Forum Index
»
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)
You may know the formula, but if you never get the correct answer than what’s the point? |
The point is you know how to figure out the area of a figure. To prevent careless errors, you use a calculator to help. Cash registers - they add up the totals for everyone. Why don’t we have clerks totaling by hand? In real life there are so many situations where calculators are appropriate. This goes for math as well. I doubt your regular, non disabled child has been harmed by some elementary schooler with special needs using a calculator. Using a Caligula or is usually reserved for only certain situations as well. I’ve seen it with IEPs but not with 504s. |
| Hmm...I think that using a "Caligula" would be inappropriate at all levels of student math classes (giggle!) |
We were at a store this weekend where power and the internet were down. They couldn’t take credit cards and the clerks were adding everything up by hand and making change by hand. I understand that we have tools that complete a lot of tasks but those tools don’t mean that we shouldn’t understand how to do the work without the tool. |
If you can’t find the area without using a calculator, then you clearly don’t understand the “concept” of multiplying whole numbers, decimals, and/or fractions. |
| The lack of understanding of learning disabilities on this thread is a bit much. Look up dyscalculia and read, maybe people can learn something and who knows, develop an ounce of empathy for others. |
Empathy is fine. Getting excellent grades without being able to do the work is confusing to lots of people. |
Again, read and educate yourself. |
+1 I have empathy. And the kids should get supports. But getting an A when you had 50% more time plus a calculator on a math test vs. a kid in the exact same class who did not have those supports feels unfair. Simple as that. They aren't doing the same thing. |
Oh I get it, they should get supports as long as they still get a lower grade than your kid and aren’t competition for your kids at college. I completely understand your point of view. |
So, you think your child should get an "A" like kids that get the "A" without extra time or tools? |
What do you think a learning disability means? Do you just think it’s a lack of effort? Do you think they don’t deserve accommodations? It’s neurobiological in origin, meaning it’s the way their brain is “ wired”. While this isn’t a completely accurate analogy, it’s like saying don’t let kids wear glasses, let them do the best they can without them. Does that make anymore sense to you? The accommodations are based on actual needs as supported by science and studying the learning differences. Did you know kids with learning differences can have an exceptionally high IQ? I’m not worried about my kid, she will be fine in spite of people like you in the world. I guarantee she is more resilient than 95% percent of kids bc we encounter people like you all of the time. |
That is good. Resilience is something that is badly needed in today's society. However, what does an "A" mean? It used to mean that you were among the top in the class with mastery of the material learned. If you cannot perform the tasks within the allotted time and without extra tools, do you have the same mastery? Do you want a doctor who needs extra time and tools? |
|
no, it's not at all like glasses. Glasses would be comparable to the audio readers to help dyslexics - something that kids that don't have that disability don't need/want as they can just read the text. Likewise giving all the kids glasses wouldn't help the kids who don't need them do better. Calculators and extra time are not the same because giving them to all kids would create a level playing field; giving them to only some kids gives those specific kids advantages that other kids don't have. |