The Trouble with Boys Chapter 6 Kindergarten; the New First Grade - Classroom 2.02024-03-29T12:30:31Zhttps://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/the-trouble-with-boys-chapter-3?groupUrl=somerspointteachers&commentId=649749%3AComment%3A449834&groupId=649749%3AGroup%3A293677&feed=yes&xn_auth=noAlexandra,
Your words are ins…tag:www.classroom20.com,2010-03-25:649749:Comment:4535892010-03-25T02:07:25.087ZMarcy Pragerhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/MarcyPrager
Alexandra,<br />
Your words are inspirational! I am in total agreement with everything you have written~!
Alexandra,<br />
Your words are inspirational! I am in total agreement with everything you have written~! I found this chapter to be ve…tag:www.classroom20.com,2010-03-25:649749:Comment:4535402010-03-25T00:42:02.895ZAlexandra Hamiltonhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/AlexandraHamilton
I found this chapter to be very interesting and upsetting at the same time. I was shocked to read that the curriculum we have in place, nationally, was once considered standard for 2nd or 3rd grade. Although I have only been teaching for a short time, I have already seen the frustrations that young children are experiencing first hand. So much pressure and stress is put on young children between the curriculum and testing expectations making it very difficult to give them the opportunities to…
I found this chapter to be very interesting and upsetting at the same time. I was shocked to read that the curriculum we have in place, nationally, was once considered standard for 2nd or 3rd grade. Although I have only been teaching for a short time, I have already seen the frustrations that young children are experiencing first hand. So much pressure and stress is put on young children between the curriculum and testing expectations making it very difficult to give them the opportunities to experiment and learn independently through experiences.<br />
I am not an advocate of testing, and therefore completely support the segment where the principal stated that testing does not measure diligence, creativity, or potential. When I was a student, from a young age through college, I learned that I was not a test-taker. I thrived on alternative assignments such as projects and face-to-face interactions. Because of the expectations of test-driven results, I find it difficult for students to truly show who they are and what they understand. As a Special Ed. teacher, I especially see how difficult it is for my students to successfully complete tests. I think it is essential to give kids the chance to show their understanding and potential through other assignments, which I know can be extremely hard to add on to the other responsibilities we have as teachers. However, regardless of how unfair I believe testing it, it is a reality of what students must face today in schools. I think it would be a great idea if we had the opportunity to explicitly teach children test-taking skills to help them better prepare for what they must endure. Kindergarten the new first gr…tag:www.classroom20.com,2010-03-24:649749:Comment:4535302010-03-24T23:46:51.515ZPatricia Carsonhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/PatriciaCarson
Kindergarten the new first grade certainly spoke to things that have been bothering me for quite some time. It seems so many people are in a big hurry to have kids grow up and i think the state is at the top of the list. I found the book to be very interesting as it gave a voice to many things that I have believed for a long time as I have seen the changes that the author talks about in the book. So much change and not all of it for the better. I really think this book should be required…
Kindergarten the new first grade certainly spoke to things that have been bothering me for quite some time. It seems so many people are in a big hurry to have kids grow up and i think the state is at the top of the list. I found the book to be very interesting as it gave a voice to many things that I have believed for a long time as I have seen the changes that the author talks about in the book. So much change and not all of it for the better. I really think this book should be required reading for people who are planning to teach especially in the lower grades. Kindergarten… The new first g…tag:www.classroom20.com,2010-03-24:649749:Comment:4530542010-03-24T00:26:01.756ZJane Leonardohttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JaneL58
Kindergarten… The new first grade is certainly a reality. The acceleration of the curriculum began slowly and now seems to be on fast forward. I sometimes ask myself what the previous (now retired) Kindergarten teachers in our district would think about our Kindergarten day now. I think they would be incredulous!<br />
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The author claims that 15 years ago, first grade was the place to learn about letters and Kindergarten was only a place for social and emotional development. I did not find that to be…
Kindergarten… The new first grade is certainly a reality. The acceleration of the curriculum began slowly and now seems to be on fast forward. I sometimes ask myself what the previous (now retired) Kindergarten teachers in our district would think about our Kindergarten day now. I think they would be incredulous!<br />
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The author claims that 15 years ago, first grade was the place to learn about letters and Kindergarten was only a place for social and emotional development. I did not find that to be true in Somers Point. Even 20 years ago when I started teaching Kindergarten we have always worked on letter recognition,letter sounds, science, math and big themes that were integrated across the curriculum. Most students came in not knowing how to write their names, hold a pencil, use scissors, how to act in a classroom and many were sobbing in my arms as I encouraged their crying parents to leave. With pre K a reality for so many little ones, more and more children come in knowing so MUCH more then they used to (Christie has it ALL wrong…Pre K is NOT babysitting!) But even so… we must be mindful not to push to much down the grades. I think we all see it… and worry.<br />
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When the author spoke of redshirting… also referred to as the “Graying of Kindergarten” (as in hair color) I could picture a number of children who fit that bill and most of them were boys. Academics, social skills and future athletic careers are issues the parents thought about when they made the decision to hold out their child and let them start a year later. When Somers Point went to full day Kindergarten about 10 years ago the Kindergarten teams at both schools were hopeful we would change the starting/entrance age to 5 by September 1st as opposed to October 1st, so all the children would be at least 5 years of age when they entered. We knew that early September children/ young Kindergartners might have a hard time. Maybe it might be time to revisit the age/date requirement issue. I also think the idea of a Pre-1st or developmental 1st grade is also a great idea. Instead of pushing kids (boys primarily) onto first grade when they aren’t ready, they can still be promoted to the next level… their level!!! From what I understand, she r…tag:www.classroom20.com,2010-03-23:649749:Comment:4527932010-03-23T10:56:40.563ZMarcy Pragerhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/MarcyPrager
From what I understand, she really shapes what happens. So we have to have faith that people will listen to her now and the whole child will be cared about again.<br />
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I have taught in Brookline for 32 years, and the town has afforded me every opportunity to grow in my teaching. I've been a life-long learner thanks to teaching there. I am lucky.
From what I understand, she really shapes what happens. So we have to have faith that people will listen to her now and the whole child will be cared about again.<br />
<br />
I have taught in Brookline for 32 years, and the town has afforded me every opportunity to grow in my teaching. I've been a life-long learner thanks to teaching there. I am lucky. I remember Driscoll! Brooklin…tag:www.classroom20.com,2010-03-22:649749:Comment:4525972010-03-22T23:32:38.474ZLisa Litz-Neavearhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/LisaLitzNeavear
I remember Driscoll! Brookline was such a model school district; I loved it there.<br />
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Diane Ravitch was on Diane Rehm's show last week (?) for an hour. I remember her as an Undersecretary and am so glad she's had a change of heart.
I remember Driscoll! Brookline was such a model school district; I loved it there.<br />
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Diane Ravitch was on Diane Rehm's show last week (?) for an hour. I remember her as an Undersecretary and am so glad she's had a change of heart. Lisa,
I teach at Driscoll, r…tag:www.classroom20.com,2010-03-22:649749:Comment:4525912010-03-22T22:54:59.476ZMarcy Pragerhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/MarcyPrager
Lisa,<br />
<br />
I teach at Driscoll, right down the street from Devotion. Thanks for posting Diane's article!
Lisa,<br />
<br />
I teach at Driscoll, right down the street from Devotion. Thanks for posting Diane's article! Diane Ravitch has done a comp…tag:www.classroom20.com,2010-03-22:649749:Comment:4525892010-03-22T22:53:49.489ZMarcy Pragerhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/MarcyPrager
Diane Ravitch has done a complete turnaround. She was all for testing and accountability. Because of her new philosophy, schools will soon turn around... For me, formative testing tells so much more about the student that a paper and pencil test could never tell me. I have worked very hard to individualize what each student needs. I love integrating curriculum and taking the very best of what I have learned the last 30 years and making it work for students. Integrating curriculum, making it…
Diane Ravitch has done a complete turnaround. She was all for testing and accountability. Because of her new philosophy, schools will soon turn around... For me, formative testing tells so much more about the student that a paper and pencil test could never tell me. I have worked very hard to individualize what each student needs. I love integrating curriculum and taking the very best of what I have learned the last 30 years and making it work for students. Integrating curriculum, making it engaging and meaningful for students, was what life as a teacher was all about 30 years ago. I stick to this engaging curriculum, no matter what the new trends are. My students learn to think on a high level, even in first grade. The paper and pencil testing is so out of hand. Some of you may have read Dia…tag:www.classroom20.com,2010-03-22:649749:Comment:4525662010-03-22T21:54:30.581ZLisa Litz-Neavearhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/LisaLitzNeavear
Some of you may have read Diane Ravitch's commentary in the Press today. I am quoting her:<br />
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"This poor substitute for a well-rounded education, which includes subjects such as the arts, history, geography, civics, science and foreign language, hits low-income children the hardest, since they are the most likely to attend the kind of "failing school" that drills kids relentlessly on the basics."<br />
<br />
Talk about not engaging students!<br />
For the whole commentary:…
Some of you may have read Diane Ravitch's commentary in the Press today. I am quoting her:<br />
<br />
"This poor substitute for a well-rounded education, which includes subjects such as the arts, history, geography, civics, science and foreign language, hits low-income children the hardest, since they are the most likely to attend the kind of "failing school" that drills kids relentlessly on the basics."<br />
<br />
Talk about not engaging students!<br />
For the whole commentary: <a href="http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/opinion/commentary/article_c52a5c20-f6c6-524f-b01b-7a17497aecf8.html" target="_blank">http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/opinion/commentary/article_c52a5c20-f6c6-524f-b01b-7a17497aecf8.html</a> It should be called "The Fit…tag:www.classroom20.com,2010-03-22:649749:Comment:4525192010-03-22T20:03:04.258ZKathleen Zinskihttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/KathleenZinski
It should be called "The Fit Our Mold Grade" and I guess we must reassess the work we're assigning if it borders on being developmentally inappropriate for many kids. Tyre quoted Costello as saying too few allowances are made for individual develomental timetables, yet I was relieved to learn that boys are only weeks or months behind the girls, and not years. That was hopeful. Right?<br />
Haven't we all seen the progression of a frustrated child turn to class clown, then a behavior problem, then in…
It should be called "The Fit Our Mold Grade" and I guess we must reassess the work we're assigning if it borders on being developmentally inappropriate for many kids. Tyre quoted Costello as saying too few allowances are made for individual develomental timetables, yet I was relieved to learn that boys are only weeks or months behind the girls, and not years. That was hopeful. Right?<br />
Haven't we all seen the progression of a frustrated child turn to class clown, then a behavior problem, then in special ed. by high school? That doesn't mean an "open classroom" will resolve the problem; but an alert, concerned, teacher who can think out of the box and has a wealth of methods in her backpack might. Then again, are we allowed to think out of the box or must we follow the grade-assigned standards, curriculum, and methods our districts have developed? I remember when Whole Language was the method de jour.<br />
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It scared me when I read that between the 60s and 80s learning changed so much that one fourth of the Navy's recruits couldn't read at a ninth grade level.Then I thought maybe one fourth of Mainland's graduating class can't do any better in 2010. Does anyone have the statistics on our high school grads?<br />
We might not need to measure diligence, creativity, and potential, but we do need to foster these attributes along with the basic skills, and "believing in blocks" sounds pretty darn good, instead of teaching in a "cram-school." Yes, I agree that real learning takes engagement. Maybe we don't have as many kids with ADHD as we do un-engaged kids.<br />
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A happy marriage of standards and engagement means we need to scrutinize our standards and improve our methods. Parents accept the government-decreed standards we're testing for and then insist their children be pushed through programs, in hopes their children will score well, that may turn them off to learning. I agree that "failure breeds failure," and when kids view homework as a punishment we've got problems. We've got even bigger problems when we punish the disadvantaged who can't do their homework.<br />
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If George Leonard thinks "To bore a child is as cruel as beating him" I wonder how he views frustrating a child. All this comes back around to kick us in the butt too, because as teachers we also seem rather frustrated.