4th grader in FCPS is still doing language arts, math, Virginia studies, and science. Still working on projects this week. Next week they have a party on Wednesday afternoon.

I asked my 6th grade kid who goes to Spring Hill ES. Even though their exams are done, teaching continues until the second to last day. So there is no two weeks of fun and games.

I'm in an elementary school and we haven't stopped. My students are finishing a social studies project tomorrow and I will grade it this weekend. I'll gather numerous SS and LA grades from it. I'm also wrapping up DRA assessments.

Where are these schools showing movies? I'm a HS teacher and we had a unit after the SOLs that ended in a project or a test depending on the course. My children are in elementary school and aside from the field day and class party scheduled have been having class. They are in FCPS. I am not.

My fifth grader has three projects due this week.

Things slow down a little in a good way, but my DC is still having tests and quizzes as well as End of Year assessments. There is tome to give a longer recess and do fun projects and some silly things too. It's a nice transition to summer. If they ended a few weeks ago my kids would be saying they hate school and don't want to go back. Now the warm fuzzies are back.

Anonymous wrote:They should keep teaching ...maybe introduced a few concepts in anticipation of next year's SOLs which is such an obsession here, but wait, that would mean teachers would have to keep working and we all know they are so overworked already already despite a 3 mo of vacation around the corner.

So much for Garza's "180 hours of instructional time".

This huge waste of time is one of the reasons I'm seriously considering homeschoolong.

Teachers do not get out the same day as children. I believe the last day for teachers is between the 28th and 30th of June(depending on what number of days they are 192-200something). They start back on Aug 29th. I get approximately 6-8 weeks of vacation myself in my (non-teaching) professional job. I have been at my company for almost 20 years though. Essentially teachers get the same vacation time as I do(certainly NOT 3 months!) When I started volunteering(on days I took leave from my job) at my children's elementary school, I gained a new respect for teachers. I had no idea how much work it was. I also have a strong feeling that some schools just have better teachers than others. I have encountered 5 years of teachers thus far, we are lucky at our school as they are great!

They should keep teaching ...maybe introduced a few concepts in anticipation of next year's SOLs which is such an obsession here, but wait, that would mean teachers would have to keep working and we all know they are so overworked already already despite a 3 mo of vacation around the corner.

So much for Garza's "180 hours of instructional time".

This huge waste of time is one of the reasons I'm seriously considering homeschoolong.

DS's AP History teacher gave the kids choices of what they wanted to study the last few weeks after the AP exam. I can't remember all the choices--but they were fun items that did involve US History. I think "cowboys" was one of them.

Anonymous wrote:The last two weeks of school are some of my favorite days. They do creative projects. Finish up areas of learning that they didn't get to before testing. Field Day. Class Party. I think it's very important for kids to remember school in a happy way before taking off for the summer.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Class parties. Movie day(s). Field day. Teacher student basketball games. Butterfly release (okay, that one is educational fun)...

Yep, the best days of the school year for kids are those last 2-3 weeks before summer break. Everyone has worked hard all year, why not let them blow off a little steam so their last experience of the school year isn't a grueling exam?

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Testing is done. Kids are not learning anything. Why are kids still in school? It seems like a waste of time.

Another reason starting before Labor Day makes sense. Fewer scheduled days after testing.

No. They would still be doing very little in the last couple weeks.

Yeah, how does starting earlier solve anything when the school year is the same number of days?

The real problem is all the BS teacher workdays, holidays, and snow days in our bloated school calendar.

In HS it matters because the AP tests are the same dates regardless of FCPS schedule. An early start would give back the day's taken away when they moved to full day Monday's in the eS at took away several days in the school year for all. AN extra week would be fabulous and add some wiggle room to the schedule when they start canceling for every snow flake.

My kid does not even start finals in high school until Friday. The last day for finals (and she has two of them that day) is next Wednesday. The final exams count for 10 to 20% of their final grade. So, there is still a lot left to do in high school.

Oh fun....I've NEVER seen a post about this topic before.

Yet another rant by someone who has no idea what they're talking about. *yawn*

Our kids have good teachers and they are still learning. The anti testing people always complain they take time away from innovative class projects. Maybe, but that's what they have time for now. Lot's of projects and team activities. My kids are learning a lot, and enjoying it too.

Even back in the 60s when I was in ES, with 220 days of school a year, the last week or two was more relaxed. Even if you cut it to 165 days the end would be relaxed.

We need more classroom time, not less.