Third Grade Math Contract

[tiki23]

Those type of contracts really seem to be prevelant in 3-5th grades. The kids have to know the basics by 4th or 5th grade or they get left behind. A lot of what they need to know is learned by repetition.

It was a pain, but we survived it with our three.

 

[noodleknitter]

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.

No kidding. I would send it back with a contract of what is expected of them.

So that everyone is on the same page...

 

[Apothecary]

Contracts?

In Grade 3?

Um, I don't think I would sign a contract. It seems a bit much. Our twin DSs are in Grade 3, and I have never seen anything like that. Our kids have agenda books that they bring home every night with their homework in it. We are expected to sign it. Also, their homework is posted on the school website. This seems to work fine for our school. A contract just rubs me the wrong way for some reason.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

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.

Thank you for the websites, we will check them out. As I said, this contract was actually a wake up call for me, I had no idea before this that they were even studying mulitplication...none of his homework has been about multiplication. Last night, I started drilling him on a few problems, and he is pretty good at it..His problem with math facts/memorization is that he knows the answers, but he wants to make sure it is correct before he commits to an answer...so it slows him down considerably. When I was in 4th grade, the teacher used to put 3 numbers up on the board, then say go!, and we had to write each multiplication fact w/answer for each number as fast as we could-a race. she even told us to use a pen to go faster!! We got some kind of points towards a prize...WE ....I never won... But it really worked, I am a *whiz* at my multiplication tables...I say, whatever works..

Maybe we wouldn't have such a "problem" with this contract thing if they would call it a promise or pledge. I think the kids would even understand that better...

About sending a reciprocating contract back to the teacher....you don't know this teacher...I would be afraid... (kidding, of course)

 

[GJM]

My DS is in the lst. grade, he has the homework book that I need to sign every night. When he has a test he brings home a paper with the date of the test, what the test will be on. I have to sign it and my DS has to sign it. I don't think he really understands why he is signing this paper, I just tell him that he is having a test and what it is going to be on.

 

[pooh4evr]

We had to sign a code of conduct/ behavior thing at the beginning of the yr DD in K has 15 min of reading to do a night which is recorded on a sheet and sent back Friday morning to teacher. I don't mind it - she is learning what homework is and that she (we ) are responsible for getting it finished on time.

 

[disneymom3]

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.

Isn't it sad that you have to resort to doing this? It would sure be nice if parents were willing to pursue what their child needed to be doing themselves. I can see the need for it, I just think it is unfortunate.

 

[BrerMom]

More sites to help practice math facts

 

[Mouse House Mama]

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

You read my mind!

 

[SavvyMom]

You'd be surprised what parents don't know (or claim to not know - I'm not always sure which). I teach 2nd grade and believe me, the requirements for these babies are so much more extensive than when I was in 2nd grade. Parents are shocked by some the the work they bring home. I always try to keep my parents informed so they don't have that nasty surprise come report card day. It sounds like it's the word "contract" that most of you have a problem with. What would make you more comfortable? Promise? Compact? I really want to know so I can avoid upsetting my students' parents.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

You'd be surprised what parents don't know (or claim to not know - I'm not always sure which). I teach 2nd grade and believe me, the requirements for these babies are so much more extensive than when I was in 2nd grade. Parents are shocked by some the the work they bring home. I always try to keep my parents informed so they don't have that nasty surprise come report card day. It sounds like it's the word "contract" that most of you have a problem with. What would make you more comfortable? Promise? Compact? I really want to know so I can avoid upsetting my students' parents.

I think a note explaining the project/unit and expectations is a GREAT idea. I also think that it's a great idea to have parents sign and return all notes that you send home. Signing the note is merely acknowledgement that parents got the info. The bottom line is that you want everyone to be on the same page, correct?

I know how hard it is to get everyone on the same page. Heck, I can't get my 20-somethings to get on the same page with assignment requirements. They all receive a syllabus with topics, readings, and homework assignments for each week. Yet they claim they didn't know what they were supposed to do. It's a heck of a thing!

 

[Pigeon]

I think the word "acknowledgment" would be fine.

 

[gina2000]

I like them. I sign them. I enforce them.

One of the biggest problems parents and teachers face is children not telling a parent about assignments. That little piece of paper keeps everyone honest. Sure it's not legally binding nor is it meant to be. It's meant to bring parents into the process. It's also meant to let kids know that the teacher means business and the work she/he assigns is important.

I will work with any teacher that keeps me informed. I don't care what they call that piece of paper nor do I think it matters. What matters is that I can help my child know and understand what needs to be done to successfully master a task.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Our school gives detention for a missed homework assignment. Detention continues until it is turned in perfectly, nothing wrong - and then they get half credit for it. Most teachers will say something like, "Mike, your homework isn't here. Where is it?" in front of the whole class, which I think is hilarious.

They also call home and tell us that the kid missed an assignment, which I love. Nobody telling me they had detention for being 3 seconds late to class (nice try, though!)

 

[Becky2005]

It sounds like it's the word "contract" that most of you have a problem with. What would make you more comfortable? Promise? Compact? I really want to know so I can avoid upsetting my students' parents.

How about here is a note? Please sign & return? I have about 50,000 of those I sign & actually about the only ones I really NEED to know is DD because she's in Middle School & since she's to the point of she does her homework without me basically having to do a lot of help with it (thankfully!!!) If something big is coming up then the notes help -- I know those teachers just want you to sign it so they know you saw it. Let's see....I have one sitting right here for her Constitution test....it doesn't call itself anything.

Just says that she should be studying her notecards, has to take the test next Tuesday, here are some extra help sessions & she has to get 70% or more (and if she doesn't, she has to keep taking it until she does!) -- then teacher's name, contact info & a small section to sign basically saying "yes I read this" & returning it.

My grade schoolers have assignment notebooks & we occasionally get notes home about big things. They pretty much just say sign & return so we know you read this.

 

[Becky2005]

Our school gives detention for a missed homework assignment. Detention continues until it is turned in perfectly, nothing wrong - and then they get half credit for it. Most teachers will say something like, "Mike, your homework isn't here. Where is it?" in front of the whole class, which I think is hilarious.

They also call home and tell us that the kid missed an assignment, which I love. Nobody telling me they had detention for being 3 seconds late to class (nice try, though!)

Oh good golly -- my poor 10 year old would be in detention all the time. Although, I suppose staying in for recess is a detention??????? (it would have been called that when I was in school but I think they mean after school now for detention) *I* usually decide that after 3 hours of homework, he's done. Even if he isn't, I just tell him we will do it in the morning & if it's not done before school, then he will just have to stay in. The only problem with that is he LIKES to stay in for recess usually (especially if it's cold outside), so it doesn't bother him in the least.

Then again, I have a hard time keeping my 1st grader up with his homework too.

All this WRITING which is a pain for kids with delayed motor skills. Takes us forever to get something that would take other kids 10 minutes to complete.

 

[Daxx]

send my child back with one for the teacher to sign outlining what you expect her to do.

Come on up to the school office or my classroom any time you want. You can see the contract that I signed w/NY State and my school as well as the NYS curriculum book and copies of every lesson plan that I have for the year to date. It's in the office for anyone's perusal. Another copy is in my classroom. Every year, I have to sign a contract that states that I will teach the curriculum, as set by New York State, to my students. You are more than welcome to review all that I expect, and that is expected of me, to do with my students. It's at your disposal. All you have to do is ask. I suppose the office would prob. give you a copy if you asked them to.

As far as the student contracts go, they're there so no parent can say "I didn't know". Even though the contract gets signed, we still pull one or two of them out every year and say "uh, yeah, you did know". It's to get the parent to commit to work w/their children b/c so many parents just blow it off and figure it's the teacher's responsibility. Sure, it is ... but when I have your child for one 45 min. math session each day, I can't teach them multiplication tables until they're memorized and do nothing more. You'd have my hide!!!!

ETA -- I'd be willing to guess that if there weren't any contracts to sign and your kid came home w/a 20% on a multiplication test b/c you didn't know you should be helping said child to learn his/her multiplication tables, you'd be griping that the teacher should have sent a note home.

 

[Daxx]

I like them. I sign them. I enforce them.

One of the biggest problems parents and teachers face is children not telling a parent about assignments. That little piece of paper keeps everyone honest. Sure it's not legally binding nor is it meant to be. It's meant to bring parents into the process. It's also meant to let kids know that the teacher means business and the work she/he assigns is important.

I will work with any teacher that keeps me informed. I don't care what they call that piece of paper nor do I think it matters. What matters is that I can help my child know and understand what needs to be done to successfully master a task.

Thank you from a teacher!!!!