b/c you had to, but you certainly would not be happy about it.

I gladly agree that I've been spoiled. DS's teacher isn't the only one we've had who has given us a bit of a heads up. DD's teacher last year sent home monthly letters telling us what they were working on in class. I appreciate that kind of communication very much, and make sure the teachers know that. I take care of them b/c they take care of my kids and myself. If you have never experienced anything like that, I'm sorry. It's a wonderful thing.

 

[drcbpearce]

I know there are several teachers following this thread and I just have to say something. If you are the type who sends out a monthly email, or letter, or even only occasionally communicates with parents to let them know what is going on. Or gives reasonable time frames for projects to be due, this is for you

:cheer2

There are many parents on here who have never experienced a teacher who does that and I just want to say, in behalf of all the parents of your students THANK YOU. (If you are a teacher who does not do that, this is for you too.) Thank you for all you do. For all the times you grade papers over the weekend. For all the times you stay late to help a student grasp a concept. For all of your own money you spend on supplies and things for your classroom. For all of your time that is dedicated to our children and the future of our country. THANK YOU. The job you do is incredibly important and unfortunately, many of us take you for granted and don't show our appreciation for you often enough. I also know many times all you hear from parents is the negative, the things you've done wrong, the things that have been messed up, or the undeserved bad grades. Hear me now: WE APPRECIATE YOU!

 

[Hannathy]

Your children are getting older. The onus is on them to tell you of projects. Yes my kids have had teachers who have sent newsletters BUT project due dates are on there not warnings a project is coming up!!!

 

[Mkrop]

IDK. I think you are using your own personal frame of reference here and just expecting that it is the norm. We are talking about a 2nd grader NOT a college student or an adult in the work force. The OP feels that perhaps it is a bit over the top for her 2nd grader and many here have actually agreed that their elementary schools would never do that. I know ours wouldn't.

A 2nd grade teacher should KNOW that at least a portion of the class is going to require a fair amount of parent assistance for a project like that. And with or without the assistance, we're talking a project that is going to require a few days of effort. How about simply being considerate? Weekends are sacred to many of us. And holiday weekends are frequently the very weekends that families try and schedule special activities and get-aways. No. It was unnecesary. Why couldn't she have assigned it earlier in the week or waited until the kids came back on Tuesday. Unnecessary and short sighted.

If this were high school or college, your point would be valid. But these are 7 and 8 yo children. No one, including you, likes being given work that has to be done over a long weekend. You would do it, grudgingly, b/c you had to, but you certainly would not be happy about it.

I gladly agree that I've been spoiled. DS's teacher isn't the only one we've had who has given us a bit of a heads up. DD's teacher last year sent home monthly letters telling us what they were working on in class. I appreciate that kind of communication very much, and make sure the teachers know that. I take care of them b/c they take care of my kids and myself. If you have never experienced anything like that, I'm sorry. It's a wonderful thing.

I can only use my own frame of reference, what else am I suppose to use. And many also told the OP that this project is appropriate for 2nd grade.



Our teachers are awesome but they have a job to do so do our kids. Yes I would be disappointed but not surprised that a project came home over a long weekend. I value our weekend time together and we are usually running to all types of sports events but if that is what they have to do it is what they have to do. I have a 7th grader so we have practically every project under the sun with all different deadlines. Have I grumbled some, sure but it is what is is.

Op asked if the project was over the top for 2nd grade with that deadline with that topic, given that I have a 2nd grader working on a similar project and a 7th grader who has been there done that, I expressed my opinion. Our school works very hard at communication with parents and most of our teachers are parents too so they get the time constraints. But it is our responsibility as parents to stay on top of our kids schoolwork whether it is by asking them, checking backpacks or chekcing online, whatever is available.

I always look at these type of assignments as laying the foundation for the higher grades and the work force.

 

[palavra]

I know there are several teachers following this thread and I just have to say something. If you are the type who sends out a monthly email, or letter, or even only occasionally communicates with parents to let them know what is going on. Or gives reasonable time frames for projects to be due, this is for you

:cheer2

There are many parents on here who have never experienced a teacher who does that and I just want to say, in behalf of all the parents of your students THANK YOU. (If you are a teacher who does not do that, this is for you too.) Thank you for all you do. For all the times you grade papers over the weekend. For all the times you stay late to help a student grasp a concept. For all of your own money you spend on supplies and things for your classroom. For all of your time that is dedicated to our children and the future of our country. THANK YOU. The job you do is incredibly important and unfortunately, many of us take you for granted and don't show our appreciation for you often enough. I also know many times all you hear from parents is the negative, the things you've done wrong, the things that have been messed up, or the undeserved bad grades. Hear me now: WE APPRECIATE YOU!

This is very sweet. And please know that teachers really do appreciate parents who take the time to share ideas and suggestions too.

At my school, the elementary teachers send home a monthly newsletter and a weekly Friday folder. A project such as the one your daughter is doing would have been in the weekly folder but not on the monthly newsletter. For one thing, assignment dates can change for several reasons.

I do think the timing of the holiday weekend was not a great decision. Please let her teacher know that. I know that Ihave made decisions before and later had a parent point something out to me that I had not even considered. I'm just so glad you aren't assuming the teacher did it on purpose and is out to get you.

 

[drcbpearce]

This is very sweet. And please know that teachers really do appreciate parents who take the time to share ideas and suggestions too.

At my school, the elementary teachers send home a monthly newsletter and a weekly Friday folder. A project such as the one your daughter is doing would have been in the weekly folder but not on the monthly newsletter. For one thing, assignment dates can change for several reasons.

I do think the timing of the holiday weekend was not a great decision. Please let her teacher know that. I know that Ihave made decisions before and later had a parent point something out to me that I had not even considered. I'm just so glad you aren't assuming the teacher did it on purpose and is out to get you.

What you do at your school sounds terrific. I will let her know, nicely, that the timing could've been a bit better. And no, I never assume the teacher is out to get me. I make sure my children's teachers know me, and I them, and that they know I am their partner in all of this. I would never take anything personally unless she looked at me and said, 'You're a cow.' lol. although I know whatever any of them may think, they would never say that to me!

 

[drcbpearce]

I just wanted to say thank you to all who have offered their experiences and input. I really do appreciate it. This thread really got more responses than I'd expected and even got a little contentious at times.

My original intent was to find out of this was age appropriate, and judging by the consensus on here, it is. Times change, teachers change, work loads change. I think if we are concerned with our children's educations, and I think everyone here is, then we are doing what's best for our children in our eyes. We all strive to raise healthy, adjusted, well-rounded children who will be the future of our country. Although some may not agree with other's methods, we live in a wonderful country where we are allowed to agree to disagree and express our opinions. So cheers to all of the parents who have responded, sometimes rather vigorously, who are doing the best they can for their children.

 

[Mkrop]

I just wanted to say thank you to all who have offered their experiences and input. I really do appreciate it. This thread really got more responses than I'd expected and even got a little contentious at times.

My original intent was to find out of this was age appropriate, and judging by the consensus on here, it is. Times change, teachers change, work loads change. I think if we are concerned with our children's educations, and I think everyone here is, then we are doing what's best for our children in our eyes. We all strive to raise healthy, adjusted, well-rounded children who will be the future of our country. Although some may not agree with other's methods, we live in a wonderful country where we are allowed to agree to disagree and express our opinions. So cheers to all of the parents who have responded, sometimes rather vigorously, who are doing the best they can for their children.

ANd I agree with the pp, tell the teacher, she might not change, maybe she has to get it down in that timeframe but letting them know is ok. I was up at school and I just happened to mention that DS13 was up late working on a really hard Internet search thing his SS teacher gave. The question were worded funky and sometimes there was more than one answer. I looked at it and shook my head. So I joked with the teacher about how hard it was, she told me I was the third parent to mention it but the first one to do it nicely.

 

[bellebud]

Wow, it sounds like you have a very full calendar! When do you have time to do things like reduce fractions, find equivalent equations, identify helping verbs, plot coordinate pairs, and learn the difference between a waxing and waning crescent moon?

yes, a very full, very fun calendar for sure! I get very tired sometimes!

I honestly didn't know how to take your post - then I read back and read your other post on here - I see you're a teacher and I love your philosophy of authentic learning. You sound like a great teacher! But I'm still murky on whether you really mean I'm not teaching them 'school' things, or you were totally kidding. The internet is hard like that sometimes. AND you being a teacher, I could take it either way.

I do try to do the 3r's on a somewhat regular schedule, plus a language (rosetta stone spanish), but you caught me on the waxing and waning crescent moon! Don't tell my school district, please!

Actually, we have a nice, hand-me-down telescope and my brother is into astronomy, so we 'learn' from him occasionally. And of course, google is my friend!!

 

[Britgirlus]

Reading this thread makes me so happy that my 2nd grader doesn't get homework !! He does get spelling words each week, but we go over those 3 mornings over breakfast, so they don't take any time at all
I loved the talk of dissecting owl pellets etc - he'll be dissecting a frog before the end of this school year - he is SO looking forward to it

 

[thebeesknees]

OP, I know you've gotten plenty of responses, so I won't add my opinon to them. I will say that this discussion really opened my eyes as to what other schools in various parts of the country assign and expect of elementary school kids. I don't remember having as many research assignments as my kids have gotten when I was their age, but maybe I've blocked out a lot of it.

I will say that what really ticked me off was when my DS's Spanish teacher assigned his class a very vague, very involved project the first month of school. He was to keep a journal of a real or imagined trip to Mexico (never specified how many days, how much to write, whether to include pictures, how long this journal should be, etc.). He had 2 weeks to complete it, which seemed fair enough, so we went to the library right away and checked out a bunch of books and videos. He read them/watched them, made notes, and wrote 1 page for each of 7 popular tourist destinations describing what he might have seen, eaten, or participated in for each one. We looked online and he picked a bunch of pictures to go with them, and even got maps to mark his route. He worked really hard and I was proud of him. ONE DAY BEFORE IT WAS DUE, the teacher told the class, "Never mind about the project - you don't have to turn it in after all." I was really ticked off and so were the other parents. Who does something like that? Turns out, the teacher was quitting, and her last day was the following day (she must have known ahead of time, but didn't bother to tell us), so she just told them not to bother. I made him put the finishing touches on the project and turn it in to the sub, but let me say, if she hadn't quit, I think about 50 parents would have demanded her resignation after pulling that stunt!

 

[pacrosby]

I can only use my own frame of reference, what else am I suppose to use. And many also told the OP that this project is appropriate for 2nd grade

I'm sorry if I came across alittle rough LOL Of course you are right, we can only relay what we know. At the same time though, it can be useful to realize that our personal experiences are not necessary the norm. As I recall there were even some teachers who posted on this thread who were not 100% in agreement with the particulars of this project and/or it's timing.

IDK I guess I just think a post such as this should help us all to understand that schools in this country do in fact do things very differently. Perhaps we should this keep this in mind when we add our two cents. Some posters were more than alittle rough themselves when asserting their opinion that 'of course it's appropriate'. Kind of felt like they should have closed their comments with "you silly goose". That always drives me bananas