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Originally posted by cloudyday
I have a couple of nieces in elementary school. Parents seem to be able to choose among several public "charter" schools for each grade level. These "charter" schools claim to specialize in something glitzy, but it all seems to be B.S. For instance my niece was telling me about one of her elementary school friends who is "in robotics" I used to be a software engineer, so I know "robotics" is just a gimmick for that school to compete with the other gimmicky charter schools.
Also, when I was in elementary school we had recess 2 or 3 times every day. It doesn't sound like schools do that now. My happiest school memories were watching bees flying around the dandelions during recess.
Finally, has anybody ever considered bringing back the one room school house? I've noticed that home schooled kids seem to be better educated than public schooled kids. I think there might be advantages to putting kids of various ages and understanding in one room where they can teach each other.
Originally posted by niceguybob
If Momma Cass Elliot shared half her ham sandwhich with Karen Carpenter, would they both be alive today?
Originally posted by Trueman
Wow, this is great. My wife is a teacher assistant and she will have many questions for you. Meanwhile, can you tell me the best places on the web where you can get free lesson plans?
Thanks in advance !
Originally posted by Tadeusz
Say, I'm thinking of starting a tutoring company, a private school if you will. I sincerely believe that I can offer a better education than a private tutor, for lower rates than a private tutor. Topics will include typical undergraduate university fare, but targeted toward grade-schoolers. Very small class sizes, maybe up to 10. Is there demand for this in North America? Any advice on how to advertise?
Originally posted by SoulVoid
My daughter just turned 5, she lost all interest in reading or painting or whatever. She only cares about playing video games, on pc, Ps3 or even on the mobile phone. I can't seem to get her attention to nothing else. Any advice??'
Thanks
Originally posted by SpeakerofTruth
reply to post by smyleegrl
What is wrong with the educational system in America?
Originally posted by fiftyfifty
Great thread. OP, being married to a teacher I can't comprehend how you have time to manage a thread like this? Are you still a teacher or retired/ on maternity or other. If not, my question is this. How do you do it?!
Originally posted by smyleegrl
Originally posted by fiftyfifty
Great thread. OP, being married to a teacher I can't comprehend how you have time to manage a thread like this? Are you still a teacher or retired/ on maternity or other. If not, my question is this. How do you do it?!
Full time teacher, full time mother, full time student. My secret?
I never sleep.
In all honesty, I multi-task like you wouldn't believe. I think its required for all teachers. Also, I spend a couple of hours a night and about ten on the weekend doing lesson plans, powerpoints, what have you. Teaching is not a 9-5 job.
Originally posted by 74Templar
reply to post by smyleegrl
I have a fairly lame (by comparison) question, probably simply answered, but has always made me curious.
What is it teachers do when their students are on holidays? Students get two weeks each term, and then 6-7 weeks during summer (end of year for southern countries, middle year for northern), I was just curious as to whether it is still front up to work for you guys, perhaps for additional studies, lesson plans, etc, or do you take your annual leave at these times along with your classes? I know that is fairly lame to some of the questions asked here, but I have always been curious.
Originally posted by fiftyfifty
Originally posted by 74Templar
reply to post by smyleegrl
I have a fairly lame (by comparison) question, probably simply answered, but has always made me curious.
What is it teachers do when their students are on holidays? Students get two weeks each term, and then 6-7 weeks during summer (end of year for southern countries, middle year for northern), I was just curious as to whether it is still front up to work for you guys, perhaps for additional studies, lesson plans, etc, or do you take your annual leave at these times along with your classes? I know that is fairly lame to some of the questions asked here, but I have always been curious.
I would like to add my 2 pence worthe to this question. Teachers get so much stick with regards to apparently working 9 till 3 and having weeks off throughout the year. The truth of the matter is that teachers work so much harder than most other day to day jobs out there. My wife is a primary teacher and gets up at 6am, leves the house at 7.15 to get to school at 7.30. She prepare for the day until 8.45 when the pupils sit down. She then has to keep 30 8 and 9 year olds under control and occupied throughout the day whilst ensuring that they learn all they need to learn and progress at the right level. She also has children with special educational needs and behavioural problems thrown into the mix. At the end of the school day, she tidies the classroom and prepares it for the next day. Getting home at 5.30pm at the earliest after any meetings with parents, after school clubs or other jobs that need doing, she has time for dinner before starting on the marking, lesson plans and other parts of mountainous paperwork that needs doing. Then she may have an hour free before bed. At the weekend, more marking and lesson plans.
During the holidays, of a week, 2 days may be needed to be at school arranging displays, attending meetings and sorting out any issues. Term topics will need to be prepared, resources sourced and lesson plans completed. Then a few days of relaxation (catching up on seeing family and friends because she doesn't have them time during term time). The summer holidays is the only time long enough for a decent amount of time to get an actual holiday and some respite. I'm sure I've missed plenty but this will hopefully give you an idea!
Trust me, if everyone worked as hard as teachers do, the world would be a much more efficient place.
Originally posted by fiftyfifty
Originally posted by smyleegrl
Originally posted by fiftyfifty
Great thread. OP, being married to a teacher I can't comprehend how you have time to manage a thread like this? Are you still a teacher or retired/ on maternity or other. If not, my question is this. How do you do it?!
Full time teacher, full time mother, full time student. My secret?
I never sleep.
In all honesty, I multi-task like you wouldn't believe. I think its required for all teachers. Also, I spend a couple of hours a night and about ten on the weekend doing lesson plans, powerpoints, what have you. Teaching is not a 9-5 job.
I meant how do you find the time to manage a thread like this? I'm well aware of the work you do as you will see in my previous reply (after the one you replied to). I am one of the few people who really understand how much work goes into teaching. Really winds me up when people think teachers have it easy!
Originally posted by SLAYER69
reply to post by SoulVoid
Turn off the pc, Ps3 and even the mobile phone.
Already did that, she throws the biggest tantrum , sometimes for hours at a time..edit on 27-4-2012 by SoulVoid because: My actual post is in the quote also????sorryedit on 27-4-2012 by SoulVoid because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by 74Templar
reply to post by smyleegrl
Thanks for both the replies. Please don't assume of me that I asked the question thinking the teacher's days end the minute their students do, I do get the idea there is always more involved than a 9-3 job. The main reason I asked is I pass our primary school daily on my way to work, and the average day for me is around 7am-5pm. I usually see teachers cars there when I pass in the morning, and usually at night again on my way home. The same goes for term holidays, there are always teacher's cars parked out the front during break time.
So when you say you don't get paid over the summer and spring holidays, you don't accrue annual leave the way much of the workforce does, to use in such times? Does this apply to sickness benefits also? That would really be crap thinking you do get some leave over the holidays, but it is unpaid, unlike most private sector jobs.
Again, thankyou for the replies. I do appreciate the effort the teachers put in, especially in this backwards and overly PC world today, and especially the two teachers that have my own (sometimes) wonderful pair of hell-raisers on a daily basis. They all deserve a gold star (a real one IMO).
Originally posted by SoulVoid
Originally posted by SLAYER69
reply to post by SoulVoid
Turn off the pc, Ps3 and even the mobile phone.
Already did that, she throws the biggest tantrum , sometimes for hours at a time..edit on 27-4-2012 by SoulVoid because: My actual post is in the quote also????sorryedit on 27-4-2012 by SoulVoid because: (no reason given)
She will continue to throw a tantrum until she realizes it won't work.
Distract her with other things. You can also wean her off gradually. Set a specific time she can play, and be consistent.
Originally posted by someguy0083
Question: why is incest illegal? I see no logical reason for it.
Argument One: One argument is because it's the equivalent to rape. But how can that be if both party consents to having sex?
Argument Two: Another argument is because incest normally legals to genetic diseases. But many genetic diseases are passed parent to child. We allow disable people to get marry and have children even though the child has a high probability of inheriting the genetic defect.
So why is it ok for disable people but not those with the same blood?
Argument Three: The final argument is because it would harm the children. Children having a mom-dad who are brother/sisters causes confusion and bullying. But isn't this the same with same-sex parents? A child with two moms or two dads will be treated differently than a person with one mom and one dad.
Furthermore, let's assume that the two agree to never have a child. So no child would be harmed. So why is incest illegal?
btw this topic came from the German human court ruling that incest is not a "human right."
Originally posted by smyleegrl
...
Many rural areas do have classes with multiple grade levels. But the advantage of the home school kids, IMO, is not that the children are with others on different levels. After all, the average classroom has children working on a wide range of levels. The biggest advantage for home schooled kids is the individualized attention they receive. Say a parent is homeschooling three children. She can work directly with what each child needs, strengthen areas of weakness, provide basically one-on-one attention. EVERY child would thrive in that environment.
Now compare that to the typical classroom. 24 first graders, one teacher. Individualized attention? Rarely happens, simply because of the setup in the classroom.
With continued budget cuts, our class sizes are growing larger and larger. Even though studies show that reducing class size leads to better scores, the government keeps raising the size limit.