It's some kind of program/intervention the kids do every day with math facts and it's timed. DS has not been doing well on it at all and is way below the class median (H is the curriculum director in the district so he can see his scores) and DS, along with a few others, are keeping the class from moving on to the next level or whatever and DS said has said his teacher expressed disappointment about this and "yells at them" (he's dramatic so the yelling may not actually be happening).
Last night he said that Spring Math stresses him out because he just can't go that fast. I don't get the point of why it's timed but I'm not a teacher. I believe he knows how to answer the questions but either gets distracted or maybe he truly just can't do it with the speed that is needed. Anyway, it kind of broke my heart that a first grader is stressed over this.
Oh beerlover, that's sad I feel like so many kids "hate math" because we were made to do it fast fast fast with flashcards and timed assignments and I can feel the panic to this day!
beerlover S (also first grade) is having a similar issue. He claims he hates math but he is pretty good at it. His teacher said he is technically below grade level which shocks us because as a first grader, I am not sure I was learning how many sets of 30 go into 150, which is what he is working on now.
It's some kind of program/intervention the kids do every day with math facts and it's timed. DS has not been doing well on it at all and is way below the class median (H is the curriculum director in the district so he can see his scores) and DS, along with a few others, are keeping the class from moving on to the next level or whatever and DS said has said his teacher expressed disappointment about this and "yells at them".
1) the teacher should potentially be punched in the throat. Want to make a kid hate math and do even worse on tests? Yell at them. 2) DS2 did “rocket math”, which sounds like the same idea. It started in 1st or 2nd grade when they did addition and subtraction. They worked through multiplication and then moved on the division the next year. His teacher suggested dadsworksheets.com for printables of practice pages for all different levels of math.
beerlover, I sympathize. DD1 is in 3rd and they had a timed test on multiplication facts that she "failed" and she was SO upset. Came out of school crying, said she's bad at math and not as smart as her friends (they also compared scores in class). It really sucks. I ended up meeting with her teacher and we worked on a plan to catch her up and also work on her confidence and support her emotionally. She was learning them, but obviously kids learn at different rates and the timed test just seemed really crappy. Honestly, the math curriculum they are using sucks ass and I hate it (teacher agreed he's not a fan of it). They start state testing this year and I honestly think part of it is that they are rushing through everything so that they can expose the kids to as much as possible before the test in May.
The home stagers and photographers come at 9:30am today to take our listing pictures. I wanted to touch up a few spots on the baseboards that I missed so I tried to get the paint out last night. Ended up dropping the can and spilling about half of the remaining paint on the garage floor. I took it as a sign to give up and go to bed. Luckily, there was only about 1/4 of a can left. I have two days until our listing goes live so I can let it dry and try to scrape it up Thursday morning. I hate trying to sell a house.
I have latched on to The Big Bang Theory. My mom and brother always said how funny it was, but I never would watch it. I've caught some clips on social media and now I really like it. I always seem to find shows after they've already been popular.
The home stagers and photographers come at 9:30am today to take our listing pictures. I wanted to touch up a few spots on the baseboards that I missed so I tried to get the paint out last night. Ended up dropping the can and spilling about half of the remaining paint on the garage floor. I took it as a sign to give up and go to bed. Luckily, there was only about 1/4 of a can left. I have two days until our listing goes live so I can let it dry and try to scrape it up Thursday morning. I hate trying to sell a house.
Spilled paint is the worst. I did it in my daughter's room. It was on the drop cloth, so I thought I'd be okay. Nope. Bled through. On carpet. Green paint. Luckily, her dresser sits right on the spot, so you can't see it now.
beerlover my DS(7) in 2nd grade has done that all year. His whole class does. Twenty math equations done in two minutes is the goal. His teacher sends a practice one home for him and he can do it no problem, just not in two minutes. I tell DS speed isn't the end all be all and I don't care how many he can get done in two minutes.
I have a training after work that I'm looking forward to. It's about the science of reading and I teach reading to k-5th graders.
I really need to just suck it up and hire someone to do a series of home repairs/updates. MH and I both come from very DIY parents who (still) do all their home repair work. I grew up in rental properties where we would do the repairs for a break on the rent, so there was added incentive there. But, my dad was a teacher with summers off to dedicate to the house and farmette, and we had a community that often bartered farm work, tools, etc. so we had free help on larger jobs. I guess I just need a mind shift that it's okay to hire others even when I'm capable of doing the work myself. MH and I both work full-time (and then some) and we can afford it. It feels very indulgent to spend free time having fun instead of on repairs!
For the second year in a row, the county has scheduled an art camp during the week of Juneteenth and for the second year has realized it after the fact and had to adjust the schedule. I don't get it.
That makes me sad about the math. I don't understand the value of doing math that quickly - they're not disarming a bomb or anything.
DD is in K and doing testing today. The homework they sent home last week to help prepare seemed like a LOT for a Kinder. I don't think it's timed though.
Post by gretchenindisguise on Apr 16, 2024 10:00:50 GMT -5
Our elementary school pushed back timed testing to 3rd grade.
I understand the point of it, that they are trying to make these facts rote memory, but I don't think it's helpful in younger grades. It's much too stressful.
If they want to do timed tests, then make it individual and try to beat their own best time - not some arbitrary number.
Post by followyourarrow on Apr 16, 2024 10:03:11 GMT -5
These math stories are bring back horrible memories of math speed drills from when I was in elementary school. I always did poorly at them. I could get the right answer, just not quickly enough. I can't say they helped prepare me for life at all, and I work in a math related field (accounting).
Post by blondemoment123 on Apr 16, 2024 10:10:00 GMT -5
DS's OT had a cancellation so we took the earlier appointment. We ran to Starbucks for a treat and I'm enjoying my coffee in peace in the waiting room. 🙂
Today is the only day I don't have something planned, so I'll let DS choose what he wants to do today.
Post by NewGirlNic on Apr 16, 2024 10:10:43 GMT -5
Congrats, emilyinchile! Your dress is beautiful and I love the flowers.
I slept hard last night. I slept right through my alarm. It was going off for a good 10 minutes before I woke up. I need to make sure the volume is up before I go to bed.
The sun is out and it's about 60 degrees. I really want to take the dog for a nice long walk, but I have a few calls this afternoon and there's not enough time in-between any of them. I'll have to settle for a quick walk around the block at lunch and then I'm planning to cut out early and get in a longer one before dinner. Fingers crossed the sun is still shining. I'm in need of some vitamin D.
beerlover that seems like a lot of pressure on a 1st grader, I am sad for your kid and wtf at the teacher for being anything less than encouraging. Our kids do minute math as a warm-up, but that's it. My DS is similar, he is good at math but it takes him a little longer to process.
It’s really good! I don’t do sci fi either but a trusted friend recommended it. Apparently it wasn’t originally intended to be so funny but the lead actor was so naturally funny that the writers and director switched it up.
Post by NewGirlNic on Apr 16, 2024 10:15:25 GMT -5
beerlover, DS didn't do "spring math" but I remember him being in elementary school and they were tested on how fast they could do their time tables. And the kids that got a certain time were rewarded with a movie and snack while the other kids had to keep studying. DS was so stressed about it. He ended up getting the required time and got to participate in the movie, but I felt so bad for the kids who didn't. It doesn't seem like a fair way to teach/reward.
2nd day absent in a row for my kid due to a random virus. We already have "excessive absences" this year - all due to various illnesses. I think we are approaching 15 days. She's had stomach flu, HFM, COVID, pink eye, strep throat, and now an unnamed virus with a 102 degree fever.
I know this means I absolutely should not pull her out the Thursday and Friday before Memorial Day but I am going to anyway. My brother has taken all the kids in our extended family on various road trips over the years. C is finally old enough and has been talking about "her road trip" for months now. Just call me Mother of the Year!
Post by penguingrrl on Apr 16, 2024 10:23:09 GMT -5
I remember failing at “mad minutes” as a kid, where we had to do X problems in a minute. It caused lifelong math hype and math anxiety and convinced me that doing work slowly was shameful. As an adult sub I had to administer a mad minute and my palms started sweating I was so anxious about it. I never overcame my math anxiety and to this day hate math and think it started with failing at those.
My oldest struggled with them and it took forever for the school to realize she just was a slow writer and if they did them orally with her she passed without an issue. For my middle it was anxiety inducing and she still hates math and thinks she can’t fo math so why bother.
These math stories are bring back horrible memories of math speed drills from when I was in elementary school. I always did poorly at them. I could get the right answer, just not quickly enough. I can't say they helped prepare me for life at all, and I work in a math related field (accounting).
I was good at them, so I liked the challenge, but I truly don't see the value. I would have thought those things disappeared long ago.
Congratulations emilyinchile!! You are a gorgeous family
On the way home last night we saw a lady walking a gorgeous Great Dane. C swears up and down it was a horse. I keep trying to explain it to her, but she's telling everyone she sees that a lady was "walking a horse, right down the sidewalk."
My random is that they are cutting all these trees down in our neighbors yard. On one hand I'm not jazzed because there goes any privacy... but on the other hand the trees are HUGE and drop a ton of leaves. Plus if they fell they could land on our house so- bye bye!
I keep thinking about how expensive it is for them to do this. Ten grand at least.
Our wedding was beautiful! It rained about 10 drops during our first dance, otherwise it was dry and actually got sunny and kind of warm at one point in the afternoon. The tent we put up to cover the tables just in case, that we were worried was going to block the view and feeling of being in the garden, actually looked awesome and was open enough that it just set off the table area visually without making it closed off. We had exactly the relaxed, fun afternoon we'd hoped for, and L had the absolute time of his life. No nap, danced the entire time, was in HEAVEN.
Pictures from the ceremony - I don't really have pictures of the party/overall place itself yet, but L's outfit is the best anyway
Post by emilyinchile on Apr 16, 2024 10:55:58 GMT -5
Did anyone else do Kumon Math as a kid? I was a generally good student, good at math and a fast worker, and I still HATED IT so much that I think it probably affected how I felt about math forever. Wouldn't it be nice if we could just take the pressure off kids and let them learn in ways that are age appropriate and work for their personal styles?