Out of school question. Please help.

MNRMommy

I'm an acquired taste!
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We are currently planning on going to DW in October and my DS will miss five days of school (we are going longer but fall break falls while we are gone). Anyway, I am thinking about moving to Sept to get free dinning. My question is how big a deal is it going to be in first grade to miss eight days. I mean we are already planning on 5 but 8 - WOW even I think I am pushing it. I know a lot of you don't think it is right to take the kids out of school for Disney but that is not the question here. The question is will 8 days be that much worse than 5.
 
I think you really need to talk to your DS school and ask them what there policy is for unexcused absences.
 
I would definately talk to the 1st grade teacher and see if she is willing to give you the work to make-up. Eight days is alot to miss, but I know at our school the first few weeks are review, then its on to new material. Personally, I think it would also depend on how good of a student your child is. Will he struggle to catch up and will he be cooperative with you learning the material? I would definately talk to the teacher before hand.
 
No judgements from me, I am taking mine out for a few days next year, too. Probably going to change my December dates for free dining to end of September, as few days as possible of course.

However I do think 8 is way too many days...depending on how it falls during the week, that is like a week and a half of school days.
Five is pushing it I think for 1st grade....they really cover ALOT of skills in a week...usually several tests, etc. That willl be hard enough to make up/catch up.

Alot of it also depends on your schools policy for absenses, plus time of year you are doing it. Some times of year would be really hard on them.
And last but not least your child.

HTH :wave2:
 

We are taking our 1st grader for 5 days in 26 days!!! However, I made sure with the teacher that the week we picked did not have any testing (not like regular spelling tests, but big testing for placement next year,, etc) or any other big things she would miss. All is OK with teacher - although these will still be counted as "unexcused" absenses.

Our school district specifies how many total days absent, unexcused and excused, a child can miss - or they have to repeat that grade! Be sure you know this up front and be well under that number.

Have a great time!
~Mary
 
I would think that 8 days missed at the very beginning of the school year is a much more significant problem FOR THE CHILD than 8 days missed near the end of the school year. It's just a matter of settling in, getting to know the other kids, getting to know the teacher, getting caught up on the basics that are needed for the year, etc.

In other words, I might consider taking my 1st grader out for 8 days NOW, in April, but I wouldn't have felt comfortable doing so when he started in September. Just my opinion ....
 
My advice would be to wait until the year gets rolling and I have no qualms about taking my children out of school. However, the first few weeks of 1st grade are a huge adjustment for the kids. To get him started and then leave for 8 days may set him back, socially with the other kids.

If you decide to do it, why not contact the teacher before school starts and explain that you will be gone. (Most teachers are at school the week before) That way you can find out what he'll miss. You can also work with your child this summer with workbooks and reading to be sure he will be ready to slide back into class.
 
Pir8girl said:
My advice would be to wait until the year gets rolling and I have no qualms about taking my children out of school. However, the first few weeks of 1st grade are a huge adjustment for the kids. To get him started and then leave for 8 days may set him back, socially with the other kids.

If you decide to do it, why not contact the teacher before school starts and explain that you will be gone. (Most teachers are at school the week before) That way you can find out what he'll miss. You can also work with your child this summer with workbooks and reading to be sure he will be ready to slide back into class.

If we decide to do it (DH is saying stick with October) what a great idea. We usually do all the extra stuff teachers give us with regards to links to websites that deal with what they are currently learning. But the workbook pre-emptive idea is great.
 
That is a lot all together. That could be a whole unit in math or reading or science and since it builds on it self I wouldn't do it. And in the beginning of first grade they are usually testing and placing kids in groups and if they need extra help etc. It is also a time when classroom rules and ways of doing things are established will your son feel out of place if he doesn't know a proceedure that everyone else does when he gets back. I've taken my out for 2 days and once 2 days before a break and 1/2 day on the return from the break but not 1 1/2 weeks straight.

Another thing that is a lot to expect a teacher to prepare all the work for 8 days straight and I think would be in his/her rights to not get all that together ahead of time.
 
IT really depends on how good of a student your son is. All I really know is once you hit about 8th grade....8 days would be murder. Good luck. I would stick to only missing 5 days. It will be a lot less stressful for your guy if he knows he doesn't have a huge load of work to do when he gets back...If your son is a good student, he should be perfectly fine. I wonder why it would be counted as unexcused abscence....I'm 14 and my last trip was excused(I had it a note requestiong work ahead of time signed by the principal...dont know if that helps or if its just my school system)
 
Personally, I think 8 days is a bit much to be out of school, especially at that time of year. I'm struggling with having my ds miss 3 1/2 days in October (especially since that 1/2 will still count as a full day missed).

I used to teach first grade, and that is such an important time of year. First grade is a huge adjustment, especially if kindergarten isn't full day where you are (they are phasing it in here). It took a good month or so to get the kids used to the full day program, the new rules and expectations, new friends, etc. Also, we used to assess the kids during the first couple of weeks, and then dive right into reading and math groups that 3rd or 4th week. I just think that 8 days of missing all of that could put your ds at a disadantage. Also, it might be difficult for the teacher to prepare work for that long, especially since he/she doesn't know the rate at which the children will move (since the "real" work has just begun).

I would certainly recommend following the advice of pp and give your child a head start over the summer.

I am so tempted to move our vacation to Sept. to take advantage of that free dining!!! Why couldn't they extend that by 2 weeks?? I think we'll stick with October, though. I just don't think missing the 3 1/2 days at that time will have such a huge impact. We'll still work hard to make up the missed work (and having ds in 3rd grade..I know we'll have plenty to do), but it's something we're willing to do as long as the kids continue to do well in school.

Have fun, whenever you decide to go!!!
 
First grade is a big transition year. The first year of a full day, larger, age integrated playground, restrooms down the hall, etc. I think 8 days at the beginning of a first grade year is a lot.

While academics may not be in full swing when you're gone, the teacher will be establishing routines and patterns that will help the children thrive during the year. You can always work with your child on the academics missed but missing learning the classroom routines and learning to make the transition to the "big" part of the school will be tougher for your child to make up.

The teacher will also probably be doing lots of individual assessments during that time (first graders don't take group tests yet so individual tests are the best way to get to know the kids and their skills). Those too will be tough to miss and even tougher for your teacher and child to make up when you return.

Clearly this is a difficult decision. I would talk to a first grade teacher and find out exactly what goes on during those days you'll be gone. (It can depend on whether you're gone in early or late Sept). Surely their opinion will be not to miss the days, but they should be honest with you about whether or not missing the days will put your child in a disadvantage.

So, to answer your question, yes, I think 8 days is worse than 5.

Good luck! :wizard:
 
I'll be pulling my first grader out of school for 8 days in a few weeks. I agree with the above posters in that missing that much school at the beginning of the school year will be difficult for the child to catch up with, both socially and academically. When we go in May, although he will be missing a lot of school, he is well into a routine with schoolwork and homework. I have spoken to his teacher about missing that much school and she has agreed to give us a packet of missed work that he will complete before coming back from vacation. The teacher also asked that he keep a daily journal of his adventures while he is there, just like he keeps at school. She has also agreed with us that our son is a very capable student who should not have a problem catching up. We did this last year in kindergarten (7 days school missed last year) and had a very good result. Bottom line is talk honestly to the teacher about what your plans are and that you plan to take make-up work seriously.
 
September is quite early in the school year to miss that much time. I think October would be much better. If your child is a good student, talk to the teacher and I'm sure there is a way to make it easy for your child.Have a great time.
 
8 days is a lot compared to 5, in general. I teach 1st grade, and what I would look at is how your son is doing already. If he has the basics of reading, and math down, then of course it would be less damaging. The first few weeks is usually spent reviewing. You also will need to be willing to just accept the consequence that he will probably not get such great grades for the other classes, social studies, science, etc.
 
8 days in the first month of school may be really hard on your child. In that first month they really do alot to get them use to 1st grade. He may miss out on most of it and be behind. Can you go maybe at the end Oct?
 
I took some advice and asked teachers at my school what they thought. They said going over our fall break mid October made the best sense because they are usually winding down in prep for the break so we are going to stick with our original mid Oct plan. Thanks everyone for there advice.
 
For me, this thread is a good argument for year-round schooling. Then it wouldn't matter what time of the year a family took their vacation. The learning would take place year round. The pace could be slower and more in depth, making missing 8 days not such a big deal for an average/above average student.
I hate the majority of schools' mentalities that we all should be expected to take vacations based solely on the schools' calendars. Life just isn't that black and white. Sorry, venting a little.
 
mumzie2three said:
For me, this thread is a good argument for year-round schooling. Then it wouldn't matter what time of the year a family took their vacation. The learning would take place year round. The pace could be slower and more in depth, making missing 8 days not such a big deal for an average/above average student.
I hate the majority of schools' mentalities that we all should be expected to take vacations based solely on the schools' calendars. Life just isn't that black and white. Sorry, venting a little.

I would hate if dd went to school year round. I look forward to when she gets out for the summer.
 
What is the schools policy on absences? How is your child with independent learning or you working with your child?

I'm now 24 yrs old and have been taking time off from school from Kindergarten thru 4 years of college. Some trips were 4 days out of class & my sophmore year in high school I was out of class from the day before thanksgiving break to after new years. Luckly I have a friendly principle that excused my absence (had to tell them ahead of time and keep up on assignments).

My opinion talk to the school to get the days excused (may require an educational project based on the vacation) and get assignments from the teacher to keep the student up to date!
 












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