When did these organization skills get taught?

[Anonymous]

Are you a teacher? You have a lot of suggestions for this profession, perhaps you should go into education.

Anonymous wrote:Kids today don't learn it and it's a joke!

I'm not that old - I'm 42 - and so many of the mid-to-late 20-somethings in my office don't have these skills either. Not sure when the skills stopped being taught in schools.

We hired an executive functioning/skills coach for the kid we struggled with the most and it was the best money we've ever spent on that kid! We were able to teach the skills to our other kids without issue, but this one was more resistant. He happily listened to what the coach said and implemented her tips & tricks without any pushback (much of the same stuff we'd preached).

He was a low B-C-low C student before learning the skills and an A-B student afterward. He wasn't studying effectively and didn't have the proper organization (lots of doing the work but forgetting to take it to turn it or taking it to turn in but not turning it in, arrrgh!)

Kids need those skills more than they need the stupid cursive, which there's such a big push to bring back. I have 3 kids now in college and all 3 have encountered professors who insist on hand-written notes instead of typed notes because the professors find the typing distracting. My oldest said she couldn't believe the deer-in-headlights look some classmates had because they hadn't taken handwritten notes in so long.

[Anonymous]

[
Have you taken the initiative to teach your children how to handle all the things that you have listed?


quote=Anonymous]Taking notes!!?!

Study methods and skill!!?

Math facts!!!?

Spelling and grammar rules!!?

That’s not fun or DEI enough for DC independent schools to spend time in. Pay a tutor or kumon or relive k-8 with your kids whilst paying $50k a year per kid. Enjoy!

Oh, here a fun one: does your kid know what number corresponds to which month?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I taught these skills to my kids when they started school.

I was sitting every evening with them for homework, tutoring, enriching, accelerating them from K-5. I did not see the schools commenting or teaching them anything about organizational skills or even neatness of their work.

Even the concept of Math Hygiene in worksheets was never taught here, but that was such an important concept for the kids. My kids were in public schools so I do not know if these concepts are taught in private schools.

OMG- here is your cookie! Parent of the century, right here folks!

Honestly, PP, whether what you report is true or not, you sound like a pompous ass. Did you teach your kids a$$ hygiene too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s time for parents to also teach their children. Schools cannot DO IT ALL. Teachers welcome the partnership with parents on the foundational skills that all of you are saying is missing in independent schools. We are selecting independent schools because (let’s be honest, we don’t want a DCPS school) of the rigor with the content, the novels read, the labs they explore, and the way they push our children to think independently. Schools do provide a foundation and how to be a good person and how to attain content knowledge, however parents partnering with the schools and filling in the gaps is the magic key.

It’s not a school’s job to teach being a good person. It is their job to teach organization and note taking and other academic skills. This is basic stuff I learned in public school 30 years ago. Why even post for private if they aren’t teaching the basics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I taught these skills to my kids when they started school.

I was sitting every evening with them for homework, tutoring, enriching, accelerating them from K-5. I did not see the schools commenting or teaching them anything about organizational skills or even neatness of their work.

Even the concept of Math Hygiene in worksheets was never taught here, but that was such an important concept for the kids. My kids were in public schools so I do not know if these concepts are taught in private schools.

OMG- here is your cookie! Parent of the century, right here folks!

Honestly, PP, whether what you report is true or not, you sound like a pompous ass. Did you teach your kids a$$ hygiene too?

I teach all mine that at age 2-3.

[Anonymous]

Catholic school from all levels. In Gr. 2 my kids got a planner and day by day organization instructions to use it. Books came to and from school and homework was assigned on a varying schedule so they had to keep track and plan out multi-day assignments. Both of my DDs called home from college to say they were grateful for their skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Burke has an executive skills course in their summer school; we were on the waiting list but never got in. What you describe in your original post is how I operated in college, and how my niece works in her private high school; she had a class that taught such methods -- I think similar to what Burke offers their students. I've had to teach my son the methods I used; his school has not yet taught or required it, and I don't think they will.

My child took this course over the summer and found it helpful. Burke also has dedicated learning support specialists that teach a study skills course (all 9th graders take it) and can meet with students individually for additional support. I’m glad they offer this! I think some study skills are different nowadays with the prevalence of technology. I don’t see as much reliance on notes, flash cards, etc.

[Anonymous]

We've tried to teach these skills to our kid all along but it hasn't stuck and they were not reinforced or taught in school. Now they're grade 8 and it's a big struggle. What can we do now? I really don't want to monitor their homework and studying, especially as they get older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids today don't learn it and it's a joke!

I'm not that old - I'm 42 - and so many of the mid-to-late 20-somethings in my office don't have these skills either. Not sure when the skills stopped being taught in schools.

We hired an executive functioning/skills coach for the kid we struggled with the most and it was the best money we've ever spent on that kid! We were able to teach the skills to our other kids without issue, but this one was more resistant. He happily listened to what the coach said and implemented her tips & tricks without any pushback (much of the same stuff we'd preached).

He was a low B-C-low C student before learning the skills and an A-B student afterward. He wasn't studying effectively and didn't have the proper organization (lots of doing the work but forgetting to take it to turn it or taking it to turn in but not turning it in, arrrgh!)

Kids need those skills more than they need the stupid cursive, which there's such a big push to bring back. I have 3 kids now in college and all 3 have encountered professors who insist on hand-written notes instead of typed notes because the professors find the typing distracting. My oldest said she couldn't believe the deer-in-headlights look some classmates had because they hadn't taken handwritten notes in so long.

Where does one find an executive functioning/skills coach for kids/students?

[Anonymous]

If you are rich enough to send kids to private school, the school expects you to teach these skills yourself or hire a coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s time for parents to also teach their children. Schools cannot DO IT ALL. Teachers welcome the partnership with parents on the foundational skills that all of you are saying is missing in independent schools. We are selecting independent schools because (let’s be honest, we don’t want a DCPS school) of the rigor with the content, the novels read, the labs they explore, and the way they push our children to think independently. Schools do provide a foundation and how to be a good person and how to attain content knowledge, however parents partnering with the schools and filling in the gaps is the magic key.

But parents don’t know what is no longer taught u too it’s almost too late.

[Anonymous]

Our PK-8 private started teaching this in 3rd grade. I remember my DC signing the song the teacher taught them about being organized and prepared.

I found the lyrics:

What are you going to do?
You've got a frown on your face,
And you're singing the blues!
You're not organized,
You are not prepared,
You're not listening,
And your mind's not there.
You don't have plans, and you don't have goals.
Your homework's unfinished,
And you've been told.
You need to get your act together
'Cause you don't have a clue.
You've got the Study Skills Blues!


Now, you see what to do.
You've got a smile on your face,
And you're lookin' cool!
You're so organized,
You are so prepared.
You're listening carefully,
And your mind is there.
You've got plans, and you've got goals.
Your homework is finished;
You don't have to be told,
You've got your act together,
'Cause you followed the clues.
And you're not singing the Study Skills Blues!

[Anonymous]

Does everyone know what math hygiene is except me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[
Have you taken the initiative to teach your children how to handle all the things that you have listed?


quote=Anonymous]Taking notes!!?!

Study methods and skill!!?

Math facts!!!?

Spelling and grammar rules!!?

That’s not fun or DEI enough for DC independent schools to spend time in. Pay a tutor or kumon or relive k-8 with your kids whilst paying $50k a year per kid. Enjoy!

Oh, here a fun one: does your kid know what number corresponds to which month?

Yes because they go to mandarin immersion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are rich enough to send kids to private school, the school expects you to teach these skills yourself or hire a coach.

Plus, equity. Not teaching these things makes things more equitable.