1st Grade School Report

[LadyKay]

I just want to get someone else's opinion on this. My 6 year old is in first grade. Through out the school year she brings home reports and projects that need to be done and turn in by a due date. These reports and projects always require the parent's input. They are not something that a 1st grader can do all on their own. This past weekend my daughter had to pick out an animal and write a report about it. A letter was sent home to the parent explaining to the parent what the report was about and that their child would need their help in completing the report. For example this report required research be done either at the library or on the internet. So a parent had to be there for them in order for the report to be done. Although I do not mind so much having to help my child with these things. I think it is a bit unfair to some children. I mean some kids have parents that simply don't give a crap and wont take the time to help their kid with the report. The 1st grader cannot complete the report on their own and then have to go to school and face their teacher and explain why their report is not done. And it would not have been the fault of the kid. But they are the ones who will have to be facing the teacher. I think that the teacher should only assign homework that a kid can do on their own. It's hard enough to grow up having parents that are not their for you and don't give a crap as it is without making the kid feel like a failure because they could not get a school report done because of their parent's refusal to help.

[Simon Bar Sinister]

1) yeah, that's total bullshit. If the child can't do it on their own, it shouldn't be given to them as an assignment.

2) it's "your," not "you're."

[LadyKay]

[

2) it's "your," not "you're.

I didn't do that. The spell check on my computer told me it was wrong and I clicked the fix spelling button and that's what happen.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Never really occurred to me that there would be this type of assignment, but now that I'm thinking more about it its an interesting situation. Maybe there's an underlying set of issues involved... maybe to find out which kids DON'T have parents involved, which, study after study after study says is key for a students development (without tons of extra help from the faculty to make up for it somehow). Looking back on it I wish , even all the way up into high-school there were sort of "parental input required" assignments, certainly would have helped me. My parents never gave much of a shit about my education, but they were the type that WOULD have gotten involved if it was required or "heavily suggested" to them by someone other than me. I did pretty well in school despite a lack of parental interest, but I know this is not common from almost every primary education article I've ever read.

I do see it as being hard on the kids that don't have involved parents, but I'm thinking its better to encourage parents to get involved, and deal with the kids that have busy/uninvolved parents on an individual basis rather than just avoiding the whole concept. I like the idea , actually, having thought even more about it, despite its possible unfairness to some. It gets I would assume, most, parents involved, and makes it glaring which kids dont have involved parents, which, would make it easier for a (good) school to figure out who might need extra help.

Oh and Hiyas Lady Kay good to see you online.

[prick]

I think thats too advanced for the children at their age.

[Rayne]

I have a huge problem with those types of assignments -- as I have 5 kids at home and my own stuff to do. I have no problem helping my kids if they have an issue but I shouldn't have to do their homework for them -- the teachers job is to educate them on how to do these things on their own. I've had to bring it up with several teachers in the past that those types of assignments are not appropriate for their ages. I have extremely independent kids and extremely not independent kids. Two different extremes. Some kids can handle it, some kids can't and the teacher needs to cater to kids of ALL abilities in their classroom.