Any teachers out there?

[Veronica]

What book is he reading?

I teach 5th grade by the way.

V.

[stacie]

just picked it up in the classroom. Amelia Earhart Courage in the Sky
Mona Kerby

[Crankin]

Stacie, that seems very odd that with this kind of program (i.e. heterogeneous grouping) there are not projects and other tiered level assignments for the kids. This was required at my last school. It is EASY to have the kids read, test, read and do no writing or thinking! I have found that oddly, many teachers who have taught "advanced" level kids in the past tend to want to stick with the mindless multiple choice method and get by on the strength of their good lectures, etc. This is not the way education is today. For G-d's sake, some of my least able writers and readers flourished when they had the chance to do a Power Point presentation for a project.
I'd also be happy to help you with a supplemental reading list.
And yes, I think I would have strangled my kids if i had home schooled them!

[Veronica]

Amelia Earhart - research project! What does he think happened to her? He has to support his hypothesis with some research. You could probably get newspaper articles from the time, other books to read about her. Science could be stuff on engines, flight, weather, human psychology...

Or encourage him to write a "puff piece " about what happened to her...Bermuda Triangle, alien abduction, murdered by her navigator...


V.

[uforgot]

Amelia Earhart - research project! What does he think happened to her? He has to support his hypothesis with some research. You could probably get newspaper articles from the time, other books to read about her. Science could be stuff on engines, flight, weather, human psychology...

Or encourage him to write a "puff piece " about what happened to her...Bermuda Triangle, alien abduction, murdered by her navigator...


V.

Make paper or balsa airplanes! Study Bernoulli's principle. Why do planes fly? What sort of things could have brought her down?

[stacie]

Dear friends, I just want to thank you so much for the support. We attended open house last night. I thought it was important for my husband to see what I was seeing. It was not comforting My son is attending one class which seems interesting. It's called critical thinking. The focus is to get kids reading and talking about books. There is a great deal of discussion and then writing about your ideas in detail. The teacher pleaded with me to help her convince administration that she cannot be successful teaching to 45 kids. There was a general feeling of frustration, even opposition from the teachers.
I'll stop with the self pity. I've cried and worried more than you can imagine. I'm afraid that I'm not up to supplementing his education. I'm fearful. I can't talk to my girlfriend's here about it. They were able to get their children into the better schools. I'm thankful you have allowed my to cry on your shoulder and I will accept you offer to help with finding mind stretching work and books.
We talked at breakfast and decided to stay in this school for the first nine weeks with the agreement that we will do these additional things on our own. This isn't my first choice, but a compromise. I'll need your help.

[maillotpois]

I've been lurking on this thread. The perspectives have been great and I really thank you all for sharing your experiences and your thoughts on this issue.

My daughter started middle school today. I'm actually more worried about the social aspects than the educational. Girls can be SO rough on each other.

My daughter is very bright but she can be lazy. I know that I will need to push her to read extra and do extra projects. I don't think they have "advanced" classes in the 6th grade level here - she only got her teacher/class list a couple of days ago. I'm in wait and see mode....

[stacie]

I received my first ever email from my son last night. It said I love you and played the song You're beautiful.
I feel more peace than I 've felt since this started.

Mail, I spent a week on a field trip with kids this summer. I was surprised at the way girls treated each other. And these were the really nice girls! I would encourage you to read Reviving Ophelia. I wish my mom had read it. I felt more empowered just understanding why I got so screwed up!
Be the strongest woman you can be. That will help her so much. Listen and Talk a lot. Knowing you are there to support her and go to bat for her will give her strength. I hope she has a great first week.