Honestly, I just read the first sentence and couldn't help but laugh 😂 In a country where they're already cutting kindergarten programs because of budget cuts and lack of space, how on earth is anyone going to implement this reform? It’s almost cute how naive they are.
Even without getting into the whole mess regarding shortened school hours—where they basically force you to leave a seven or eight-year-old alone for hours on end despite everything supposedly running smoothly—I still feel that the older a child gets, the more capable and mature they become. They’ll be much better equipped to handle their responsibilities on their own. It isn't just about first or second grade; throughout their entire time in elementary school, they're gaining a year of maturity and growing up every single year. Whether or not they implement those new state testing requirements, by the time grades really start to matter for high school admissions, the kid will be a year older and more prepared.
If a kid is ready, there’s really no reason to stress about waiting an extra year before they start school. It’s not like you’re pulling them out of classes to homeschool them. The child will just end up more mature and independent, which actually gives parents who tend to over-help less excuses to hover. Personally, I don't see any real advantage to rushing them into kindergarten early. As long as daycare isn't an issue—because if they genuinely hate being at daycare, then I can see how it helps 😁. Some people argue the child might get bored. But let's be honest, most elementary school curricula are pretty tedious anyway. So what? Life is going to have boring moments, and they might as well learn now that everything doesn't always have to be a blast.
I think almost every school in a city like Chicago offers after-school programs. When I was growing up, staying after school was basically a given through fourth grade, but things have changed. With how expensive everything is now, it’s pretty rare to find programs past third grade; most places just offer it for first graders.
Karen Richardson3 said:But honestly, I feel like I’m constantly hearing all this whining about how "intense" the curriculum is or how "heavy" the workload feels, yet it’s coming from parents whose kids are basically supposed to be the brightest stars of their generation. I mean, how do you even square those two things? 😵 😁
To be totally blunt, I wasn't in school for very long, but it never felt overwhelming to me at all. And looking back, every single classroom followed Gauss's curve perfectly—you had a few high achievers, a few kids who struggled or caused trouble, and then the bulk of the class right in the middle. It seems to me that the real issue isn't the difficulty level; it's that parents in that middle group can't handle being "average." They demand their kids be recognized as geniuses because, in their eyes, they absolutely are (okay, I don't really buy it, but hey, let me be politically correct here😁).
(As a side note, I have this colleague who is... let's say, mediocre at best, but he's convinced he's the smartest, most talented, and best-looking guy in the room simply because his parents fed him that ego. Throughout his schooling, his teachers were always the scapegoats for his failures. It’s wild how much confidence he has, even if it’s completely unearned😁. My mom was the total opposite; whenever anyone tried to praise us, she’d immediately find some little flaw or reason to bring us back down to earth😁).
That’s exactly why I asked if it was actually true. My sister went to school eleven years after me, and back then, people were also claiming the workload was massive and the material was overwhelming. Her 7th-grade history textbook was literally an inch thinner than mine was when I was in 7th grade. I actually measured them. With a ruler. Hers was mostly pictures and little text boxes with important facts... which somehow made it harder, I guess? I have no idea. The only thing that's probably actually harder now is that kids are different—their attention spans jump around more, and it's tougher for them to focus because they live in such a hyper-connected world.
urbantinker8 said:It isn't really the same thing, I suppose. If she’s just playing in the park or hanging out at home, nobody is actually being paid to teach your child anything. But an instructor in an after-school program, for instance, is actually tasked with making sure homework is properly explained and completed correctly. Because, you know, I imagine if a parent were to find out—and God forbid this happens more than once—that a teacher miscommunicated something regarding a foreign language assignment they don't personally understand, leading to kids getting their work wrong... well, I think people would lose their minds.😲 Heads would probably roll.☕
She should just be upfront at the parent meeting and say she doesn't teach languages, and that's that. If the kids want to do the work themselves later, or with their parents—or if they just don't do it at all—that's on them. If a kid is in an after-school program for five-year-olds and they're expected to finish language homework there, that seems really strange to me.
Plus, it means the kid comes home from after-school care having actually learned something because someone sat down and explained things, rather than just grinding through homework alone.
What does it mean if my child can only attend classes taught in English, simply because both my spouse and I only speak English? There isn't anyone at home who could help her with German, and honestly, it shouldn't matter whether she's studying in a park, at home, or in an after-school program.
Susan James said:I'm planning on using after-school programs too, and honestly, I won't stress over it. I'll just request that all the schoolwork gets completed while they're actually at school. By the way, do they still push for nap times in after-school programs? (I remember that being a thing back in my elementary school days here in the States)
On another note, regarding things like addresses, birthdays, and phone numbers—I actually see that as part of "school readiness." It's important for them to know who their parents are and where they live, so if they ever get lost, they can actually tell someone who they are. They might not need to be able to write it all out perfectly yet, but they definitely should be able to say it out loud.
Actually, they are required to write it down.😁
I agree about the homework, though; if they're in after-school care, there shouldn't be much left to do at home. That said, I know sometimes if a kid has language arts homework, they're told they have to do it at home because of some silly argument that the after-school teacher isn't a "language expert." 😕 I don't really get why the teacher needs to be an expert in the subject; it's the student doing the work, not her.🤷
Karen Richardson3 said:Honestly, I don't get why everyone treats starting school like it's some tragic end to childhood or something.. whereas I totally vibe with what summer was saying about worrying if their kid is just going to be stuck at home all day.
but yeah, generally speaking, we tend to turn everything into a massive drama when it comes to those "enlightened" parents.
And don't even get me started on all these posts complaining about how overwhelmed first graders are. If parents actually had the guts to just shut off the PC and the TV, I bet they’d find plenty of time for everything, including playing outside for a bit. Kids over five aren't missing out on parks because of their schoolwork; it's because they're glued to screens, playing video games and liking duck face selfies on Facebook.
P.S. "I'm chasing my career," says mom 🤣 I tried to cut back on the forums, but since I'm clearly terrible at self-control, I just banned myself until I finished everything I needed to get done.
😂
It feels like this school has developed this massive reputation here, but I swear I haven't heard a single parent say, "Oh, don't worry, it's not that bad for them." Instead, everyone is crying foul—it's a nightmare, it's too much work, the curriculum is way too advanced for their age, the kids are struggling... I don't know why it's almost taboo in America to admit that school might actually be easy for a child. I guess it's the same reason people feel awkward admitting they have money, or that they think they look good, or that they actually like what they're wearing. 😂
I’m out here selling wisdom like it’s cheap, yet I’ll see if I can actually manage my own schedule a year from now. I’m terrified we’ll end up pulling an all-nighter just to finish some reading assignment or frantically printing photos for "my family" projects (you can just print them nowadays; no need for old-school film development 🤣).
Then I’ll be over there complaining to the teacher about how it’s physically impossible to fold 5,000 geometric shapes in a single afternoon, or asking where on earth I'm supposed to find 20 rolls of paper by TOMORROW morning 😁
Look, if we hadn't moved away from the neighborhood where I work, and if I pushed her to start school this fall, I might have had her in my class🙂)) (Honestly, who knows if that's even possible? I think it could work since I handle after-school care, so if the kid needs daycare... but I wouldn't be teaching her during regular hours, and I don't know if the administration would even allow it. Does anyone have experience with something like that?)
Back in middle school, I was in a class with a guy whose dad taught us physics. It never felt weird during class; birthdays were a little awkward, but the dad didn't make a big deal out of anything 😂
I’m out here selling wisdom like it’s cheap, yet I’ll see if I can actually manage my own schedule a year from now. I’m terrified we’ll end up pulling an all-nighter just to finish some reading assignment or frantically printing photos for "my family" projects (you can just print them nowadays; no need for old-school film development 🤣).
Then I’ll be over there complaining to the teacher about how it’s physically impossible to fold 5,000 geometric shapes in a single afternoon, or asking where on earth I'm supposed to find 20 rolls of paper by TOMORROW morning 😁
Look, if we hadn't moved away from the neighborhood where I work, and if I pushed her to start school this fall, I might have had her in my class🙂)) (Honestly, who knows if that's even possible? I think it could work since I handle after-school care, so if the kid needs daycare... but I wouldn't be teaching her during regular hours, and I don't know if the administration would even allow it. Does anyone have experience with something like that?)
😂😂😂
Well, you at least knew what needed to be done 😁 and now I do too. I'm setting a reminder on my phone: my family, develop the photos! Set alarm for October 2016 😂
I honestly have no idea how long it took, but Mom was home for quite a while while we were busy playing 😂 I think I get what you’re getting at. If you stay on top of everything and organize things properly according to the plan, then it shouldn't be much of an issue.
frozenrider15 said:No, they aren't so monumental that they require parental intervention, nor are they constant (don't get me wrong, it’s not an every-week thing; there are just a few per semester). So where is the friction? It's timing and organization. Much like summer reading lists, kids usually wait until the eleventh hour. But a project requires actual time. If the assignment is "My Family" (say, during the first semester), you need to carve out moments to chip away at it. You print a photo of my family, write down names, snap a picture when you visit the zoo, glue it all down... then take a photo during the winter holidays... by then, they can write a bit better, so you jot down a few sentences... it takes time, just like any other project. If you try to tackle it the final week before it's due—which is what most kids do—then you've got pure chaos on your hands. And yes, I think parents should offer some guidance; if nothing else, help them organize their workspace or figure out where to glue things and draw. They aren't exactly independent toddlers in the first 😁
It also happens (if the kids are in after-school care) that a teacher assigns something meant specifically for home. For instance, a worksheet where a child needs to write their birthdate and address. Most first graders haven't mastered that yet (since it's right at the beginning of the year, it feels redundant to even ask because they might not know all their letters, but hey, who asked...), so parents end up pulling their hair out. They think, "We signed them up for after-school care, and now suddenly there's homework coming home... when are we supposed to find the time?" They almost expect the kid to hand it in first thing in the morning like they're in preschool, and then just pack it up like a suitcase in the afternoon. That's not how it works. That's why they're caught off guard and frustrated (well, not everyone, certainly!).
The situation I'm thinking of was back in first grade, after-school care; there was an assignment to make a bunch of things out of paper—folding stuff, maybe some cubes. My little one made ten of them and just broke down from boredom. It was sunny outside and the other kids were playing, so eventually, Mom ended up making the cubes herself and sent the kid outside to play instead. 😁 I don't remember exactly how many were needed, but it was a lot, and Mom was absolutely livid by the time she finally came out to our bench because her fingers were hurting 😂 . But oh well, with the kind of projects you mentioned, a child can be reminded to work on them so it isn't such a disaster (even if it will force me to develop photos 😁). Things like being told today that I need to bring something in tomorrow drive me crazy; my hair is practically standing on end 😱 .
frozenrider15 said:I couldn't agree more. If a first grader is being asked to buckle down for more than 20 or 30 minutes a day, the school has overstepped. In my local district, that's usually the case. The real time-sink isn't actually the physical act of writing things down—I'm with you there; a parent's job is just to check the work and offer a hand when needed. The culprit is the constant drilling, the reading practice, and those endless little projects (which seem to be everywhere in our schools lately). But listen, repetition and practice don't always require a formal desk setup. For kids in first or second grade, it's actually better to weave it into the flow of the day so they don't even realize they're learning. It’s like how you might quiz them on addition up to 10 while they're folding laundry, or run through subtraction up to 20 while the dishes are getting done 😁, or have them count the stairs to practice their multiples of seven. The problem is that kids are absolutely wiped by the end of the day—especially those little first graders. There's rarely any juice left in the tank for either the kids or the parents to sit down for extra drills, which is why people are worried. They need to get through first grade just to build up some academic stamina. 😁
Well, I don't fold laundry or do the dishes, so what am I supposed to do?? 😲 Just kidding, obviously. I wanted to ask about these projects though. From every parent I know, everyone absolutely hates them. Are they really so massive and difficult that the parents end up doing them, and is it true that teachers often assign them at the very last minute?
frozenrider15 said:It’s a nightmare, this whole "homework after school" thing. Honestly, the work should be finished the next morning (though, let's be real, who would actually grade it then?).
We still have after-school programs here—at least through third grade—so the kids can at least knock out some homework on campus. But truthfully? By second grade, they already need extra review at home, daily reading practice, and by third grade, the workload at home becomes a full-time job. Very few kids can just coast through the grades solely on what they pick up during school hours. Those kids are rare gems. Plus, the curriculum in third grade expands significantly—especially science—and if they fall behind on new concepts, parents end up pulling their hair out trying to catch them up. And don't even get me started on when a kid gets sick and has to transcribe everything they missed...
I have no clue who designs the teacher schedules. All I know is that at my school, we try to look out for the students. The student schedules (not the staff shifts, since our physical space limits our flexibility) are built following strict guidelines to balance the load. We make sure they don't end up with three light classes on a Friday—like art, music, and PE😁—while being absolutely crushed by heavy subjects the rest of the week. But we don't control the shifts, and we certainly don't control the working hours. The timetables are generated by a computer program. 😁
Even the kids who are doing fine should probably practice at home just to build the habit, speaking from experience. If you spend four or five years in school without ever having to open a book at home, and then suddenly you're hit with a heavy workload, that's when the real trouble starts.
Finances aren't really a stressor for me right now, since my monthly daycare costs end up being about the same as what I spend on books and supplies once a year. 😂