Worksheets not reflecting child's motivation or ability--anyone else?

[Anonymous]

DC brings home worksheets that look "meh". Math is always good (and well below DC's level/not challenging at all). Other worksheets are more open-ended so could be an opportunity to show more, but DC interprets them like the math sheets--just gives the answers and not more. DC's teacher puts questions, hinting that she wants elaboration. DC isn't much for reading between the lines and otherwise seems to find these sheets dull. Trying to encourage DC to do more because I would like some good work samples from school, but seems to produce much better work at home.

[Anonymous]

Also it's frustrating because DC's literacy is quite advanced but the kind of work given in school doesn't really provide an opportunity to challenge or showcase that, so DC just looks average.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC brings home worksheets that look "meh". Math is always good (and well below DC's level/not challenging at all). Other worksheets are more open-ended so could be an opportunity to show more, but DC interprets them like the math sheets--just gives the answers and not more. DC's teacher puts questions, hinting that she wants elaboration. DC isn't much for reading between the lines and otherwise seems to find these sheets dull. Trying to encourage DC to do more because I would like some good work samples from school, but seems to produce much better work at home.

Review the worksheets with your child and make them answer the more indepth questions that the Teacher is asking. We are doign just that with DS in 7th grade history. You need to explain the why and the how and the connections to demonstrate more then learning the facts. That is a part of demonstrating mastery. After a series of high B grades, we told him he has to show us his homework and we discuss were he needs to elaborate and why. It has taken a few weeks, but he is finally putting it together.

Remind him that when he is studying most subjects it is more about being able to connect the facts to tell the story. And making him finish the assignment at home will, at the least, remind him that if he does it the first time at school, he won't have to do it at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also it's frustrating because DC's literacy is quite advanced but the kind of work given in school doesn't really provide an opportunity to challenge or showcase that, so DC just looks average.

If his Teacher is leaving comments telling him what he needs to do, then there is space on the worksheet for him to do just that. He has the opportunity; he is not taking it. That is why he is looking average.

[Anonymous]

My 5th grader was running into this problem, along with a related problem that her teacher is often looking for very specific answers to very open ended questions.

We looked at the feedback together several times and DD started doing much better.

For elementary kids teachers really ought to be direct in their explanations. Expecting kids to just spontaneously write paragraphs is annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 5th grader was running into this problem, along with a related problem that her teacher is often looking for very specific answers to very open ended questions.

We looked at the feedback together several times and DD started doing much better.

For elementary kids teachers really ought to be direct in their explanations. Expecting kids to just spontaneously write paragraphs is annoying.

OP here. Thanks, this is what I have been feeling as well. DC is in second grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 5th grader was running into this problem, along with a related problem that her teacher is often looking for very specific answers to very open ended questions.

We looked at the feedback together several times and DD started doing much better.

For elementary kids teachers really ought to be direct in their explanations. Expecting kids to just spontaneously write paragraphs is annoying.

OP here. Thanks, this is what I have been feeling as well. DC is in second grade.

Try teaching your DC how to do it if the teacher isn't red penning in a paragraph on returned worksheets.

And be glad you're getting worksheets. For 2 of my 3 DCs I didn't get returned work home in 2nd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 5th grader was running into this problem, along with a related problem that her teacher is often looking for very specific answers to very open ended questions.

We looked at the feedback together several times and DD started doing much better.

For elementary kids teachers really ought to be direct in their explanations. Expecting kids to just spontaneously write paragraphs is annoying.

OP here. Thanks, this is what I have been feeling as well. DC is in second grade.

Try teaching your DC how to do it if the teacher isn't red penning in a paragraph on returned worksheets.

And be glad you're getting worksheets. For 2 of my 3 DCs I didn't get returned work home in 2nd.

Yep, I am doing that. And wow, I guess I should count myself lucky then. We get returned work every week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also it's frustrating because DC's literacy is quite advanced but the kind of work given in school doesn't really provide an opportunity to challenge or showcase that, so DC just looks average.

If his Teacher is leaving comments telling him what he needs to do, then there is space on the worksheet for him to do just that. He has the opportunity; he is not taking it. That is why he is looking average.

Right. If he isn't answering as he's prompted to then he is doing average work, regardless of how advanced he may be.