How do you know if your elementary school is teaching your child what they need to know?

[Anonymous]

My child is in kindergarten and seems quite bright (to me, who is biased, but this has also been the assessment of preschool teachers and other instructors). I think he has potential to do well academically, with the right support and if he applies himself. But how do I know if he’s getting that support at his school? At this stage, I have some sense of how his days are structured and what sorts of activities they are doing. Some of it sounds right on target (good phonics focus, lots of reading and discussion) but other stuff I’m unsure about. It seems like they use screens a lot, sometimes the approach sounds a little severe/cold? But I’m not there, I can’t say.

So how do I know? Just wait and see how he progresses? What if he doesn’t? What if he does but I don’t know if he could be progressing better at a different school!

[Anonymous]

Is he at a public or private school? I think you can take different tactics depending on the location.

[Anonymous]

The anxiety on this board is off the chain.

Your child is being assessed in a variety of ways in literacy and math. The teacher will have a parent conference with you in about a month and share about your child’s progress and include work samples. Prior to that, they’ll share what the day is like at Back to School Night.

Calm down.

[Anonymous]

I have the same questions, at a public school we are new to, but mostly because I'm hearing about watching multiple episodes of the Berenstain Bears each day (grade 1), in addition to computer games (probably educational, I don't know), books on screen, and videos for "brain breaks." If I were hearing anything related to direct instruction, or seeing some evidence of it, I'd definitely be able to more easily "calm down." My expectations aren't through the roof, but basic instruction definitely makes the ist, so I'm waiting for BTSN, interims, etc., to see what things look like.

Anyway OP, give it some time, at least you are hearing about some learning. If you'd decide to change course, six months or a year in a less-than-ideal situation probably isn't the end or the world. Haha, I hope, anyway, for all of our sakes!

[Anonymous]

Of course parents hear about the fun stuff. The kids are 5-6 yrs old.

[Anonymous]

Does it help you to trace your anxiety to its final conclusion? Ok, so he could learn a little more at this private/other school . . . ok, so he could get into Harvard instead of Georgetown, or Georgetown instead of VA Tech, or Tech instead of Christopher Newport . . . Even if he does go to Harvard, what does that guarantee him? Happiness? Money? People who love him? Ultimately this parenting thing is about letting go and accepting that you've created someone who is going to live their own life and who will probably turn out OK even if their passions and path are different than yours.

I was a public school teacher, and that mostly gives me confidence that my kids are doing just fine. Sure, there was a spectrum of teachers . . . at one end, the true duds. At the other, the true super stars. Most were somewhere in the middle . . . a.k.a. just fine. I personally don't think kids turn out any better just because you insisted that they only have the "best" of everything . . . you might raise an entitled a-hole who gets into a slightly more competitive school. Yay?

Life is short. Do your best and leave the rest. The kids are alright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is he at a public or private school? I think you can take different tactics depending on the location.

Public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course parents hear about the fun stuff. The kids are 5-6 yrs old.

I don't necessarily hear about the fun stuff. It sounds like they watch a lot of videos (many of which he doesn't like or finds boring/repetitive) and also spend a weird amount of time doing motor skills stuff like cutting paper?

I am sure I am not getting a full picture but what I have heard does not sound particularly engaging. I'm not looking for a super intense environment, but I also don't want a ton of busywork and screen time. It's possible we just did not get a great teacher draw. But I just don't know how to evaluate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have the same questions, at a public school we are new to, but mostly because I'm hearing about watching multiple episodes of the Berenstain Bears each day (grade 1), in addition to computer games (probably educational, I don't know), books on screen, and videos for "brain breaks." If I were hearing anything related to direct instruction, or seeing some evidence of it, I'd definitely be able to more easily "calm down." My expectations aren't through the roof, but basic instruction definitely makes the ist, so I'm waiting for BTSN, interims, etc., to see what things look like.

Anyway OP, give it some time, at least you are hearing about some learning. If you'd decide to change course, six months or a year in a less-than-ideal situation probably isn't the end or the world. Haha, I hope, anyway, for all of our sakes!

Same!! I was really sad to hear that the tv board reads them books too. I’d love to get away from computers. I really don’t see a need until 4th or 5th grade. But even then, it’s to research and write reports. Not to learn on computers all day long.

[Anonymous]

NP. That does sound like too much screen time. My kindergartner hasn’t described any screen time yet. I know they will break out the iPads later but the teacher hasn’t assigned them yet.

The cutting makes sense to me. They have to develop fine motor skills before they can learn to write.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course parents hear about the fun stuff. The kids are 5-6 yrs old.

I don't necessarily hear about the fun stuff. It sounds like they watch a lot of videos (many of which he doesn't like or finds boring/repetitive) and also spend a weird amount of time doing motor skills stuff like cutting paper?

I am sure I am not getting a full picture but what I have heard does not sound particularly engaging. I'm not looking for a super intense environment, but I also don't want a ton of busywork and screen time. It's possible we just did not get a great teacher draw. But I just don't know how to evaluate.

Sounds like you don't know what's going on. Cutting is a skill that requires practice. Most kids these days have underdeveloped fine motor skills so it makes sense to practice them. Go to Back to School night with a list of questions.

[Anonymous]

This is a troll. Questioning whether K should be practicing cutting? Come on. Try harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course parents hear about the fun stuff. The kids are 5-6 yrs old.

I don't necessarily hear about the fun stuff. It sounds like they watch a lot of videos (many of which he doesn't like or finds boring/repetitive) and also spend a weird amount of time doing motor skills stuff like cutting paper?

I am sure I am not getting a full picture but what I have heard does not sound particularly engaging. I'm not looking for a super intense environment, but I also don't want a ton of busywork and screen time. It's possible we just did not get a great teacher draw. But I just don't know how to evaluate.

Spend some time at home doing things that will enrich your son's life... looking at and making art, doing science experiments or going on nature walks, etc., reading books about history and making projects and maps to go along, field trips, cooking, etc. Lower elementary school is mind-numbing with its repetitive focus only on reading and math skills. So you will need to keep his attitude toward learning positive with the above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have the same questions, at a public school we are new to, but mostly because I'm hearing about watching multiple episodes of the Berenstain Bears each day (grade 1), in addition to computer games (probably educational, I don't know), books on screen, and videos for "brain breaks." If I were hearing anything related to direct instruction, or seeing some evidence of it, I'd definitely be able to more easily "calm down." My expectations aren't through the roof, but basic instruction definitely makes the ist, so I'm waiting for BTSN, interims, etc., to see what things look like.

Anyway OP, give it some time, at least you are hearing about some learning. If you'd decide to change course, six months or a year in a less-than-ideal situation probably isn't the end or the world. Haha, I hope, anyway, for all of our sakes!

The first couple weeks they do a lot of individual testing so other kids watch things and cant do formal class instruction. They do this to assess reading snd math groups the kids need to be in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have the same questions, at a public school we are new to, but mostly because I'm hearing about watching multiple episodes of the Berenstain Bears each day (grade 1), in addition to computer games (probably educational, I don't know), books on screen, and videos for "brain breaks." If I were hearing anything related to direct instruction, or seeing some evidence of it, I'd definitely be able to more easily "calm down." My expectations aren't through the roof, but basic instruction definitely makes the ist, so I'm waiting for BTSN, interims, etc., to see what things look like.

Anyway OP, give it some time, at least you are hearing about some learning. If you'd decide to change course, six months or a year in a less-than-ideal situation probably isn't the end or the world. Haha, I hope, anyway, for all of our sakes!

The first couple weeks they do a lot of individual testing so other kids watch things and cant do formal class instruction. They do this to assess reading snd math groups the kids need to be in.

This is actually really helpful to know! I think that's probably why I'm hearing some complaints for DS that school is boring right now.

But why not just explain that to parents? Why make me guess and wonder what is going on? Our BTS night isn't until the end of September -- a short introductory email with this explanation would have been so useful.