What is the possible reason for stupid projects at school?

[Mom21]

Only 3 weeks into the school year and I have had enough. Here is the one dd has now. Take a box and cover with construction paper. Label each side:
Likes
Dislikes
Family and Friends
Hobbies and Interests
Strengths and Weaknesses
All About Me

Cutting and pasting and writing and junk. Now my dd has spent at least 20 hours on this project and will spend at least 5 more in the next 2 days. This is in addition to her homework. Ok I see the side titled All About Me as it is a paper they need to write. That should be the extent of the project in my opinion. By 4th grade in the gifted class should they really be spending 25 hours cutting and pasting? Thing is this is a yearly project from what I understand. I know she did one last year (little different but close). My friends' kids do them in K, 1st, 2nd....... Will she have to do one next year too? I can see her in 12th grade cutting and pasting pictures of her favorite foods on a box

So we are finishing up tomorrow and she tells me they said she has a new project coming home on Friday.

So will they do a project every 3-4 weeks? I can't believe they expect these kids to spend all their weekends on projects and do 1-2 hours of homework a night. I HATE SCHOOL. But of course, I don't tell dd this. I just tell her how important it is that she learn to do these projects and manage her time.

 

[MAKmom]

The Box part should take an hour tops how in the world did this take your child so long? The paper took 20 hours. Something sounds very wrong.

 

[padams]

I hate school projects too. I truly don't think the kids learn anything from them. Perhaps a teacher can tell us what the point is.

Last week, DS had to make a poster of his significant life events (he's 10- how many significant life events could he have?). He's not much of an artist but he spent a LOT of time on it. He was so disapointed to receive a C- (he's normally a straight A student). Now I have a kid who usually loves school hating 5th grade and his new teacher.

 

[TimeforMe]

I think it's a way for the teacher to get to know the students and for the students to share with each other about themselves. There is NO WAY, however, it should have taken 20 plus hours.

 

[Southern4sure]

The Box part should take an hour tops how in the world did this take your child so long? The paper took 20 hours. Something sounds very wrong.

I was thinking the same thing. The project sounds easy enough and should not take more than 2 maybe 3 hours. Why is your dd taking 20 - 25 hours for this?
I have had my share of projects with an 11th grader and a 5th grader and never has a project taken this long except for in middle school when ds did a science experiment which took 4 weeks but only because the experiment was how different color lights affected plants as they grew.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

A C- on a project about himself??? That is pretty crappy. I don't blame your son for how he feels.

As far as "projects", I don't like them either. But I guess they have to do them unfortunately.

 

[California Girl]

Only 3 weeks into the school year and I have had enough. Here is the one dd has now. Take a box and cover with construction paper. Label each side:
Likes
Dislikes
Family and Friends
Hobbies and Interests
Strengths and Weaknesses
All About Me

Cutting and pasting and writing and junk. Now my dd has spent at least 20 hours on this project and will spend at least 5 more in the next 2 days. This is in addition to her homework. Ok I see the side titled All About Me as it is a paper they need to write. That should be the extent of the project in my opinion. By 4th grade in the gifted class should they really be spending 25 hours cutting and pasting? Thing is this is a yearly project from what I understand. I know she did one last year (little different but close). My friends' kids do them in K, 1st, 2nd....... Will she have to do one next year too? I can see her in 12th grade cutting and pasting pictures of her favorite foods on a box

So we are finishing up tomorrow and she tells me they said she has a new project coming home on Friday.

So will they do a project every 3-4 weeks? I can't believe they expect these kids to spend all their weekends on projects and do 1-2 hours of homework a night. I HATE SCHOOL. But of course, I don't tell dd this. I just tell her how important it is that she learn to do these projects and manage her time.

Since you've already determined that this is a waste of your time, why bother. Just don't do it. Just be prepared to accept the consequence. I guess it's just easier to complain. As others have said...20 hours. How gifted is your daughter?

You already hate [the] school so it would appear that your question is merely sarcastic and rhetorical, but I'll tell you the purpose of these projects.

Not all kids are gifted in all 8 intelligences. Most kids who do well in school are adept at verbal and mathematical skills. However, many kids are artistic, musical, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic, so projects such as these give these students the opportunity to enhance their giftedness. Seems to me the teacher is attempting to engage the whole child, not simply the part that you have decided is important to your daughter's education.

But then again, what would the teacher know about educating kids?

 

[Mom21]

Since you've already determined that this is a waste of your time, why bother. Just don't do it. Just be prepared to accept the consequence. I guess it's just easier to complain. As others have said...20 hours. How gifted is your daughter?

You already hate [the] school so it would appear that your question is merely sarcastic and rhetorical, but I'll tell you the purpose of these projects.

Not all kids are gifted in all 8 intelligences. Most kids who do well in school are adept at verbal and mathematical skills. However, many kids are artistic, musical, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic, so projects such as these give these students the opportunity to enhance their giftedness. Seems to me the teacher is attempting to engage the whole child, not simply the part that you have decided is important to your daugher's education.

But then again, what would the teacher know about educating kids?

WOW !!! Are you my dd's teacher?

Just saying that I hate these projects. Maybe a little whining on my part. OK!! OK!! I admit it. Beat me now. I whined.

 

[Mom21]

I hate school projects too. I truly don't think the kids learn anything from them. Perhaps a teacher can tell us what the point is.

Last week, DS had to make a poster of his significant life events (he's 10- how many significant life events could he have?). He's not much of an artist but he spent a LOT of time on it. He was so disapointed to receive a C- (he's normally a straight A student). Now I have a kid who usually loves school hating 5th grade and his new teacher.

to your son. It is so sad to watch them work so hard and be so proud and get a crappy grade.

 

[mickeyfan2]

So what will this gifted child do when the employer asks them to do a presentation that is just busy work. Should they do as they are told by a superior or not? This is the lesson that is being learned here. Not all project that we with our gifted minds deem useless are not seen the same way by a superior

 

[Mom21]

About the time it took. That included the amount of time she took to get her stuff (she loves Michaels) and looking through magazines and tons of computer clip art to find the best pictures. She then had to cover the box, put the pics on, label them, she added glitter glue and arts and crafts things. This was a big project. She probably has over 75 pics of things. And for the poster that "questioned" my dd's intelligence because she took a while.....well so not cool. Maybe smart kids take longer because they think more. She wanted it just right. Would this have been an OK post if I hadn't mentioned she was in the gifted class? "Cause that seems to be what everyone is focusing on. Ok I agree it should have been a 10 hour project but it is still annoying. Sorry I whined.

 

[Southern4sure]

I've never included time to shop for materials or online ideas as part of the time it took to do a project. I never thought to do that...... I guess I cheated my kids in giving them credit to how long it takes for a project.

Yep, Im still a crappy parent.....

 

[my4kids]

I think it's a way for the teacher to get to know the students and for the students to share with each other about themselves. There is NO WAY, however, it should have taken 20 plus hours.

My GT 4th grader had the same thing......it also is about public speaking as the hold it in front of the class to talk about it. The children are much less nervous talkin in from of the class when they have something to hold and describe that they made, rather than just talk about themselves...it's a good ice breaker.

If you told the teach how long it has taken your kid I think they wouldpass out. Hour tops for that project...i think your kid is trying too hard. It isn't really the box that makes the grade as much as the presentation and that they made an effort on the box.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Would this have been an OK post if I hadn't mentioned she was in the gifted class?

 

[mickeyfan2]

I've never included time to shop for materials or online ideas as part of the time it took to do a project. I never thought to do that...... I guess I cheated my kids in giving them credit to how long it takes for a project.

Yep, Im still a crappy parent.....

And you keep adding to your lead!

 

[Southern4sure]

And you keep adding to your lead!

Im not even trying............

 

[mickeyfan2]

Im not even trying............

But this is the major characteristic of a crappy parent.

 

[Blondy876]

It always blows me away when parents question why a teacher would assign something that takes so much time to do and requires so much work. I can guarantee that the teacher has a very good reason why she assigned it. Several people have already given some of those reasons. But please don't think that the teacher assigned things just because she can. Remember she is the one that will have to grade each and every one of them so I am sure they have a purpose. I have to agree with pp that is sounds like your dd is a perfectionist (which is not a bad thing). This is a very good opportunity to teach her about time management. Good luck this year!

 

[ilovepcot]

Not all kids are gifted in all 8 intelligences. Most kids who do well in school are adept at verbal and mathematical skills. However, many kids are artistic, musical, kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic, so projects such as these give these students the opportunity to enhance their giftedness. Seems to me the teacher is attempting to engage the whole child, not simply the part that you have decided is important to your daugher's education.

True! But just how much of the "whole child" are the teachers actually seeing? From my particular frame of reference, many parents get *quite involved* in these projects...many times due primarily to the child's frustration and the fact these projects *disrupt* the entire household until they're completed. So, I can't help but wonder...whose "giftedness" is the teacher actually seeing?

 

[Allison]

Is there always so much criticism of teachers and schools on this board or is it a beginning of the year thing?