I had a sad day today. My classroom children are doing well, but I worry about when they go on to Second Grade and higher. In my room, we play, we laugh, we sing, we dance, we read, and we talk about who we are and why that's just fine.
However that same environment is not replicated where ever a child might end up.
My own First Grader at home is a lovely, beautiful, charming, funny, and VERY intelligent 6 year old.
When he had only just turned 5 (August 28) I sent him to Kindergarten because he was already reading and doing lots of higher level math and thinking skills. I thought Kindergarten was, well, what Kindergarten had been when I was there. I had been teaching Middle School and working in non-profits. I didn't know. I really didn't.
Now he's in First Grade. His school is small, just a K-2 with only 3 classes of each grade and only 15-18 kids in a class. The teachers are teaching what they are supposed to. They seem nice, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of, I don't know, play and joy and singing and sometimes...well, sometimes doing nothing. Why do 5-9 year olds have to work so damn hard? What will they lack if they play? We play so much in my classroom and my kids know a lot. I'll be judged I know by their scores in the Spring, but I still think it'll be fine.
Anyway, back to the point. Yesterday my beautiful son told his teacher (and his Principal) that he didn't want her for a teacher next year. He is supposed to have her for 2nd grade because he is in a looping class. I asked him why he feels this way and he says he just wants someone different next year. He says he's fine, but if he had his choice he wouldn't be in that room next year. He "just wants to meet other teachers and kids."
I didn't really have to ask him why. I knew why. His light isn't there this year. He's tired. He misses the joy. I can't see it anymore and I feel grief the size of which I can find no words to describe.
It brings me to this. When did we stop singing in the morning? When did we decide children didn't need to learn to knit or sew? When did we stop cooking with our kids and start putting them on computers without our supervision? When did we think an iPad app was better than drawing a picture or reading a Caldecott award winning book?
Am I getting too Waldorf-y? Too earthy?
All I know is that I wish all children could feel like school is joyful and exciting and challenging, not miserable. Not something to get through. I think this, and this alone, might help raise scores.
ohhh but you answered your own question. The tests. The scores. The idiots that make them and enforce them without knowing anything about kids. And it's the laziness of it all. It's easier to put a child in front of a TV or video game than to listen to them or heaven forbid READ to them. And it's easier to blame it on poor teachers than poor parenting, because how do you judge a parent? There are no test scores they have to succumb to.
ReplyDeleteoops I'll step off the soapbox now.
Your son is lucky to have you to pick up the slack and see the need.
Tammy
I'm so sorry your son does not have a class like yours!
ReplyDeleteI had the same problem. During my first year teaching my son started kindergarten. I was so excited that he would be in the class next door to me. I though he would have a wonderful year. Instead he had a horrible one - no joy, no laughter, a teacher who screamed at the top of her lungs "If this is the only tone of voice you understand that's how I'm going to talk to you all!" Lots of mass punishment, taking away everyone's center time because of a few students' infractions.
It broke my heart but I couldn't do anything because it was my first year and she was a coworker. Eventually a petition was passed around by parents asking for her to be removed. I didn't sign it but I did go to the administration and let them know that this was just a sign of the problems she was having. Unfortunately the admin didn't do anything effective. Gave her a new mentor and ignored the parents.
To make a long story short my son had a horrible kindergarten year, and only an "okay" 1st grade year (no singing or dancing or laughter in that classroom either!. He started to struggle, because he just wasn't motivated to learn. Luckily he has a great 2nd grade teacher. He wrote a lovely note on his report card this quarter and my son read it and told me "I'm proud of myself!" I could have kissed his teacher!
His kindergarten teacher is finishing her 3rd year in May - she'll be granted tenure even though her classroom management style has not gotten any better. The admin was simply too lazy to do anything about her and now it's too late. The excuse I was given was that "Some people are born to be teachers, some people can learn it. She is one of the 2nd types of people - she'll get better as the years go by." And in the meantime, how many classes of children have to suffer as she "learns" what she should already know - that screaming at a 5 year old is not effective or compassionate!
I think blaming it all on test scores is a cop out really. At least here in Oklahoma we don't have standardized testing until 3rd grade - so there's no test scores to look at in pre-k - 2nd grade. Without those scores to influence decisions you'd think that through observation and parental input the bad teachers could get weeded out, but at least in my district that's not happening. I'm not advocating for testing in the lower grades at all, but there has to be some kind of accountability or we're stuck with teachers who scream and yell and push meaningless worksheets on kids.I don't have answers, but I wish I did since stories like yours break my heart.
Do what you can to encourage and inspire him at home! I hope next year is better!
Jennifer @ Herding Kats In Kindergarten
Could your son talk to our legislatures and school boards? He seems to know more about what education needs than they do. I feel sorry for the kids in my class this year because they are facing a couple grade levels that don't have any dynamic teachers who sing or do really fun things. It is very sad.
ReplyDelete Chrissy
First Grade Found Me
I feel so sorry for you and your son! I also think that a lot of it comes down to test scores.
ReplyDeleteWhen I taught third grade, everything revolved around the Virginia S.O.L. tests and making sure that everyone passed. If we had students who did not pass, we had to meet with our principal and explain WHY. There was also a LOT of comparing of scores of the elementary schools across the county.
Even though we don't give S.O.L. tests in first grade K, 1st and 2nd grade standards end up on that third grade test. We do PALS, and again scores are compared across the county.
I feel like I have more freedom to be creative and make learning fun in first grade, though.
I understand that there has to be accountability in teaching, but to what cost?
-Megan
http://firstgrademagic.blogspot.com
I have the same fear every year when my students walk about our classroom door for 2nd grade. :(
ReplyDeleteI have kids coming to my door after school every day saying, "Your classroom was so fun.", "I loved it when we did...", "I wish we wrote as much now as we did in your classroom."
It breaks my heart!!!!!
I'm so blessed that B now has a kindergarten teacher like you. The kids homework every night is to get a good night's sleep, eat his vegetables and play outside. :)
ReplyDeleteIt has made all the difference for him, making him want to explore and learn. Not something he was fond of doing on his own. His first school (thankfully brief) had tortuous homework in the first week! That would have killed him.
Fight the good fight, my friend. xxoo
We do need to sing, cook and dance in school...most kids don't experience that at home. I try really hard to keep music/movement and cooking in my room in between the mile long list of "requirements". I'm a new follower!
ReplyDeleteFunky First Grade Fun
I just gave you the Versatile Blogger award. Come on over to check it out!
ReplyDeleteHolly
Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade
And I'm sorry about your personal school situation...
ReplyDeleteBut on a bright note - you're up to 47 followers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holly
Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade
Oh, how I love this post! You are so right about how we need to bring back the joy!! We spend far too much time on testing what they're learning, preparing for those tests, pushing children further and further along... and we forget to show them how to fall in love with learning! My first graders work hard, but we also laugh, sing, talk, and play. Just today, we gazed out the window in amazement as our world is being transformed into a winter wonderland. THAT is the magic of first grade!
ReplyDelete