No textbook for kids in Montgomery County?

[Anonymous]

This poster is obviously from another country where first graders get textbooks. The answer is: they don't get textbooks here, or anywhere in American public schools in first grade, I would imagine. Go to Kumon or something if it's that important to you to get a workbook.

[Anonymous]

Ok I know a HS in VA and they don't have textbooks
Lot of stuff online
Email the teacher for resources.
Educational environment is changing, we have to change with it.

[Anonymous]

Umm - I have a 4th grader. My question would be where's the homework/classwork, anything. I do not have a clue on what my child is working on academically because NOTHING comes home.

[Anonymous]

Textbooks are expensive to replace and cannot be updated. Surprised parents would complain about the lack of them when the curriculum is readily available for your inspection.

I was volunteering in my son's 2nd grade classroom last week and saw them use social studies textbooks, but they weren't assigned their own copy to take home for homework or anything. OP, it's unusual to have textbooks for 1st graders anyway, but the curriculum in this area is quickly moving towards updated technology for learning, rather than physical textbooks. If you want to know specifically what your child is learning, look to the online curriculum, and/or communicate with the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter started 1st grade this year. I am astonished that kids do not have any textbook. This is really unacceptable!

Without textbook, I have no idea what she learns in school and how she can review those.

Is there anyone care?

bahaha sounds like you need the textbook

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Umm - I have a 4th grader. My question would be where's the homework/classwork, anything. I do not have a clue on what my child is working on academically because NOTHING comes home.

E-mail the teacher and ask. Or e-mail the teacher and ask for a conference.

[Anonymous]

I think no textbooks is a reason why American students are failing in Math. Because if they have a bad teacher, there is no way they can review it themselves or have parents explain.

As for cost, don't get me started on those big fat tedious ones. Singapore math is slim and does not teach less math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think no textbooks is a reason why American students are failing in Math. Because if they have a bad teacher, there is no way they can review it themselves or have parents explain.

But lots of American students do have math textbooks. What's your explanation for them? Or are the ones with textbooks not failing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm - I have a 4th grader. My question would be where's the homework/classwork, anything. I do not have a clue on what my child is working on academically because NOTHING comes home.

E-mail the teacher and ask. Or e-mail the teacher and ask for a conference.

Tried that. The response was that there will be parent/teacher conferences in November.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm - I have a 4th grader. My question would be where's the homework/classwork, anything. I do not have a clue on what my child is working on academically because NOTHING comes home.

E-mail the teacher and ask. Or e-mail the teacher and ask for a conference.

Tried that. The response was that there will be parent/teacher conferences in November.

You e-mailed the teacher and asked for a conference, and the teacher responded that there will be parent/teacher conferences in November? If so, that's not acceptable. E-mail again, explaining that this is an immediate concern that can't wait until November. Ask for a conference within the next week, and include specific ranges of times when you are available. And send a cc to the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm - I have a 4th grader. My question would be where's the homework/classwork, anything. I do not have a clue on what my child is working on academically because NOTHING comes home.

E-mail the teacher and ask. Or e-mail the teacher and ask for a conference.

Tried that. The response was that there will be parent/teacher conferences in November.

Having a textbook and work come home will eliminate the needs for these extra works and communication with the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think no textbooks is a reason why American students are failing in Math. Because if they have a bad teacher, there is no way they can review it themselves or have parents explain.

But lots of American students do have math textbooks. What's your explanation for them? Or are the ones with textbooks not failing?

One of the most notorious math curriculum, Everyday Math, is famous for without text book and use nonstandard techniques. If the student did not understand in class, the parents simply cannot help.

I do believe having a good math textbooks produces better results. It also promotes better study habit. Students will learn that reviewing the book is part of the study process if they forget something. Instead, we have the math curriculum itself spiraling back and forth and serves no one well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Umm - I have a 4th grader. My question would be where's the homework/classwork, anything. I do not have a clue on what my child is working on academically because NOTHING comes home.

E-mail the teacher and ask. Or e-mail the teacher and ask for a conference.

Tried that. The response was that there will be parent/teacher conferences in November.

Having a textbook and work come home will eliminate the needs for these extra works and communication with the teacher.

Perhaps. But which do you think would be more useful for the PP to deal with the immediate situation that there actually is?

1. Try to get more information from their child's teacher.
2. Try to persuade MCPS to use textbooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think no textbooks is a reason why American students are failing in Math. Because if they have a bad teacher, there is no way they can review it themselves or have parents explain.

But lots of American students do have math textbooks. What's your explanation for them? Or are the ones with textbooks not failing?

One of the most notorious math curriculum, Everyday Math, is famous for without text book and use nonstandard techniques. If the student did not understand in class, the parents simply cannot help.

I do believe having a good math textbooks produces better results. It also promotes better study habit. Students will learn that reviewing the book is part of the study process if they forget something. Instead, we have the math curriculum itself spiraling back and forth and serves no one well.

MCPS is not using Everyday Math.

And, anyway, the textbooks reflect the curriculum. If the curriculum spirals, then the textbooks spiral.

[Anonymous]

The OP needs to try to get the information from the teacher. But knowing what the teacher covered in that week is different than knowing how that material is covered. Hence a good textbook will say way more than "we covered two digits addition today." If the curriculum such as MCPS publishes is everything you need to know, then there won't be any of this math war stuff. After all, other than a few misguided effort to get rid of long division from school math, most people would agree on what a good math outcome looks like.

Just because the op had an issue that could be helped by talking with the teacher does not mean we should not talk about the big picture as well.