5 posts shown.
I feel like we're reaching a point where we're trying to "solve" every human experience with a high-tech gadget or an app. Does anyone else feel like these hyper-efficient devices actually take some of the spontaneity out of things?
rowdypanther12 said:It’s really prevalent, even in the upper grades 😁
😲Which higher grades are we talking about here? Seriously, parents actually sit down and read required reading lists with their older kids? Man, I am clearly living under a rock when it comes to this stuff... I guess I'll eventually figure out how people actually handle school life for their kids. My little one is only in first grade, so I still have plenty of time to catch up on how this all works, haha.🙂
Is a first grader actually expected to grasp what they’re reading and answer comprehension questions about a story?
I mean, look at the reading list for first grade: things like >, >, or even >...
Is it even normal for a parent to read these books *to* their kid, basically putting on a little theatrical performance while explaining everything? Of course, the kid remembers all the juicy details because of that, but then when they try to read on their own, they struggle to remember anything because they're just decoding the words mechanically without actually processing them.
And I'm not just talking about my own daughter here—I'm looking at two-thirds or more of the kids in her class where the parents are doing all the heavy lifting by reading the stories aloud. The whole point of these assignments is for the kid to nail those worksheet questions, right? But you can't do that if you don't actually retain the plot. They aren't using these books as a way to practice reading skills; they're just treating them as a way to get the answers. They could practice actual reading anytime with any book, but they aren't using this as a tool for reading comprehension.
Sometimes I catch myself wondering if I'm just old-fashioned or stuck in my ways for thinking this should be the kid's responsibility. Am I just making things harder for my child by insisting she does the work herself? Honestly, I feel like this way of "reading" is totally backwards, but it's so incredibly common—it's what everyone else is doing—that it makes me wonder if I'm the one who's losing my mind.
Jack Gray6, mind if I ask why they’re recommending she wait a year? Is that on your call, or what?
I'm asking because my daughter is officially required to start, she was born late January, and I’ve done everything by the book—enrolled her, kept up with all the paperwork, the whole nine yards. But everyone keeps grilling me about this deferral thing. They’re basically asking why I didn't just request an extension... you know, nothing crazy, just letting her have one more year of playing around in preschool before things get serious.
Leah, I’m not really part of this conversation either... But I think you’re from Rio, just like me, and since my little sister is only in 3rd grade, let's just say I have some "accidental" experience with all this.
Ever since she was in 1st grade, she’s been in after-school care. At her school, classes are strictly in the morning, which honestly makes things way easier for a parent. My sister drops her off around 7:30 AM, and the kid just hangs out by herself until class starts at 8:00. Back in 1st grade, she would’ve gone inside immediately, especially if it was raining or just crappy weather. Now? She’s acting all tough with her little group, just waiting outside for the bell to ring.
Her after-school program runs until 4:30 PM, and my sister barely makes it in time to grab her—she works until 4:00, then there’s traffic, rush hour... it's a nightmare. It’s seriously hard for her to juggle everything; she’s on her own, totally distracted, and her dad is one of those types who thinks, "Not my problem, she’s your responsibility." Unfortunately, our parents have passed away, and her mother-in-law is elderly and dealing with some serious health issues. To make a long story short, she has zero help coming from any direction. What’s killing her right now is the sheer amount of holidays and days off. Obviously, she doesn't get that much PTO, so the kid ended up stuck at home alone all summer. For instance, it’s only 8:10 AM, but since it's a non-working day for her, the schedule is already messed up because the school combined sessions and they aren't even open on the 9th.
That’s exactly what scares me the most, and I honestly have no clue how we’re going to pull it off.