Are your kids doing specials?

[Anonymous]

I have a child at Pine Crest and her specials teachers have been doing a lot! She's had an online field day, her PE teacher started an online juggling club, she's had lunch bunches with drawing time with her art teacher, she's had modules to complete for music where she's made musical instruments and then been able to open mystery modules where she can make more music and upload. The specials teachers have been very active and engaged and creative and present.

I only named a few things, and the instrumental music teacher has been posting things as well.

[Anonymous]

ES- art, yes, but there’s been nothing to turn in, so I hear from kiddo. She is otherwise busy doing core work.

MS - yes. There is very little participation as I’ve learned, so I’m glad my kid is going them (PE, which are set exercises and a log, and his two ECs.)

[Anonymous]

Yes - 3rd grader really enjoys the specials. They are precorded lessons, presentations, etc. with assignments to hand in. She does music and art pretty much on her own, but makes me join her for PE because the PE teacher said it was important for a family memeber to join her for the exercises. It actually has been alot of fun for her and a change from the regular Math/ELA routine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well when my 5th grader excitedly checked in the first week to see what to do for PE, they were given Baby Shark and two other preschool videos to dance and sing to.

So no

My 6th grader was asked to do a simple multiplication problem once so we've never done math again.

[Anonymous]

The school district should never have said grades won't count. Then there would have been more engagement.

[Anonymous]

Gave it a couple tries to find the specials assignments. They’re not easy to find and worthless videos when you get there. So no, we’re not bothering.

[Anonymous]

I've got a first grader and it is a pain to even get through the math, reading and writing. I looked up the art and music and they weren't very interesting. One was to walk around and write down all of the different arts and craft supplies in your house. Very boring. We do our own arts and crafts when there is time. We try to go on a daily walk, hike or bike ride so he is getting physical activity.

[Anonymous]

Look, if you kid is interested in doing the specials then go for it. I would not make a big deal of it if they are not interested and are putting in effort to complete their academics. I seriously think it would be much better to have the specials teachers support the academic teachers to allow for more small group work for those students who need it. I think most kids can forgo the arts and crafts projects and other busy work that is being pushed out to them.

[Anonymous]

1st grade, loves going to specials every week. Lessons are for an hour but students can leave after instruction ends after 40 minutes. Music and Art teachers push in county lessons on week “A” and extra activities for week “B”.

[Anonymous]

No and no. We barely have time to complete his reading and math.

[Anonymous]

We also barely finish our Math and Reading. It has been difficult getting my kids to do these. They attempted the Art assignments twice. PE was too many videos so they don't do that anymore. Music also ignored.

[Anonymous]

I am sick of the kids posting videos of themselves. The participation is low so we are just skipping the interactive specials. They did the first two weeks but I dont even include it in the schedule anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our PE teacher put up some videos that I could have googled myself. She has not bothered to record herself doing stuff or check in on classes. Monday has passed and absolutely nothing for this week I am deeply disappointed in her. To add insult to injury she was caught on candid camera engaged in some political warfare yanking some political lawn signs off of property. It's all so embarrassing for our school community.

Really? That must be awfully traumatic for you. She took multiple signs from private property? Did you see her do that? Was it a video? Or was the sign just one of the many, many Stephen Austin signs planted illegally on public property? Did you witness the sign-taking or are you just regurgitating assumptions and playing fast and loose with the details? Why hasn’t your fair haired boy denounced the illegal sign placements? Why hasn’t he even asked his supporters to follow the law? Your faux outrage would be more believable if you held your own candidate to SOME level of responsibility. You and your snowflake candidate need to suck it up.

[Anonymous]

The PE stuff has been next to nothing, and my kids get lots of physical activity so I'm not worried about that. I honestly can't even figure out what they want them to "turn in" for that.

Our art teacher has put out some interesting and thoughtful projects and I've had my kids do them; they only get an assignment once every 2 weeks. The music teacher has sent some cute videos to watch but not really much to do. My 5th grader is taking his instrumental music more seriously and actually practicing since he has way more time- so I think he's getting more out of that than other specials.

[Anonymous]

We haven’t, but I looked at the art teacher’s website yesterday and she has some really cool activities on there, so I’m hoping she leaves them up over the summer.