so calm this mama bear down

[luvmyfam444]

so dd 5th grade comes home today in tears saying she had to sit facing the cabinets today - with her back to the movie that everyone else was watching NOT because of a behavior issue BUT so she could practice her math facts.

DD is the only one in class (besides the special needs kids) who hasn't mastered them (timed computer program).

flashback 2 weeks ago. DD was also punished for not reaching her AR goal. She had to sit silently & read while the other kids got to get up, socialize & work on their sewing craft. The deadline had not passed yet - she was not the only child in this case.

flashback 5 yrs ago. different DD was also denied the sewing craft - same grade/different teacher. wasn't even allowed to do project over Christmas break. It was also because of AR goal. 5 years ago we met with principal/vice principal who felt that it's not a punishment she feels the teacher it is correct it is a privilege for the kids who meet their goals. #1 dd stopped reading for pleasure in 5th grade & still doesn't read now.

FWIW dd is an A/B student

SOOOO should mama bear be upset in your opinion?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

On the one hand sounds harsh. On the other, she was the only one who hasn't achieved her goals. I would meet with the teacher and discuss ways your DD can improve and/or make sure the goals are appropriate.

 

[aaarcher86]

On the one hand sounds harsh. On the other, she was the only one who hasn't achieved her goals. I would meet with the teacher and discuss ways your DD can improve and/or make sure the goals are appropriate.

Kinda my feelings.

It sucks to be singled out but if she's behind and needs more practice the optimal time would be during a movie.

 

[sk!mom]

While it sounds harsh, I think that I would be more concerned about why my DD wasn't meeting what must be reasonable goals if the majority can reach them. Multiplication fact mastery is a 3rd grade objective in my state.

 

[luvmyfam444]

While it sounds harsh, I think that I would be more concerned about why my DD wasn't meeting what must be reasonable goals if the majority can reach them. Multiplication fact mastery is a 3rd grade objective in my state.

she knows them - just not quickly

its not just multiplication - it's addition/subtraction too & I think division.

She didn't work on her math because she was working on her AR goal

I'm gonna go check our standards

 

[letsgoreds]

Don't look at it as a punishment...but just additional time to work on something she needs additional time to work on.

I was volunteering in my second grade son's class today, and the kids that didn't finish writing their fairy tale were instructed to remain inside during recess and also work on this during intervention time.

It wasn't given/taken as punishment, but just the teacher providing additional time for those students to finish their work.

What has the teacher asked your daughter to work on at home to catch up. That is the question you should be asking...ask the teacher how you can help, don't judge her.

 

[luvmyfam444]

our standards say nothing about know facts in a specific time. just that they are learned fluently.

 

[LongLiveDisney]

Although learning her math facts is important, I think it was just a tad bit cruel to make the poor kid face the cabinets.

 

[luvmyfam444]

no problem - give her time to work on them send her to the computer lab/library - any place that would be less distracting & noticeable to the other students


and yes we have worked on them at home - with online games & apps on my phone. No, not daily.

 

[luvmyfam444]

While it sounds harsh, I think that I would be more concerned about why my DD wasn't meeting what must be reasonable goals if the majority can reach them. Multiplication fact mastery is a 3rd grade objective in my state.

so then don't you think it should be brought to my attention, and we should have a meeting about it instead of punishing her? have her stay after school or something - they offer tutoring I think every day. Put her in that group. BUT they can't/wont because her grades are too good. I believe she had an A on her report card in math.

I had no idea she was the only one who didn't make her goal until today.

 

[cjbcam]

I guess I would feel bad that she is missing out but at the same time would feel she needs the practice.

 

[Southernmiss]

I look at it like homework. Homework is to review and practice skills not mastered yet. And doing homework means you are not doing other fun things (watching tv playing etc.). I don't see extra practice at school as punishment. Maybe it would have been better if she went to the library or another room instead of facing cabinets.

Not trying to be snarky, but what should the rest of the class who didn't need extra help with these skills have been doing?

For our kids this week is a review exam week leading up to Christmas break so not much new is being taught anyway.

Also, there's a lot of foundation work in fifth grade that needs to be well understood before moving on to middle and high school. I would be glad to have these mastered before things get tougher.

 

[letsgoreds]

so then don't you think it should be brought to my attention, and we should have a meeting about it instead of punishing her? have her stay after school or something - they offer tutoring I think every day. Put her in that group. BUT they can't/wont because her grades are too good. I believe she had an A on her report card in math.

I had no idea she was the only one who didn't make her goal until today.

I seriously doubt the teacher realized it felt like a punishment...which doesn't invalidate what your daughter felt. That is something worth bringing to her attention in an informative manner (vs. complaining). My kid would rather practice math than watch a movie...especially if he needed help to pass a test...but he is a nerd in training ; )

I suggest you simply ask if there are opportunities/ways to increase her fluency, and share that you are thankful for the opportunity for additional time to improve fluency that your daughter felt singled out/punished in front of her classmates. Ask about tutoring...sounds like she just needs time on the computer. I know working on the timed tests at home has improved my second grader's fluency/testing.

Good luck!

 

[jodifla]

This sounds like Common Core stuff to me -- try to punish kids into knowledge. And what kid is going to be able to concentrate on math facts with a movie playing behind them?

Some kids have slower processing speeds. Knowing them is the important thing; timing is erroneous.

I think you have every right to be mad at this teacher, who is clueless. You might want to have your daughter's processing speed tested.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

so dd 5th grade comes home today in tears saying she had to sit facing the cabinets today - with her back to the movie that everyone else was watching NOT because of a behavior issue BUT so she could practice her math facts. DD is the only one in class (besides the special needs kids) who hasn't mastered them (timed computer program). flashback 2 weeks ago. DD was also punished for not reaching her AR goal. She had to sit silently & read while the other kids got to get up, socialize & work on their sewing craft. The deadline had not passed yet - she was not the only child in this case. flashback 5 yrs ago. different DD was also denied the sewing craft - same grade/different teacher. wasn't even allowed to do project over Christmas break. It was also because of AR goal. 5 years ago we met with principal/vice principal who felt that it's not a punishment she feels the teacher it is correct it is a privilege for the kids who meet their goals. #1 dd stopped reading for pleasure in 5th grade & still doesn't read now. FWIW dd is an A/B student SOOOO should mama bear be upset in your opinion?

The only bad thing is that she has to read a book with a movie in the background that is hard to do because for me I need silence when reading or studying

 

[meajuly5]

Unrelated to the punishment but just a suggestion -- ask the teacher how the facts are tested and practice them
That way. Timed mixed problems on paper might be more helpful practice than the apps etc. I think the apps are a great review but sonetimesx just depiction in the format that it's tested is helpful. Especially if she knows the facts but needs to work on timing.

 

[LongLiveDisney]

This sounds like Common Core stuff to me -- try to punish kids into knowledge. And what kid is going to be able to concentrate on math facts with a movie playing behind them?

Some kids have slower processing speeds. Knowing them is the important thing; timing is erroneous.

I think you have every right to be mad at this teacher, who is clueless. You might want to have your daughter's processing speed tested.

Agreed. The only thing this teacher accomplished was successfully sucking the joy out of learning.

 

[MSLRAC]

This sounds like Common Core stuff to me -- try to punish kids into knowledge. And what kid is going to be able to concentrate on math facts with a movie playing behind them? Some kids have slower processing speeds. Knowing them is the important thing; timing is erroneous. I think you have every right to be mad at this teacher, who is clueless. You might want to have your daughter's processing speed tested.

How is this a Common Core issue? By 5th grade, the basics of math should pretty much be mastered and it's been that way for years...long before CC. I don't see this as a punishment. I see it as the teacher allowing the child extra time in class to catch up.

 

[clh2]

this sounds like common core stuff to me -- try to punish kids into knowledge. And what kid is going to be able to concentrate on math facts with a movie playing behind them?

Some kids have slower processing speeds. Knowing them is the important thing; timing is erroneous.

I think you have every right to be mad at this teacher, who is clueless. You might want to have your daughter's processing speed tested.

ita.

 

[Wishing on a star]

If she has been trying and 'doing the work', and she is just not learning this and meeting the goals, bells are going off here.

I totally agree with jodifl above.

My son's deficits/disability includes math.
The AR program, in case you didn't know, is also much hated and maligned by many parents. For the reasons you are stating.
That is no secret.

BTDT when my son was still in elementary.
Math, AND the AR program were the two things specifically listed in his IEP. Extra time, or unlimited time, was the third biggie. (not that it helped... we still encountered teachers who were hell bent on 'punishing' students for academic struggles)

If a child is not a behavior problem, and is doing the work during the assigned work time, (the two things that the child does have some control over) then no perks or free time should be denied. Make no mistake. IMHO, that is, indeed, 'punishment'. Semantics does nothing to change that.

Based on my first sentence, above, the only advice that I can begin to come up with is to step back and try to take a good hard objective look at your child. Could there possibly be any deficits or disability issues?

Just know that I have been there, and can send about a million hugs for you and your daughter.