Anonymous
06/22/2012 00:32
Subject: Re:Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
Anonymous wrote:"Falling behind" in kindergarten by missing 1 week? You have to be kidding.
I hear Harvard looks at the kindergarten stats.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 00:31
Subject: Re:Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
Anonymous wrote:What kind of parent are you? I can't believe you are even asking this question. Taking a kid away from learning just to go to Disney is irresponsible.
Simmer down Trigger...sheesh, I think not enjoying life while you can is irresponsible. Lighten up and have some fun.
Anonymous
06/22/2012 00:10
Subject: Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Disney is "experiential learning"?
waste of time and money. Ugh
Boy, you seem like a barrel of fun.
Anonymous
06/21/2012 21:50
Subject: Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
In my opinion, teachers should not be asked for or required to provide assignments before or makeup work after. If that is okay by you and your child isn't bothered missing any special event at school, then go.
At our school, tests/quizzes for unexcused absences cannot be made up. They don't take a 0 per se but grades are averaged without that score. Kids are responsible for getting homework and notes from a friend and keeping up so they can jump right in when they get back.
At our school, tests/quizzes for unexcused absences cannot be made up. They don't take a 0 per se but grades are averaged without that score. Kids are responsible for getting homework and notes from a friend and keeping up so they can jump right in when they get back.
Anonymous
06/21/2012 18:23
Subject: Re:Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
Anonymous wrote:I'm a former public school kindergarten teacher. Though this may seem counter-intuitive, the first 6 weeks of school can be the worst time to have your kindergarten (or first grade) child be absent. While not as much curriculum content is going on then, the teachers spend the first 6 weeks carefully teaching routines, procedures and expectations and they also plan experiences to help the kids bond socially. This type of content cannot be "made up" by parents and, after the beginning of school, teachers rarely re-teach important procedures in detail so the kids can return and feel somewhat behind and "out of it."
Also, if your kindergartener/1st grader has recently become motivated to become a reader, even a week absent can slow them down on their path to literacy. If your child is finally motivated to read, make sure to get very detailed guidance on how you can keep them reading (at the right level) over your vacation. Just my two cents...
Thank you for this - very helpful. M kids are young, but we've already talked about the possibility we may need to take them out in the next few years, and have decided we're OK with it, as our oldest is just fine academically and we have no problem doing our part to help our kids catch up as necessary. But this is a very good point that I will keep in mind.
Anonymous
06/21/2012 18:12
Subject: Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
Anonymous wrote:Disney is "experiential learning"?
waste of time and money. Ugh
Anonymous
06/21/2012 16:20
Subject: Re:Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
I'm a former public school kindergarten teacher. Though this may seem counter-intuitive, the first 6 weeks of school can be the worst time to have your kindergarten (or first grade) child be absent. While not as much curriculum content is going on then, the teachers spend the first 6 weeks carefully teaching routines, procedures and expectations and they also plan experiences to help the kids bond socially. This type of content cannot be "made up" by parents and, after the beginning of school, teachers rarely re-teach important procedures in detail so the kids can return and feel somewhat behind and "out of it."
Also, if your kindergartener/1st grader has recently become motivated to become a reader, even a week absent can slow them down on their path to literacy. If your child is finally motivated to read, make sure to get very detailed guidance on how you can keep them reading (at the right level) over your vacation. Just my two cents...
Also, if your kindergartener/1st grader has recently become motivated to become a reader, even a week absent can slow them down on their path to literacy. If your child is finally motivated to read, make sure to get very detailed guidance on how you can keep them reading (at the right level) over your vacation. Just my two cents...
Anonymous
06/21/2012 16:11
Subject: Re:Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
Does your school have a policy about it? My son's school says no to vacations during the school year. It's what I prefer as well, so it's a great fit for us.
However, lots of people do it. And for Disney (even though I've never been), it seems almost required, or else the lines/crowds at Disney are beyond insane.
I do still think a lot of this is school- and student-dependent. Some kids will be OK missing that much time. Some kids won't. I would try my best to never do it past 2nd grade.
However, lots of people do it. And for Disney (even though I've never been), it seems almost required, or else the lines/crowds at Disney are beyond insane.
I do still think a lot of this is school- and student-dependent. Some kids will be OK missing that much time. Some kids won't. I would try my best to never do it past 2nd grade.
Anonymous
06/21/2012 16:04
Subject: Re:Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
I think that missing a week of kindergarten is no big deal at all.
There is no "catching up." If you speak with the teacher prior, I'm sure s/he can give you a few things to work on (like the letter of the week, or book of the week.
There is no "catching up." If you speak with the teacher prior, I'm sure s/he can give you a few things to work on (like the letter of the week, or book of the week.
Anonymous
06/21/2012 16:00
Subject: Re:Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think by 5th grade it gets to be a challenge. A week is also a lot to make up, maybe try for a long weekend instead. By middle school and high school my kids would absolutely not miss even a day of school because it was/is hard to make up the work. AP classes move fast and if you are taking more than one it would be a real challenge to try to make it up. Plus at the schools my kids attend/ed you would more than likely miss tests and quizzes in at least one or two classes on any given day.
So what do kids do if they are sick?
It's really hard to catch up. I think my older DC, who has finished HS, missed only 2-3 days in four years, all single days. I dont think my younger DC missed any days of 9th or 10th. We do know some kids who have had mono or concussions and had extended absences and the school has been willing to work with them so they don't have to make everything up and it doesn't count against them. Obviously they aren't going to do that for vacation.
It may also depend what kind of school and what kind of course load the kids have.
Anonymous
06/21/2012 15:50
Subject: Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
My 8th & 9th grader took 2 weeks and nothing happened
Anonymous
06/21/2012 15:39
Subject: Re:Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
Anonymous wrote:I think by 5th grade it gets to be a challenge. A week is also a lot to make up, maybe try for a long weekend instead. By middle school and high school my kids would absolutely not miss even a day of school because it was/is hard to make up the work. AP classes move fast and if you are taking more than one it would be a real challenge to try to make it up. Plus at the schools my kids attend/ed you would more than likely miss tests and quizzes in at least one or two classes on any given day.
So what do kids do if they are sick?
Anonymous
06/21/2012 15:37
Subject: Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
Disney is "experiential learning"?
Anonymous
06/21/2012 12:25
Subject: Re:Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
"Falling behind" in kindergarten by missing 1 week? You have to be kidding.
Anonymous
06/21/2012 12:20
Subject: Re:Up to what grade is it 'OK' to take kids out of school for a vacation?
I think by 5th grade it gets to be a challenge. A week is also a lot to make up, maybe try for a long weekend instead. By middle school and high school my kids would absolutely not miss even a day of school because it was/is hard to make up the work. AP classes move fast and if you are taking more than one it would be a real challenge to try to make it up. Plus at the schools my kids attend/ed you would more than likely miss tests and quizzes in at least one or two classes on any given day.