Taking kids out of school

[drag n' fly]

This is exactly what I am afraid of. But the trip is booked, so I am just trying to be as prepared as I can. I won't do it again, atleast not for two weeks!

Your kids are still pretty young so it does not make anywhere as much impact. I found as soon as my first 2 entered junior high that was when taking them out of school became a problem. The third one starts grade one next week so it does not affect him as much as the older two.

 

[digskat]

we have pulled our kids out of school, for up to 2 weeks in late fall, for the past 4 years (since DS was in SK and DD was in grade 2). We request work, and sometimes get it sometimes don't. The kids are expected to keep a journal (in English and French), and to do a presentation upon return. If they are given work (usually math), they do it during the drive, or poolside on an off day, and it is completed. DD received 7 A's and 4 B's last year. DS had 5 A's, 6 B's and a C.
We inform the teachers during the first week of the school year, and remind them 2 weeks prior to leaving. The teachers have always been very receptive of the experience the kids are having, and being a Catholic school, they promote the family time.
DW and I both work, and unfortunately don't have vacation during the summer (we aren't teachers, and aren't lucky enough to be off with the kids).

 

[Luhts]

As an vice-principal, I uphold our school's policy of no work provided by the classroom teacher when the students are withdrawn from school. Children are encouraged to read, keep a journal or create a photo book.

Why is that??

 

[pkitty]

MY DD is in grade 10 this year and this will be her 11th trip (consecutive) to WDW . Last year was the first year that we made concessions and travelled over March Break ( she only ended up missing 3 days) and all went well. Our previous experiences with this type of things have been well documented over a few threads....that being ...we have completed assignments while travelling only to return back to school and find that the class was a full 2 weeks behind what we had been assigned. This in and of itself was a pain because my dd would be trying to complete everything and for what? Only to have to sit in class and learn it all over again. Vacation time is family time, time to decompress and handle all those pressures when you return and feel equipped to do so. What do we all do at work when god forbid we need to go on holidays? We can't control every aspect of our lives but we can go and take precious time out to make memories with our families. That we can control. Let it be up to every individual but our children are overburdened more so than we ever where growing up and we owe then the opportunity to escape from that every once and a while themselves. So that might mean sitting at the kitchen table a few nights a week for a couple of weeks to catch up, so be it...it will be worth it. Live, love and make some memories riding the teacups......school will still be there when you get back....I promise. Have a wonderful vacation

 

[vegs1]

We travel quite often and, on occasion, have taken our child out of school

In my humble opinion, it should not be a problem to take kids out of school if they are doing well - on occasion. Travel can be looked at as educational but sometimes parents justify that its educational to make it seem alright.

Taking children to different cultures where other languages are spoken, different foods are eaten is definitely educational. I don't personally think The Magic Kingdom qualifies as that but that's MY opinion.

Teachers shouldn't be asked to do extra work ahead of time to accomodate one person in a class that's going to be away. We usually get the folder of missed work at the end on return to school. BUT...while it's not usually stressful for us...the last time it was for our daughter. Lots of missed math and science work were done during her week away. She ended up spending the entire weekend doing homework and, while that IS the consequence of being on vacation, it really was not her choice in any way. She did make up the work, always gets great marks anyway but in reality, she did miss the concepts of what they were doing in the classroom. Plus the fact that some work is just hands on...there is no way of making it up on paper.

We try now not to miss school. I also wondered afterwards what it says about our feelings on school if we willingly take her out to go on a family vacation every year. We could just as easily schedule a time during summer months or school breaks to do it. It would just cost us a bit more of our savings to do it while showing her that we feel that school is valuable.

I truly am torn on it...there are valid points for doing both. However, even our daughter asked that she not miss much school anymore as she hates making it up.

Just my humble opinion. You're booked now. Try and enjoy yourself and the time you will have together.

 

[Miandrea]

Quote:
As an vice-principal, I uphold our school's policy of no work provided by the classroom teacher when the students are withdrawn from school. Children are encouraged to read, keep a journal or create a photo book.

Quote:
Why is that??

Parents who take their children out of school for a holiday or extended leave do not receive homework for the duration of the trip. The activities, group work and problem solving tasks are difficult to assign as they are planned based on assessment of where the child is currently performing. Learning in the classroom is quite different from when we went to school - more hands-on learning and more differeniated instruction (programming based on the students needs).

If the children miss work, they won't be assessed on it and won't affect their report card (if they miss an entire strand of math, they don't receive a mark).

In a previous school I was in, when parents asked for homework, I would send packages of material and not one was ever sent back (that was over a 6 year period). Parents want time to spend with their children during their trip.

Your school might have a different policy, just check with your child's teacher.

 

[disneydreamgirl]

In a previous school I was in, when parents asked for homework, I would send packages of material and not one was ever sent back (that was over a 6 year period). Parents want time to spend with their children during their trip.

Wow! I am shocked at that! Our past two trips we have asked for work - once we were given it prior to the trip and it was completed mainly on the plane ride there and back and it was handed in the morning DS returned to school. The 2nd trip it was given afterwards, just prior to March Break; it was a fair amount and DS completed it during the break and turned it in the Monday morning that everyone returned. Parents have to be pretty ballsy to ask for it and then not even have their child complete it! We took it as an opportunity for DS to learn that his responsibilities as a student are important as well as to make sure he didn't miss out on learning some important concepts that might be built upon in upcoming lessons.

 

[Channyn3]

I'm a teacher and I always tell families to have a good time on their vacation! I have taught grade 1 to grade 6, and I usually ask the student to take some pictures, write a short report or keep a journal. Sometimes I will provide a few math practice sheets, but not much - it really depends on the student. When the student returns I give them some time to get missed assignments handed in (depending on the grade). I've never had an issue.

Enjoy your trip - don't make your children work too hard on school work!

 

[Beechnut]

Taking children to different cultures where other languages are spoken, different foods are eaten is definitely educational. I don't personally think The Magic Kingdom qualifies as that but that's MY opinion.

That's kind of what I was trying to say. Thanks for saying it better.

This is the first Disney trip, we usually go to Mexico or DR or someplace warm (Mom';s choice!) and because we are traveling at Christmas we will only miss the last 3 days of school before Christmas break. I don't think that will impact her learning too much.

The way our system works,with provincial exams, I wouldn't pull her out in high school, but again, that's just our opinion.

I guess it depends on the individual child. If your child is struggling, then perhaps missing school is not such a good idea. But since your children are young you will be able to see the impact and decide if this is a good idea for you in future years.

Most of all, enjoy and have a good time.

 

[brooker]

That's kind of what I was trying to say. Thanks for saying it better.

This is the first Disney trip, we usually go to Mexico or DR or someplace warm (Mom';s choice!) and because we are traveling at Christmas we will only miss the last 3 days of school before Christmas break. I don't think that will impact her learning too much.

The way our system works,with provincial exams, I wouldn't pull her out in high school, but again, that's just our opinion.

I guess it depends on the individual child. If your child is struggling, then perhaps missing school is not such a good idea. But since your children are young you will be able to see the impact and decide if this is a good idea for you in future years.

Most of all, enjoy and have a good time.

In our boys school the whole week before Xmas break is usually just a waste of time. There is very little if any work done with the parties, concerts, etc.

I am thinking about a November trip where he (grade 5) would be out for 6 days. We have done trips where he has missed 5 school days twice in the last 3 years. He had no problem catching up. His principal and teacher were great. This year its a new principal though so I don't know his policies.

 

[drag n' fly]

In our boys school the whole week before Xmas break is usually just a waste of time. There is very little if any work done with the parties, concerts, etc.

I am thinking about a November trip where he (grade 5) would be out for 6 days. We have done trips where he has missed 5 school days twice in the last 3 years. He had no problem catching up. His principal and teacher were great. This year its a new principal though so I don't know his policies.

This is what we are doing this year. Flights are cheaper on t,w th. They will miss the last 2 days before xmas break. Like you said it usually is wasted classtime and they miss nothing anyways. Just our luck ds14 will have exams on those 2 days just because!!

 

[yosh12]

You can actually print off disney journal sheets that make is more fun to do school work while away. There is some educational epcot ones and blank one where they can do some creative writing. We gave these to my son's teacher when we got back so he had an idea what his writing was like. It also made a great topic for a speech. A unit of math was missed that we did at home over a period time when we got back, and the units that they only do a couple of times a week like science, here caught up on during a couple of lunch recesses. He was in grade 5 and is not a lover of school but managed to get caught up without much trouble or arguing. lol

 

[snickerboo]

My dd is about the same age but we're only going for one week. She always keeps a journal and presents it orally afterwards. My main concern for that age range would be the math because that's the thing least likely to be made up through extra work at home and not too many kids are willing to sit down to work on fractions on a Disney vacation! LOL Let the teacher know about your vacation ASAP and ask specifically what math will be covered and can he get a jump start on it now. Hopefully, being September, they won't be delving into the trickiest math of the year.

You can actually print off disney journal sheets that make is more fun to do school work while away. There is some educational epcot ones and blank one where they can do some creative writing

Yosh, do you have a link for that? Sounds like something dd might like using for this year.

 

[Luhts]

I did print out a couple of those pages. I think they are 'stickies' at the top of the Families forum. I found them very "American" though, so I ended up making up my own. One I think is really good is about how Disney shows what life was like in the past and how it may be different in the future. It's saved on dh's computer but maybe I can somehow create a link to it on Wednesday if you are interested, snickerboo.
Have you seen that they have a new exhibit in Epcot Innoventions showing what it's like to be in a hurricane? Very timely, I'd say! That will be another great 'educational opportunity'!

We will be in Magic Kingdom one month from tomorrow!

Edit: Here is the link to the pages: http://www.themouseforless.com/downloads.shtml#kids

 

[Debbie]

Have you seen that they have a new exhibit in Epcot Innoventions showing what it's like to be in a hurricane? Very timely, I'd say! That will be another great 'educational opportunity'!

DD and I were in Disney mid August, and we went into Innoventions and played a recycling game. It took about a half hour, and there can be up to four people on a team. It was fun (and cool!). You can read about it HERE

 

[jeffd101]

We have travelled to Disney each spring since 2005(DS, then 9 and DD, then 6). The kids usually miss 5 days of school, although one year we went for 10 days. Truth be told, that was the year DS struggled a little with his math unit when he returned to school (Grade 5). We just made sure we did extra work with him at home to be sure he finally got it.
We have never had work given to us to take. We have asked every year, but we have never received any. My kids normally aren't affected a lot.
We would love to go again this spring ! We'll see what happens. DS will be in Grade 8 and we figure this will be our last opp. before he hits high school. DD will be in Grade 5 and we may run into math trouble again. Hopefully not.

 

[Lisa Anne Colling]

My kids go to a school where they are also given NO homework to go on vacation. They are asked to read and keep a journal (which are great memories of the trip). I'm a "mean" mom though and try to put education in everything, for instance when on the Disney Cruise we got books about the places we went and the sea life etc... At then end of the day they wrote in thier journal about the things they learned and seen! They did a great job. They then shared it with thier class and also brought thier class a little treat to share. The teachers at our school also send home a note each term saying what the kids will be learning. So I buy the Math and English Made Easy books, which are Canadian Cirriculiam and available at Chapters etc... They will work on the pages that are relivent to what is being taught at school, that way if there is a test when they get back they know the material. We allow about hour a day. Sometimes a half hour in the morning and half hour in the afternoon, whatever works. They have never had trouble catching up. My kids are going into grade 4,2 and SK.! Have a great trip! Family time is just as important as education! It makes for a very balanced child!

 

[boundfordisney]

we took the grand kids out of school in sept in 2006 and 2007 this trip it will be in December. so far this wasnt a problem but each year gets harder to do , plan on doing a 7 night cruise and spend time on resort for a week in 2009 or 2010 but my grandson will be starting high school so most likley will have to pay alot more to go so he wont miss any school guess no more going at the least crowded times. hey Lisa anne or you related to Gary and Jody collings who live in Cambridge? Kids are Maddison Carly and Owen, if so im Jodys aunt, i know Gary has family in Carlisle area and that they go to disney quite often.

 

[Luhts]

My l/o starts school on Friday, so I am taking my letter (I made one up using a sample I got off of allears.net) and "extended absense" form then, so I can let you know what kind of reaction I get. I met with the JK teacher today but decided not to mention it as he really won't care; it's the older boy's teacher that might, and I know the principal will not be pleased as I have dealt with him before regarding a vacation. I also found out when we got the school calendar yesterday that there is a PD day during our trip, so in actuality he will only be missing 8 school days. So I am not as concerned as I was when I started this thread.

It seems like no one gives out schoolwork beforehand, so I guess we will just have to suck it up and deal with the load when we get back. Oh well, my son will be happy about that...until we return that is!

 

[Hoogy]

I just talked to two of my kids teachers today(they are in grade 3 and 5). We leave next week already so I wanted to give them a little notice. I felt so bad introducing myself and in the same breath explaining that I was taking them out of school next week already. They were both great and said they would try to put a little work together. I told them that would be great but not to go out of their way....the girls know they will have some make-up work. As far as telling the office for attendance reasons, I just tell the secretary when we will be gone and she makes a note in her calendar! (must be a lot more kids that take holidays during the year!) My son doesn't start JK until Friday either so I will talk to his teacher then.