Third Grade Math Contract

[hrh_disney_queen]

DS8 brought this home today for both of us to sign:

Third Grade Math Contract

I will spend at least 10-15 minutes each night memorizing mulitplication facts through 12. I understand that I must have memorized these facts by January 4, 2007.

Student's Signature_____________
Date___________

I will see that my child spends at least 10-15 minutes each night memorizing mulitplication facts through 12. I understand that my child must have memorized these facts by January 4, 2007.

Parent's Signature______________
Date__________________


This is at least the 3rd contract we have had to sign with the school, the first was code of conduct, the second was attendence policy. What is up with all the contracts...?

Does anyone else's school do this?

 

[hydster]

Yep ours does and I feel with 3 kids that I'm being contracted to death!~ Enough already! I think they are a waste of time but we sign them and send them back.

The other annoying thing is that I have to sign that I got a paper telling me that I have to pay $$$ for dd's dance class. Then I have to send the check and the teacher signs a note saying she got it and then when the check clears the bank I have to sign that it cleared. What's up with that???? This is new to me with a new jr. high school student but it's a little overkill actually.

 

[JoyG]

I teach 3rd grade. I asked for flash cards on my school supply list. I then let the kids take them home. A standing homework assignment is to study them 15 minutes every night. We have speed drills for a grade every Wednesday (starting with the second week of school). The only thing different is I didn't send home an actual contract.

 

[N.Bailey]

I actually support them. At least this way, everyone is on the same page. I think parents have to sign them so the kids are fully aware that they won't getting away with trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

Everyone knows what's expected. I don't see anything wrong with that.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I've heard of the phrase, CYA, but MY "A" ain't that big!!!!

I wonder what they're going to do when I breech the attendence policy contract and take my kids out for 2-1/2 unexcused days to go to WDW...Actually, I didn't sign saying I WOULDN'T, just that I understood I SHOULDN"T....Where's my lawyer's phone number?

 

[ADisneygirl]

Yes, here we do too. We have the Code of Conduct contract and some kids get behavior contracts if they have difficulty conforming to classroom rules. I don't think anyone at my school does a math facts contract, but I am sure the intentions were good on the part of your child's teacher. She is worrying about them being able to keep up with the more advanced math that is to come. If they don't know basic multiplication facts then they will have a great deal more difficulty with what is to come in 4th and 5th grade.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Someone should tell kids that contracts are enforceable solely at their option. They can choose to enforce it against the other party, but cannot be held to their end due to their status as a minor.

I would SO have my kid go back in and say that. If they want to play Legal Games, let the kids play Legal Games, too...and have the kid learn something about contracts while we're at it.

I wouldn't sign it or have the kids sign it. I can't promise that we're going to do math EVERY day and wouldn't sign my name to it knowing that.

The schools seem to be getting goofier all the time.

 

[teacherforhi]

I do this all the time. It eliminates the parents and students claiming that they "didn't know". I have contracts for my class behavior policy and for school calculators going home. It just ensures that everyone is on the same page.

 

[Hedy]

I actually support them. At least this way, everyone is on the same page. I think parents have to sign them so the kids are fully aware that they won't getting away with trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

Everyone knows what's expected. I don't see anything wrong with that.

Seriously.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Yes, here we do too. We have the Code of Conduct contract and some kids get behavior contracts if they have difficulty conforming to classroom rules. I don't think anyone at my school does a math facts contract, but I am sure the intentions were good on the part of your child's teacher. She is worrying about them being able to keep up with the more advanced math that is to come. If they don't know basic multiplication facts then they will have a great deal more difficulty with what is to come in 4th and 5th grade.

I agree...I'm sure the intentions were good. I just never thought my 8 year old would have to sign a "legal" document until he was 18...anyway, a minor can't be held to a contract, although I still can!!

Not really complaining about the work, just thought the contract was a bit much. But then in our house, schoolwork is a given, no questions about doing it.

 

[hydster]

I agree...I'm sure the intentions were good.
Not really complaining about the work, just thought the contract was a bit much. But then in our house, schoolwork is a given, no questions about doing it.

Yep in our house too which is why I guess I find them ridiculous! In 7 years of having my kids in school they've never had to pull out the contract on any of them so to *ME* they seem more like overkill. I realize that there are reasons they are needed but when you have 3 kids and they bring home 4 contracts in a week it just seems a bit much and I was/am a teacher.

We always sign them and send them back.

 

[teacherforhi]

Not really complaining about the work, just thought the contract was a bit much. But then in our house, schoolwork is a given, no questions about doing it.

If every parent thought like you, there wouldn't be a need for the contracts.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I sign 'em and send 'em back, too. I do my best to hold up my end of the contracts, but if we miss a night, oh well....sue me....

This is actually the first I have heard about him having to memorize match facts, so it was a weird way for me to find out...and now I know..

Things sure have gotten serious since we got into third grade....

 

[daisyduck123]

I'm a teacher, so I can totally understand the math teacher doing this. You would not believe how many parents see a low grade on the report card, request a conference with the teacher, & then claim, "But I didn't know my child was supposed to be practicing ______ at home or I would have had him do it"!!


My DS8 is in 3rd grade. His teacher sends home a contract every time she assigns a project. We sign that we are aware of the project & the due date. This way, no parent can claim they were unaware of it.

 

[Buckalew11]

I actually support them. At least this way, everyone is on the same page. I think parents have to sign them so the kids are fully aware that they won't getting away with trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

Everyone knows what's expected. I don't see anything wrong with that.

We have contracts to sign. Even a contract that we'll behave a ball games.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I'm a teacher, so I can totally understand the math teacher doing this. You would not believe how many parents see a low grade on the report card, request a conference with the teacher, & then claim, "But I didn't know my child was supposed to be practicing ______ at home or I would have had him do it"!!


My DS8 is in 3rd grade. His teacher sends home a contract every time she assigns a project. We sign that we are aware of the project & the due date. This way, no parent can claim they were unaware of it.

I knew there was another one, you just reminded me of it!! We just did a project that we had to acknowledge through a signed contract...I really am not knocking it, just seems like a lot of rules...

I thought it was just his teacher, she is very strict....she is really good, just not a lot of personality, but DS likes her..he says...

By the way, to all you teachers out there.....HAT'S OFF to you!! I don't know how you do it, I know I couldn't. I have volunteered in the classroom and the media center and I just don't see how you do it...You certainly don't get paid enough for it, so it must be for the satisfaction! Thank You!!

 

[daisyduck123]

By the way, to all you teachers out there.....HAT'S OFF to you!! I don't know how you do it, I know I couldn't. I have volunteered in the classroom and the media center and I just don't see how you do it...You certainly don't get paid enough for it, so it must be for the satisfaction! Thank You!!

You are so VERY WELCOME!!

 

[Pigeon]

My kids' school sends home a behavior "contract" every year and every year we refuse to sign it. So far, no problem.

I have no problem with the school establishing rules, and we are more than happy to support the school with those rules.

The problem is with the idea of a contract. First of all, the contract is full of misinformation, implying that the routine use of the public school facilities is a priviledge. It isn't. Children have a right to a public education in the least restrictive environment. Second, in no way is it a contract. Contracts represent the exchange of value between two parties. Minors cannot enter into contracts. Contracts aren't valid if they are signed under coercion. It is coercive to bully a child into signing one.

If the school is going to attempt to teach children about contracts, they should present the correct facts about what constitutes a contract.

We just send in the same letter every year explaining our objections.

 

[donnajon]

There are two really good web sites that my son loves to go to to practice his multiplication tables. The first is bigbrainz.com You have to download a game and then you can play it on the computer. The basic level is free or you can upgrade the graphics and have different levels to do. You are basically fighting monsters or robots by putting in the correct answer to a multiplication question. It is timed so you have to do it quickly. The other one that DS9 really likes is www.gdbdp.com/multiflyer/
I haven't watched him on that one as much - he found that one from school - but he is flyng an aircraft and answering multiplication questions. He has gotten much faster at responding to his facts.

 

[All American]

I'd sign the contract and send my child back with one for the teacher to sign outlining what you expect her to do.