The Parent Bloggers Network and Scholastic.com Parents wants to know "What Are Your Kids Learning at School?"
As mentioned last week, my first-grader is learning some very specific jump-roping skills, and I couldn’t be more proud that she is exploiting her genetic predisposition for skipping the loop. It’s the phonics that throws me.
Specifically, it’s the Riggs (read that smack) method for learning the 71 Spelling Patterns (Graphemes) for the Commonly-Used Phonemes that I consider witchcraft. Obviously it’s a very effective method because my six-year old can read like an auctioneer. However, it’s WAY too difficult for me to comprehend. There’s no chance I could get out of Kindergarten these days.
Each night my little child sets about her homework and spends at least 20 minutes reading aloud, 10 minutes reviewing the Phonemes, 10 minutes on math flashcards and however long it takes her to finish two worksheets. Admittedly, the homework load is a heavy for a six-year old, but it keeps her out of the cookies.
Parent Blogging Network and Scholastic.com Parents ask if the homework is a learning tool or mere busywork, and I most definitely assert it’s not busywork. There are only 12 children in the class and the children’s work is graded and posted on the wall. It’s obvious when a child doesn’t do the homework and falls behind.
Not that anyone is interested in my child's study habits or my opinion about homework but there is a chance that this post will be picked at random to win a $100 Scholastic.com store shopping spree. I am having fits of fantasy about all the Clifford The Big Red Dog books I can buy for $100. Maybe I could repeatedly read Clifford aloud for days on end without stopping or sleeping.
Oooh...if you win, your daughter can get one of those fine Bratz books that Scholastic is so married to. I hear Bratz "Catwalk Cuties" is not nearly as porny as the title suggests ;)
Posted by: Izzy | October 13, 2007 at 05:29 PM
Clifford 24/7. Now that IS an aspiration.
Posted by: Deb | October 14, 2007 at 10:38 AM
Clifford 24/7. Now that IS an aspiration.
Posted by: Deb | October 14, 2007 at 10:40 AM
As a teacher, most of the times I disliked sending homework to fill the quota imposed by the director. I gave them easy work, find definitions on a word, draw a picture, it's optional... They already spent way to much time at school to have to go home and not be able to enjoy at least some chilling out time.
Then there's the homework that you feel is necessary. And reading would fall there.
Posted by: liz | October 17, 2007 at 09:39 AM