School

[JimSnyder]

It's 10:30 pm and I just finished helping my 3 kids with their homework. It's going to be a long school year

[East Bay Rider]

My son starts tomorrow. He's beginning 7th grade. I'm glad the shopping is done. It's all about the clothes, and girls. Last year, as a 6th grader he tried out for, and made, both the school soccer and school baseball teams. This year should be a bit easier as he already has starting positions.
I'm not a fan of homework. His school also requires that the kids read 25 books per year including 2 summer reading books.

[JimSnyder]

It's good that your son is in a sport Bill. He will enjoy it. I know what you are talking about. This year I have a son in 8th grade and and the twins(boy and girl) in 6th. It's hard to belive my oldest daughter was in 6th grade 16 years ago. I don't know what I would do without a kid in school!

[Lisa]

I hear you, guys. My oldest is in 3rd and her homework is easy still - but I am horrible at math and it won't be long before I won't be any help at all! (Luckily, that's where Math Genius husband can help - if he's home.)

[away36]

Originally Posted by Lisa

I hear you, guys. My oldest is in 3rd and her homework is easy still - but I am horrible at math and it won't be long before I won't be any help at all! (Luckily, that's where Math Genius husband can help - if he's home.)

I always tell Al that I'm convinced I was born without any "left brain" at all. Math is and always has been, a mystery to me. Al says...."It's easy!!!"......but if that's the case, how come he can't figure out that 78 pieces of junk will cover a 2 foot square section of kitchen counter?...........wait............that's Coffee Shop stuff, isn't it!!!!!

[BiG JeEzY]

Luckily I don't have any children who need help on their homework. I always believed that if children asked their parents for help on homework, it meant that the teachers were not doing their job well enough.

I always remembered how teachers would assign me homework that had pretty much nothing that came from the lecture, I was always so irritated when they did that because what's the point? I thought they were trying to help us, why are they making things more complicated?

Anyways, I feel like helping children with their homework will encourage them to depend on other people for it as they get older. That is usually how they start copying other people's work or cheat of them during an exam. I feel like its a major flaw in the education system to give homework problems that are much more complicated than what was in lecture.

Because I believe the best way to succeed is to do homework entirely by yourself correctly, without any help. Meaning, you don't learn while you do homework, its supposed to reinforce what you already learned. Sure teachers can help you and whatnot, but they can't help you with every problem they assign.

I believe teachers should create their own homework rather than depend solely on other resources such as textbooks or lecture notes. Then when they give an exam, the questions will look similar to the homework questions they made up themselves. Boom, thats the ingredient for success.

Also, I happen to be a math type of person person but I think I did hit a roadblock in my Differential equations and linear algebra class. I just can't seem to understand that class no matter how hard I study...I mean, and I thought Multivariable Calculus was hard.

[jdc]

Originally Posted by BiG JeEzY

Luckily I don't have any children who need help on their homework. I always believed that if children asked their parents for help on homework, it meant that the teachers were not doing their job well enough.

I always remembered how teachers would assign me homework that had pretty much nothing that came from the lecture, I was always so irritated when they did that because what's the point? I thought they were trying to help us, why are they making things more complicated?

Anyways, I feel like helping children with their homework will encourage them to depend on other people for it as they get older. That is usually how they start copying other people's work or cheat of them during an exam. I feel like its a major flaw in the education system to give homework problems that are much more complicated than what was in lecture.

Because I believe the best way to succeed is to do homework entirely by yourself correctly, without any help. Meaning, you don't learn while you do homework, its supposed to reinforce what you already learned. Sure teachers can help you and whatnot, but they can't help you with every problem they assign.

I believe teachers should create their own homework rather than depend solely on other resources such as textbooks or lecture notes. Then when they give an exam, the questions will look similar to the homework questions they made up themselves. Boom, thats the ingredient for success.

Also, I happen to be a math type of person person but I think I did hit a roadblock in my Differential equations and linear algebra class. I just can't seem to understand that class no matter how hard I study...I mean, and I thought Multivariable Calculus was hard.

Well said my feelings exactly, my poor kids have enough to put up with from me without the added burden of sharing my ignorance with them

[Lisa]

Maybe it's different as kids get older (in fact I'm almost sure it is) but at my daughter's school parents are supposed to help, and do some assignments together. We've got take-home stuff that's got assignments for the parent (mom, of course, at this house!) to do and the kid to check over! It sucks!

[redshirt1957]

Originally Posted by BiG JeEzY

Luckily I don't have any children who need help on their homework. I always believed that if children asked their parents for help on homework, it meant that the teachers were not doing their job well enough.

I always remembered how teachers would assign me homework that had pretty much nothing that came from the lecture, I was always so irritated when they did that because what's the point? I thought they were trying to help us, why are they making things more complicated?

Anyways, I feel like helping children with their homework will encourage them to depend on other people for it as they get older. That is usually how they start copying other people's work or cheat of them during an exam. I feel like its a major flaw in the education system to give homework problems that are much more complicated than what was in lecture.

Because I believe the best way to succeed is to do homework entirely by yourself correctly, without any help. Meaning, you don't learn while you do homework, its supposed to reinforce what you already learned. Sure teachers can help you and whatnot, but they can't help you with every problem they assign.

I believe teachers should create their own homework rather than depend solely on other resources such as textbooks or lecture notes. Then when they give an exam, the questions will look similar to the homework questions they made up themselves. Boom, thats the ingredient for success.

Also, I happen to be a math type of person person but I think I did hit a roadblock in my Differential equations and linear algebra class. I just can't seem to understand that class no matter how hard I study...I mean, and I thought Multivariable Calculus was hard.

I have a shorter explanation. It's either TRF or help the kids with their homework. You can guess my choice.

[jdc]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Maybe it's different as kids get older (in fact I'm almost sure it is) but at my daughter's school parents are supposed to help, and do some assignments together. We've got take-home stuff that's got assignments for the parent (mom, of course, at this house!) to do and the kid to check over! It sucks!

Actually you have reminded me that when the kids were much younger the primary school my kids went to had the same expectation

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by away36

I always tell Al that I'm convinced I was born without any "left brain" at all. Math is and always has been, a mystery to me. Al says...."It's easy!!!"......but if that's the case, how come he can't figure out that 78 pieces of junk will cover a 2 foot square section of kitchen counter?...........wait............that's Coffee Shop stuff, isn't it!!!!!

Well, Nancy, just be glad that we're there to help the guys with their spelling and punctuation.

I know EXACTLY what you mean - years ago my husband said, "I can teach math to anyone. It's SIMPLE." After a few tries, he gave up on me and admitted some people are unteachable. But I wrote his admission letters and filled out the questionnaires for med school - so maybe we're even!

[redshirt1957]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Well, Nancy, just be glad that we're there to help the guys with their spelling and punctuation.


I know EXACTLY what you mean - years ago my husband said, "I can teach math to anyone. It's SIMPLE." After a few tries, he gave up on me and admitted some people are unteachable. But I wrote his admission letters and filled out the questionnaires for med school - so maybe we're even!

In my world math is very easy. One plus one equals whatever the client needs it to be.

[East Bay Rider]

I have a pretty strict "no homework" policy (meaning that I don't do homework anymore). My feeling is that I passed each grade when I was in school so I don't have to repeat that grade 20+ years later.
I will make small exeptions when it comes to projects simply because I think the projects are created with parental help in mind. For example, I helped with one a couple of years ago. My son's science class was learning about the components of a microscope and he had to "build" a microscope of his own and label the parts. I got involved with the cutting of wood and finding the right size nails for him to put it together. He could have simply had a worksheet and filled in the names of the components and learned the same thing. Was it fun for him? No, not really. He didn't enjoy the project at all and he had a hard time finding the time to fit it all into his sometimes hectic schedule. Sometimes it seems like it's just busy work.
My wife helps with the presentation issues. He'll type the subject matter on the computer and she'll help make it presentable with nice borders, buy arts and craft supplies etc. but it's always HIS work.
I'm satisfied with his effort though. Last year, even with the school teams and daily practice etc. he still made straight A's each quarter. I'm proud of him for that.
Each kid is different and what works for one might not work for another.
Usually he does his homework immediately after school and my wife will sometimes check it. The school has a website and they post expected assignments so that parents can stay involved.
Hoping 7th grade goes smoothly.

[Art161]

I'm still ticked off about the grading of an exam in college, even after 40+ years. I attended class regularly, and thought the professor made a particularly good point about something. On one exam, I pretty much quoted what he had said in class. I got the exam back, was marked down for the comment, and the grader said the comment was not very good. I didn't go to the professor about it; perhaps I should have. I don't care for those tosser professors who have graduate teaching assistants grade the exams.

[scottschoe]

Originally Posted by JimSnyder

It's 10:30 pm and I just finished helping my 3 kids with their homework. It's going to be a long school year

Try hiring a tutor for middle/high school students if you want some peace and quiet. As a private tutor myself (on the side of school), I've found that all some kids need is a third party (not parents) to tell them what to do. Others differ, but it doesn't hurt to try.

[redshirt1957]

Originally Posted by scottschoe

Try hiring a tutor for middle/high school students if you want some peace and quiet. As a private tutor myself (on the side of school), I've found that all some kids need is a third party (not parents) to tell them what to do. Others differ, but it doesn't hurt to try.

We use both private and on-line tutors as my two oldest, ages 15 and 13, are in advanced placement courses (college courses) and I am of no help. Works perfect for us.. Of course I help them with THERE grammier and splling.

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by Art161

I'm still ticked off about the grading of an exam in college, even after 40+ years. I attended class regularly, and thought the professor made a particularly good point about something. On one exam, I pretty much quoted what he had said in class. I got the exam back, was marked down for the comment, and the grader said the comment was not very good. I didn't go to the professor about it; perhaps I should have. I don't care for those tosser professors who have graduate teaching assistants grade the exams.

That stirs up a painful memory, Art... one of my journalism instructors graded our final exams the day someone vandalized his car - he was mad and took it out on our papers. I don't believe anyone was given an A, and it was a subjective essay exam. My resulting grade took my overall average down to 92 - 1 point from making an A in that class. That B took my overall gradepoint at graduation to 3.49 or something absurdly close to 3.5. All graduates with a 3.5 or greater cumulative GPA got to wear a hooded graduation gown. I didn't - because of a cranky instructor. 23 years later I still

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by Art161

I'm still ticked off about the grading of an exam in college, even after 40+ years. I attended class regularly, and thought the professor made a particularly good point about something. On one exam, I pretty much quoted what he had said in class. I got the exam back, was marked down for the comment, and the grader said the comment was not very good. I didn't go to the professor about it; perhaps I should have. I don't care for those tosser professors who have graduate teaching assistants grade the exams.

Originally Posted by Lisa

That stirs up a painful memory, Art... one of my journalism instructors graded our final exams the day someone vandalized his car - he was mad and took it out on our papers. I don't believe anyone was given an A, and it was a subjective essay exam. My resulting grade took my overall average down to 92 - 1 point from making an A in that class. That B took my overall gradepoint at graduation to 3.49 or something absurdly close to 3.5. All graduates with a 3.5 or greater cumulative GPA got to wear a hooded graduation gown. I didn't - because of a cranky instructor. 23 years later I still

If it's any help, you both have probably outlived the offending professor(s).

[erwin]

Originally Posted by JimSnyder

It's 10:30 pm and I just finished helping my 3 kids with their homework. It's going to be a long school year

You got that right, my twins ( 6th grade ) are already complaining about how strict their their teacher is and how horrible the homeworks are!Just barely finished helping them with their homework as well! It's is going to be a long year and here comes the candies for sale, gift wrappers etc etc etc!

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by erwin

... It's is going to be a long year and here comes the candies for sale, gift wrappers etc etc etc!

Yeah, first day of school and he already came home with a fundraiser selling candles.

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

Yeah, first day of school and he already came home with a fundraiser selling candles.

After two years of buying that cheap crap, I just made a donation to the school this year in lieu of letting the fundraising company keep half the profits. So much easier.

[JimSnyder]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

Yeah, first day of school and he already came home with a fundraiser selling candles.

I hate fundraisers I'll have 6 kids knock on my door before my kids get home with theirs from the same bus stop!

[East Bay Rider]

Wait! I thought everyone liked candles. I was going to post the Yankee Candle order form on the TRF "For Sale" page.
Maybe I'll just bring it to work instead. There's nothing co-workers enjoy more than supporting someone else's kids school fundraiser.

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

Wait! I thought everyone liked candles. I was going to post the Yankee Candle order form on the TRF "For Sale" page.
Maybe I'll just bring it to work instead. There's nothing co-workers enjoy more than supporting someone else's kids school fundraiser.

Did you say Yankee Candles?!!!! Those ought to do well!