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We began long division last week, with remainders. It's 3 exercises in the Primary Math 3A workbook with plenty of teacher-made worksheets for home enjoyment. One student came in with his worksheet filled with decimal points. The whole group worked remainder problems together on whiteboards and in their workbooks.
The next day the same kid didn't have his work at all. He told his mom he wasn't doing it at all. That afternoon, I thought I'd give mom a heads up about the "OOPS-I wasn't prepared for class" form in his planner and pointed out that he had done the previous night's work all wrong with decimals, and I thought he might just be overwhelmed and needing some extra help.
"No," she replied. "I helped him with his homework. I thought there were decimals in there somewhere."
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22 comments:
Did you ask her if she'd like to join her son in getting some extra help?
I guess it's good that she's trying to pitch in, but . . .
It's always a bonus if you know your own limitations.
oh gosh
We had our FIRST great conversation with any member of the math department on Back to School Night at the high school.
I had sent him the link for the Glencoe Parent & Student Study Guide, and he FLAGGED ME DOWN to thank me.
This does not occur at the middle school.
He said that he was going to get the links up for all parents, because "Parents have usually forgotten their math, and math is THE single subject kids ask for help with most often."
Now THERE is a h.s. teacher's perspective.
Parents have forgotten their math (true) AND math is the subject students are most likely to need help with when it comes to homework (also true).
THEREFORE: The Glencoe Parent-Student Study Guide is PERFECT.
Basically, every word out of the guy's mouth was rational and in accord to LIVED REALITY.
Cassy --- thanks SO much for posting.
People need to see this stuff.
The idea that "parents" will "help with homework" is so wrong it's not even wrong.
What's that great French saying?
"worse than a crime, it's a mistake"
I'm fast reaching the point where I think parents should NEVER be expected to help with math homework, period.
Parents can't teach math.
Most parents have forgotten a lot of their K-12 math; many never learned it in the first place; and NONE OF US HAS PEDAGOGICAL CONTENT KNOWLEDGE UNLESS WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN MATH TEACHERS OR PROFESSORS.
I am not doing a very good job "teaching" my perfectly typical child math.
When the school depends on me to reteach math, it is automatically setting C. up for mediocre learning.
Here's the thing. As a teacher, a weekly assessment is also a grade on my performance.
There was a sigh of relief from parents at Curriculum Night when we told them not to help with their kids with homework. Our belief is that homework in third grade is an effort grade. Students take it home, they review the day's lesson, they remember to bring it back; that's effort. If they don't understand a concept, we would rather have them bring the work to us, so we know where they are struggling and what to reteach.
I teach the advanced, above-grade level math group and my students have a "20-minute frustration limit". If they spend more than 20 minutes struggling with a problem or concept, they are allowed to draw a line, have their parents initial the work and move on. Of course my students are so darn competitive, the rarely invoke the limit.
They all have my home email as well. I'd prefer they email me with a question, rather than struggle. I get a couple of emails a year.
And yes, 9-% of my third grade students have their own email addresses. :-0
Make that 90%.
He said that he was going to get the links up for all parents, because "Parents have usually forgotten their math, and math is THE single subject kids ask for help with most often."
So, the link will enable parents to purchase the algebra book, teach themselves what they either never learned or have forgotten, and then reteach their kids what they didn’t learn in class.
PERFECT!
When the school depends on me to reteach math, it is automatically setting C. up for mediocre learning.
I should put that on a big sign to carry around whenever I visit the school.
No! No!
The Glencoe Parent Student Study Guide is FREE -- it's on the side of ktm-2!
Absolutely, they need to STOP thinking about parents "helping with homework" ---- but if parents are going to help with homework, this is the way to do it.
Go look at those pages.
They're fantastic.
They're organized so a parent can help with math homework with the LEAST DIFFICULTY POSSIBLE.
Also, the parent wouldn't have to use those pages; the student could use them alone.
Cassy, I'm desperate to post something about your experiences to the IPF (Irvington Parents Forum).
Can you tell me a bit more about your school -- charter school, right?
Also about how your kids are doing on assessments. I remember they're doing well, but don't know where you left that comment.
WE NEED THIS!!!
THANK YOU!!!
Also, I'm going to make a homework proposal to the site committee.
They'll ignore it, but that's fine; lose the battle, win the war.
(I've been emailing with Susan J, who is going to bust me on this, so let's make that: lose the battle, lose the war.)
Cassy,
You have a "curriculum night"? Wow! Could you provide more details about this?
Does this compare to a "back-to-school night"?
Catherine,
What is on the agenda for your homework proposal or do you not want to say quite yet?
PaulaV-
The Thursday before school starts in August, we have a Back-to-School Night for 60-90 minutes. Teachers stand outside their locked classrooms and parents and children can come and meet the teachers. We have 2 teachers per classroom, 2 classrooms per grade, 60 - 65 students total per grade. The PTA hands out information, after school clubs and sports are there also.
In September we also have Back-to-School Night, which we have recently changed to Curriculum Night. This is for parents only. Our school uses Core Knowledge, Singapore Math, Literacy Place and Sitton Spelling. We also ability group to 4 levels in reading and math. Each year, at curriculum night, the teachers explain classroom policies and discuss what students will be learning. We whipped through ours in 40 minutes, leaving parents time for questions and to wander around the classroom, read student journals and meet class pets.
Usually, parents have questions specific to their child, or their child's grouping, so it was nice to finish early this year and let the parents ask those questions individually.
I should mention that in between these two events, in late August, third grade teachers spend an hour or so with parents at our Singapore Math Night. Students play math games next door, we hire duty aides to be in charge While the teachers explain how the bar-modeling method works, why the school chose Singapore and how important the 3rd grade year is in the Singapore Curriculum.
Cassy,
I am envious! What I find most impressive is that you take the time to explain to parents the importance of the math curriculum.
Your school sounds as though it communicates with the parents in a direct way. This is wonderful.
What is Literacy Place?
Literacy Place is a Scholastic reading curriculum. Each grade has a leveled reader and 4 consumable books. Spelling, grammar, and 2 practice books that go along with each story. They come as a bundle, and we use the spelling for supplemental home enjoyment. The grammar book is good, but rather basic. We pull from the practice book a lot.
I teach the lowest ability reading group. I have 11 students, some of whom are horrific spellers and have huge chunks of their phonics missing, others are great spellers, but can't write a coherent sentence. I use a lot of Literacy Place, although we are back at a 2nd grade spelling level, so I have devised my own spelling words and integrated Sitton words. So far, we've done short vowels, double consonant short vowels, long & short a, e, and i. Next week - compound words.
Our highest ability reading group works almost exclusively on novel studies, LP grammar and Sitton Spelling. They use less of the LP practice workbooks.
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