| Focus Group 5/6 Specials; Specials offered to Upper Elementaries | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 15 2006, 07:17 AM (3,020 Views) | |
| Anna Krome | Mar 16 2006, 08:47 AM Post #46 |
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I agree w/above poster that Kindergarteners should have some time for energy release and social time. Don't employees get 15 min. break for half-day? (Nancy, need your expertise.) As for the specials, the IT concept sounds progressive, but will it actually happen and at what cost to the entire system, our children's educations, and our property values? And, why couldn't these have been offered before? I don't see that aspect? Right now the "specials" promises are a "wrapper," which may look a little more shiny right now in "promise talk," but it does not change the package inside. The question remains to the those who feel "unaffected": If you paid a "premium" to live in the Stevenson district, and you were then told your children will now attend Franklin, how would you feel? (Full disclosure: We will attend Franklin. We love Franklin. But the reality exists that property values are higher N of 5 mile, and people pay it to send their children to the school district they "paid" for. It is the perception of "value." It is the reality of the real estate market.) As for specific specials: Spanish is going to be the national language by the year 2050, according to some experts. Even at Sears, most of their signs are in Spanish and English. Our country is changing so fast. Should Spanish be taught much earlier? I believe so. |
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| Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver | Mar 16 2006, 09:16 AM Post #47 |
Principal
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I think alot of time spent at the beginning of the year.....is spent on the MEAP testing. I know my daughters teacher said that is pretty much all they do until the testing is over. Everyone wants those high scores....but is that necessarily right to focus so much on the test scores? I know the district benefits from them....but my point is...they are just really learning how to pass that test. As for the foreign language, I personally think they should offer it at an earlier age. Why not? If studies show children benefit highly from it.....then whats the problem. Some of my family lives in Garden City...and they offer language in elementary school. My neice (who is now 19) has been speaking Japanese since she was in 2nd grade! I think the district would be more "innovative" doing programs like that....rather than just restructuring things to make it "look like" you really have done something special. (when in fact.....you didnt) We are talking about our future here........why not give them best we can offer. Or is reduced gym, reduced recess, reduced LMC.....the best we can offer? |
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| Grant1 | Mar 16 2006, 09:18 AM Post #48 |
We have just begun to fight!
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sí, toda la necesidad de hablar español puesto que es el segmento cada vez mayor más grande de nuestra población en los U.S. |
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| Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver | Mar 16 2006, 09:23 AM Post #49 |
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Principal
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Grant1 I acuerdan, una habilidad muy importante tener en este mundo loco! Okay....I had to cheat and go to Babelfish for that one! WHEW!!! :rolleyes: |
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| Michelebel | Mar 16 2006, 09:27 AM Post #50 |
Principal
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Hey, doesn't loco mean crazy?! Are you guys talking about us and we don't know it?? |
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| jodygirlh | Mar 16 2006, 09:27 AM Post #51 |
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Principal
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| loyaltolivonia | Mar 16 2006, 09:32 AM Post #52 |
Principal
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English. see-voo-play :lol: :lol: :lol: |
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| Hull_CHS | Mar 16 2006, 09:36 AM Post #53 |
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Principal
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I agree also, even in Kindergarten now, there is no "play time". When my high school aged children were little one of the centers in Kindergarten was always called "free choice". In my youngest daughters K class, the only way you get to play is if you finish all the centers for the day (sometime 4 or 5 activities). I volunteer in this class once a week and it is sad to see this little ones rush through all their work, just to get some free time. |
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| Iliveon-Levandownbytheriver | Mar 16 2006, 09:36 AM Post #54 |
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Principal
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Mine translates as this.... Grant1 I agree, an ability very important to have in this crazy world! |
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| 49chevy | Mar 16 2006, 09:42 AM Post #55 |
Answers questioned
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dziedzictwo wciąga w wszelkim język |
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| loyaltolivonia | Mar 16 2006, 09:52 AM Post #56 |
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Principal
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The loss of recess is one of the most upsetting things about the 5/6 config. to us. As parents of a current 5th grade boy (and a 2nd grade boy) it is very important for them to get out of the classroom and into fresh air for unstructured play time. Not to mention, with between 15 and 20 classes for 6th graders next year, chances are it will be the only time he sees his friends. This is a huge negative in my books because I believe having a couple of good, close friends at this age helps with confidence and self-esteem. No research on that one, it's just what I see with my child. Then, after being in school for 7 hours with only approx. 20 minutes actual play time, they will need to come home and do homework. Let them play first, you say? Well, I don't know about your child, but mine doesn't do homework very well at 7:30-8:00 at night  My two cents.......... |
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| NFarquharson | Mar 16 2006, 10:09 AM Post #57 |
Principal
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I would be 100% for Spanish at an early age. It is clear that it will be important in this country in the future. I have a different thought about the IT class and many may disagree with me. I really don't care for it at all. I agree that knowing how to use computers and all the technology that goes along with them is a ciritical skill set for all. My thing is that I don't think we need to focus on it at such a young age. I don't know about everyone else's kids, but my kids have absolutely no problem figuring out how to use technology. My kids could use a mouse and navigate around a windows application in preschool. It's part of their world. That being said, I find that I have to contantly LIMIT their time using various electronic media. If I left it up to them, they would use the computer or play computer games instead of playing outside, reading books and so many other important things. Do they really need to know how to create a web page, use photoshop, use MSPowerPoint and navigate the web, etc. at 10 or 11? Couldn't that wait at least a couple more years until they are in middle school? We used to wait until then to teach typing when I was a kid in the stone age. Do elementary aged kids really need to "keyboard?' Maybe they should still be practicing their handwriting skills instead of using a computer for their projects. I guess I want the focus to be on the core subjects in the elementary grades. Let's make sure they are good readers and writers before we get them so engrossed in computers that they give up reading and writing in favor of sitting in front of a screen. |
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| CKlockner | Mar 16 2006, 10:15 AM Post #58 |
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I find it hard to believe that they are eliminating a recess in the 5/6 schools. I work lunch recess three days a week, the 5th and 6th graders are probably the MOST active groups on the playground. The basketball courts are allways full. The fields when they are dry enough to play on, are filled with upper el kids playing football, soccer, baseball, kickball, tag. Girls and boys all very active. So it was quite surprising to hear at the board meeting with the demographics committee, when I believe it was Ms. Owens say that group is the least active. I guess she has'nt seen an elementary school playground in a while. When we have indoor recess several days in a row the kids are just so rammy. They NEED to get out and run off that energy. The teachers want them outdoors so they can back in and concentrate on their work. There is going to be lots of needless detention served next year as a result of kids just not being able to handle sitting all afternoon at their age. |
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| annie | Mar 16 2006, 10:18 AM Post #59 |
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Principal
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No recess or recess with hundreds (and hundreds) of students -- sounds like a lose/lose situation to me.
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| Hull_CHS | Mar 16 2006, 10:28 AM Post #60 |
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Principal
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I agree with you 100% |
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