When do your kids start school?

[bsblady01]

Ours changes from year to year. It's usually Wednesday but some years it's Tuesday or Thursday. Last year we actually started the Thursday before which is the first time that has ever happened.

What is weird this year is we start on Tuesday but we have the day before Thanksgiving off which we never get. I don't know why we didn't just start on Wednesday and get the usual Thanksgiving and day after Thanksgiving.

When I was a kid we always went back the wed after labor day. And we have always had the day before thanksgiving off up here.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

I can think of a few things I won't miss once school starts.

So, to answer the question, not soon enough.

 

[bsblady01]

I'm kind of surprised by the many "day after Labor Day" responses. We never started until the Wednesday or Thursday after Labor Day, and as far as I know, all schools in my area still have it that way. If they suddenly changed, I'd bet at least half the students wouldn't show up that Tuesday.

As a teacher I don't like it at all. When I was growing up it was always a wed that we went back to school, we always did our Disney vacations at the end of aug with us coming back labor day weekend most of the time. I feel rushed as a parent and a teacher with not having that extra day to get stuff done .

 

[bsblady01]

NCLB is no longer in effect as of 7 months ago. How were your students affected by NCLB?

If you have a summer reading program then isn't that exactly what you were wishing for when it came to at risk kids - aside from the already in place, nationally mandated ESY program? I am not sure what more you are looking for as it seems that all the bases are covered. You cannot force parents to make their children attend some programs either, especially when transportation is not provided like for a summer reading program. When parents work trying to drive a kid back and forth to a reading program is typically not something they can figure out, especially if the kids are younger and they're already paying for camp or day care.

I had a few kids over the last few years that were just not ready for second grade. And the no child left behind I feel hurt these kids that needed the extra year in first grade to grow more as students.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

 

[spinandmarty]

our schools have had summer school for most IEP kids, and for kids that just needed a little extra help, for years.. this year the way Illinois is funding schools it was just IEP kids.... Shame shame IL

 

[bsblady01]

our schools have had summer school for most IEP kids, and for kids that just needed a little extra help, for years.. this year the way Illinois is funding schools it was just IEP kids.... Shame shame IL

That is just sad

 

[TheIncredibles!]

I had a few kids over the last few years that were just not ready for second grade. And the no child left behind I feel hurt these kids that needed the extra year in first grade to grow more as students.

NCLB did not prevent kids from repeating a grade when it's necessary. Are you thinking NCLB means no child can be left back or repeat a grade?

The main problem with NCLB is that it basically graded schools based on the results of standardized tests which forced teachers to have to teach with the goal of the most successful outcome on those tests. Poor results, even from the highest performing students who just test badly, meant a "bad grade" for the school. So schools did whatever they had to do to get the highest grades and most positive outcome on the tests. The focus was the tests, not the kids.

Having an child repeat a grade, especially one that is having difficulties, would increase the chance that a school would have a better outcome when the child starts taking standardized tests in third grade.

 

[bsblady01]

NCLB did not prevent kids from repeating a grade when it's necessary. Are you thinking NCLB means no child can be left back or repeat a grade?

The main problem with NCLB is that it basically graded schools based on the results of standardized tests which forced teachers to have to teach with the goal of the most successful outcome on those tests. Poor results, even from the highest performing students who just test badly, meant a "bad grade" for the school. So schools did whatever they had to do to get the highest grades and most positive outcome on the tests. The focus was the tests, not the kids.

Having an child repeat a grade, especially one that is having difficulties, would increase the chance that a school would have a better outcome when the child starts taking standardized tests in third grade.

I know what it means but they were pushing kids through do to the overcrowding of some schools. I want to be able to teach the way I want to teach and not have to teach for a test. I wish it was like when I was in elementary school and we did not have the stress like we do now.

 

[msjprincess]

I had a few kids over the last few years that were just not ready for second grade. And the no child left behind I feel hurt these kids that needed the extra year in first grade to grow more as students.

How did NCLB prevent them from repeating 1st grade?

 

[TheIncredibles!]

I know what it means but they were pushing kids through do to the overcrowding of some schools. I want to be able to teach the way I want to teach and not have to teach for a test. I wish it was like when I was in elementary school and we did not have the stress like we do now.

If they are pushing them through due to overcrowding then it has nothing to do with NCLB like you said it did?!?! Overcrowding has nothing to do with NCLB at all.

 

[BearFamily]

I know what it means but they were pushing kids through do to the overcrowding of some schools. I want to be able to teach the way I want to teach and not have to teach for a test. I wish it was like when I was in elementary school and we did not have the stress like we do now.

1. So, again, what did NCLB have to do with those students not being able to be held back? Are you saying that the "pushing kids though DUE to the overcrowding" was somehow related to NCLB? My teaching career started before NCLB and if anything, I saw much more grade retention after it was implemented as schools worked to bring up test scores and deal with subgroups and AYP.

2. I recommend looking into independent or private schools if you are interested in getting away from teaching to the test. Implementation of ESSA will hopefully correct some of the deficiencies of NCLB, but you are still going to be dealing with standardized testing for many years if you are in public education.

 

[CarolAnn856]

I know what it means but they were pushing kids through do to the overcrowding of some schools. I want to be able to teach the way I want to teach and not have to teach for a test. I wish it was like when I was in elementary school and we did not have the stress like we do now.

I'm sorry, but did you say you are a classroom teacher, or a classroom aide? I don't know any teacher who would confuse NCLB with overcrowding. Or a teacher work day with a day when the building happens to be open, for that matter.

 

[bsblady01]

If they are pushing them through due to overcrowding then it has nothing to do with NCLB like you said it did?!?! Overcrowding has nothing to do with NCLB at all.

A few of these kids needed to do first grade again

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

 

[msjprincess]

A few of these kids needed to do first grade again

But what does that have to do with NCLB?

 

[TheIncredibles!]

A few of these kids needed to do first grade again

That has NOTHING to do with NCLB. Nothing at all.

I am not a teacher. I am however a mom with a child that is cognitively impaired and with two other children with learning disabilities. All three of my children have IEP's. I have been to over 22 IEP meetings just for my kids alone and by the time they all graduate I will have been to over 30 meetings. In addition I help other parents just starting out who are confused about the process and because of that I have attended 5 more IEP meetings.

Despite my extensive experience as a parent, a teacher with any experience should be able to at the very least argue effectively and with a great deal of articulation when it comes to the education process and match my knowledge. However I really would expect a teacher to be able to wipe the floor with me. A teacher, unless they are just starting out, should have been to more IEP meetings than I have been to, would know all about the nationally mandated ESY program and how it differs from summer school and would also know exactly what NCLB means, how it directly affects their classroom, their students and how is has NOTHING to do with overcrowding and kids needing to repeat a grade but didn't for whatever reason.

 

[Hrhpd]

A few of these kids needed to do first grade again

Yes, we get that. So, why did they get pushed to the next grade? You said it was NCLB and then you said it was due to overcrowding?

Why would your district promote a child who is not ready if they are concerned about NCLB since it would hurt the 2nd grade testing scores? I am not understanding why your district promoted children that the teacher felt strongly were not ready to move on?

FWIW - No Child Left Behind is not literal. It does not mean that a child cannot be left behind to repeat a grade.

 

[bsblady01]

But what does that have to do with NCLB?

Because these kids were not held back

 

[bsblady01]

Yes, we get that. So, why did they get pushed to the next grade? You said it was NCLB and then you said it was due to overcrowding?

Why would your district promote a child who is not ready if they are concerned about NCLB since it would hurt the 2nd grade testing scores? I am not understanding why your district promoted children that the teacher felt strongly were not ready to move on?

FWIW - No Child Left Behind is not literal. It does not mean that a child cannot be left behind to repeat a grade.

If the parents do not agree with it then we can not hold their child back