Really? My 3rd grader has to learn all 50 states?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had to do this when we were kids. Why don't you want your child to be educated?

Maybe because she thinks most of the states are in flyover country and not worth learning?

I'm the OP, and I'm from flyover country. I am just sick of homework that's all. I will try to stay positive and stop complaining.

I get where you are coming from OP. It is not learning the states, it is that we are all exhausted and ready for the year to be over.

Did you see this OP. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jen-hatmaker/worst-end-of-school-year-mom-ever_b_3378480.html

I think this is how many of us feel at the end of the year. I was up at 6:45 baking. Why? Why? Why>
11 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have this OP!

The interesting thing to me is that I'm usually reading comments from parents about how "instruction stops" during this time of year.

[Anonymous]

I actually think that this is WONDERFUL. My son was in middle school before he was ever asked to fill out an entire U.S. map w/states (I don't think they even asked for capitals but he knew/knows them and had for a while). He missed two of them (got them switched around) and he still got the BEST grade in his class.

And this in the DC area, home of our government and Pentagon. Sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Google around and find a youtube of the state song - I don't know it but I know there are singing versions of listing all the states and I also think capitals. Sometimes it's easier to learn things by singing. The puzzle is also a great idea.

I'm more distressed by your so sick of this at the end of the school year. I was thinking about school year burnout - I have a K and a 3rd grader. And there's this perception in DCPS that it used to be nothing was learned after spring break. I think burnout is adults - parents and teachers - who pass that attitude to kids. My 3rd grader and K student go to school every day ready to learn. Yes, I'm sick of school and homework too, but I want my kids learning every single day, including that last day of school. Ok, maybe last day is unrealistic, but kids like learning and can learn stuff in the last few weeks.

The song is Fifty Nifty United States, and I still can sing very word almost 40 years after learning it. Does not teach the capitals though.

Yep, me too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had to do this when we were kids. Why don't you want your child to be educated?

Ha! I do want them to learn this stuff. That's why I already had the 50 state jigsaw puzzle. I just feel blindsided by this stuff. They worked so hard to get through the SOL's, and now with swim team starting, it is hard to sit down and memorize all this stuff right now.

School isn't over yet. Swim team should be secondary until school lets out. Do you really expect them to not start any new academic projects during the last 3 weeks of school? That's a long time to be in school doing nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an app called Stack the States. It may help!

+1 our kids loved this and it taught them the state, the shape of the state, the capital and some fun facts. It doesn't teach them where the state is on the map but your puzzle will.

[Anonymous]

Print out blank maps by region so it seems more manageable. My DD did this at the beginning of 4th grade. She had to learn the states and capitals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Print out blank maps by region so it seems more manageable. My DD did this at the beginning of 4th grade. She had to learn the states and capitals.

Where are you? That's not a 4th grade standard.

[Anonymous]

At my DD's Catholic grade school they learn the States/Capitals in the 3rd grade, but they break it down in to chunks learning them by region. (NE, SE, etc). We used Stack the States to help her outside of school -- great app!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We had to do this when we were kids. Why don't you want your child to be educated?

Maybe because she thinks most of the states are in flyover country and not worth learning?

I'm the OP, and I'm from flyover country. I am just sick of homework that's all. I will try to stay positive and stop complaining.

I get where you are coming from OP. It is not learning the states, it is that we are all exhausted and ready for the year to be over.

Did you see this OP. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jen-hatmaker/worst-e...l-year-mom-ever_b_3378480.html

I think this is how many of us feel at the end of the year. I was up at 6:45 baking. Why? Why? Why>
11 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have this OP!


The interesting thing to me is that I'm usually reading comments from parents about how "instruction stops" during this time of year.

Exactly. Teachers can't win...there's always some whiny parent complaining, no matter what you do. In this case, OP sounds lazy....I would want my child to learn this in 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

What do you mean, "foisted on US"? It's not on you. It's on your kid. Stop trying to do her work for her.

[Anonymous]

The questions is why isn't it an FCPS standard? It seems like basic knowledge all kids should have yet some schools teach it and some don't.

[Anonymous]

This was covered in MoCo and DC 3rd grade earlier in the year. An example of why the coon core is important.

[Anonymous]

My daughter learned this in kindergarten at ATS -- at least the 50 state song. They haven't done capitals yet, but she can still sing that song, as can I.

[Anonymous]

WTF, OP? That's basic elementary school stuff.

We are in Arlington --3rd grade and my son's homework is to write the States and Capitals' learn State abbreviations, locate on map. He does it on his own. All of 10-15 min a night.

Maybe you are overthinking this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This was covered in MoCo and DC 3rd grade earlier in the year. An example of why the coon core is important.

That's rather racist...