Skip to main content

From Third Grade to First Grade

Image
By
Okay, this is extremely frustrating for me! Eliza came home from school today with a letter from her teacher explaining that one of the reading goals for this year is for "third grade students to read 60 minutes at home each week." Okay, so that goal's not too unrealistic ... especially considering that Una came home the first week of school explaining that her teacher wanted all the students to read for 20 minutes a day. (Which, btw, I have been making her do. She sets a timer and reads in her room for 20 minutes a day.)

Now, here's the clencher: the letter says that my child "can read to [me], listen to [me] read a book to [her], or [we] can read together. Please record on the blue reading log each time [my] child reads or [I] read to [her.]" And, attached to the letter is a log on which we are supposed to record the date, author, title of book, and number of minutes read.

Okay, maybe you're wondering why I'm so upset about this. The reason I'm upset is that my Eliza did this exact thing in FIRST GRADE! FIRST GRADE! It's unbelievable! Where are the higher expectations? And, why are they treating eight and nine-year-olds like they are six? Why can't I just continue to set the timer and have her read on her own? Seriously ... it's not like we don't talk about the books she reads ... I KNOW she's reading. It's just ridiculous! Maybe for a student who is not as inclined to read it makes sense, but her teacher should already know by now that Eliza is a reader (after all, she wouldn't be receiving gifted/talented help that only services 2-3% of the student population). Argh! I'm just so frustrated. I think I'll just continue to set the timer and have her read every night for 15 minutes. But, I hate the "her teacher will never know" approach because I will know. I will know that's not what's been asked of me as a parent, and I hate cutting corners when I know what the expectations are.

I better go do something productive ... I'm just fuming that I have to treat my eight-year-old like she's in first grade again. I HATE THAT!
Labels:

Comments

Kelley Rae said…
How frustrating!! Have you tried asking the teacher about it? It's such a different skill to be able to read silently that I would think she would be in favor of it. And then you don't feel like you're doing something behind her back. In the end though you just keep being the good mom you are and do what's best for her development! Sorry for your frustration!
September 22, 2008
Shilo said…
Ah, the lovely reading logs...
I've got to do it with both my kids and it is frustrating as heck to listen to Tanis.
He reads pretty good, but he'll get really quiet, read fast so he skips words, or misses lines completely...
But on the other hand, I have to sit back and say that I am spending quality time with my kids. Pretty sad that homework made me do it...
Anyway, I feel your pain. In your situation, though, I don't know what I would do. Tanis has had to do this every year, so it's nothing new for me.
Perhaps talking with her teacher will help...It's worth a shot anyway.
Good Luck!
September 23, 2008
Niki said…
I think it is a good idea to talk to her teacher, but from a teacher's perspective here's what I think she will say...the only way to measure reading levels is on a Oral model. Her ability to read, annunciate, and move through text is the way she will be rated in her reading ability. I know it's super frustrating, I feel your pain and am not siding with the teacher on purpose, I just think that is what she is going to say when you talk to her. GOOD LUCK!
September 27, 2008
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pink Day

By
Today I was sifting through all the clothing and pulling out clothes that were stained and torn, as well as clothing the children had outgrown. There was a huge pile of clothing to sort through, and an ever growing pile of clothes to donate.  At one point, I pulled out a pink t-shirt and asked, "Whose is this?" Someone said it was Maryanne's, which couldn't have been true because it was a size 8. It wasn't her color anyway ... So I tossed it in the donate pile. (In hind sight, I now think my mom gave it to Maryanne for Christmas, and she said that she wasn't sure what size to get for Maryanne. Whoops on my part.) That's when Adam exclaimed that he wanted a pink shirt. Other children chimed in with, "It is his color." (Referring to his Dressing Your Truth type.) Adam bolted toward the donate pile and seized the shirt, promptly pulling it over his head and the collared shirt he had on. (Later he removed the collared shirt, after much cajoling from ...
Post a Comment
Read more

85+ Books!

By
It's been almost a year since I started keeping track of all the books I've read.  When it's all in a list ... by date ... it really makes me realize how much I read!  I burned through almost a book a day in the month of January: 24 books total ... the greatest number of books in one month!  After compiling the list, I figured I may as well share it with all my friends!  I've organized them by genre/topic ... and now I realize I need to branch out more!  Books I read multiple times this year have asterisks. REGENCY/HISTORICAL ROMANCE The Apothecary's Daughter, Julie Klassen Edenbrooke*, Julianne Donaldson The Girl in the Gatehouse, Julie Klassen The Heiress of Winterwood, Sarah Ladd The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, Juie Klassen Lady of Milkweed Manor, Julie Klassen Short Straw Bride, Karen Witemeyer The Silent Governess, Julie Klassen The Tutor's Daughter, Julie Klassen CLEAN ROMANCE Bah, Humbug!, Heather Horrocks The Cubicle Next Door*, Siri L....
6 comments
Read more

My Two Teenagers

By
As personalities come, these two girls are like night and day. Both are silly at times, and both can be serious at times. And yet, that rarely happens at the same time! We have entered the world of teenagers, and it is quite the dramatic world! My oldest daughter is dealing with all the drama that teenagers bring: ostracism, judging, and feeling friendless. My younger teenager is just full of fun dramatics: silly faces and expressions, acting wonky and crazy, and saying that "everyone is my friend, even their mom and dad!" At any rate, I couldn't be more in love with these two. They fight over their littlest sister ("I get to hold her!"  "You've been hogging her all day!"), fight over who spends more time in the shower ("I do NOT spend an hour in the shower!"), and fight over who gets my MacBook ("She always gets to do her school on your computer!"  "But, all my stuff is on there!").  My world would be quite dramatical...
2 comments
Read more