Did Your School Assign Math or Reading Requirements This Summer?
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion Archive: Archive August 2005:
Did Your School Assign Math or Reading Requirements This Summer?
Just curious if your child's school required a certain amount of reading done each day, or if they received math packets or anything.
When answering, please say your state and if you're public or private school!
Our private school in NY requires thirty minutes a day of reading, and they received a six page math packet and are required to visit a website to take a math test before school.
Public school-VA
No, and I think I would be outraged if they did.
They do give you a list of suggested summer reading,but nothing that is required.
Kids have little time to be kids as it is, if my school system started giving required work during the summer break, then I would be a very unhappy and vocal mother.
Private school-LA
My 6th grader had to read 2 novels over the summer and will take tests on them next week. One was assigned and for the other he had to pick one from a choice of 2. He is in Honors Reading. On-track reading just had to read one book.
My 3rd grader had to read a biography of Beatrix Potter. Can you imagine how utterly boring that is for a 3rd grade boy? He had to complete a 5 page "study guide" on the book and turned it in today. He is also in Honors Reading, but all 3rd graders have to do the same summer reading assignment.
I don't have a huge problem with summer reading. My real beef is accelerated reader. I think that is the dumbest thing ever and I have a huge problem with it. My kids get the minimum points required and then DH and I DON'T ALLOW them to take any more AR tests. I think it takes the pleasure out of reading and I want my kids to enjoy reading simply for reading's sake---not to get points on a test to ultimately win cheap crap from Oriental Trading because they got the most AS points. Ugh!
No summer math assignments.
Pam, I completely agree with you on the AR stuff. My daughter is a wonderful reader, and last year for awhile I struggled just getting her to read her book. I asked her why she chose a book that she had no interest in, and she said had a choice between it and another book.
What?!?! In a library as large as the one my daughter's school has, she had to choose between two books? Needless to say, I spoke to the Librarian, and she said that it was because by the time my daughter made it to Library (last class of the day), the books that they had in the box for that specific level had been picked over, and that was all that was left. I told her that she had better have a choice of books that interested her next time, because I didn't feel like it was benefiting anyone when we had to constantly struggle to get her reading completed.
It's crazy! They never have the opportunity just to read for pleasure, and then everyone wonders why children do not like to read on their own anymore.
I am a huge advocate for reading and I myself am always reading something, and have stressed that with both of my children, but I strongly feel children should be able to read something of interest, or they will lose complete interest, and that will be so much more harmful.
Public School-CA
We don't have much of a summer but my kids don't have required reading to do then or at any of their month breaks. We are given "off-track packets" that they are encouraged to do, and we usually do them jsut to keep their skills sharp but it's a maximum of 10-15 minutes each day. They usually get a small prize (free ice cream cone ticket or free Krispy Kreme donut certificate) if it is returned completed.
We have the AR program here but I don't have a problem with it. My kids have a huge variety of books to choose from, literally hundreds of books per grade level, and it has exposed my kids to books they might not normally pick up and read. My son had some trouble with comprehension but these questions are so straight forward that he's not overwhelmed by the test. My kids are only required by their teachers to read for 15 minutes a day. My dd reads for at least an hour and many times she just keeps reading her AR book. I'm sorry to hear that other schools haven't made it an enjoyable experience.
No required reading or math assignments. I don't think I would like that, either! My kids do the library reading program, but would read like crazy anyway. They are both avid readers and don't really need encouragement! They did both read Half-Blood Prince already.
Ohio public school
No, they don't require either. I do some what wish they would send home some practice math sheets to do if you wish. I try to keep dd's math skills up over the summer. Takes them so long to learn their facts and they are so easily forgotten! She has read over the summer, but I wouldn't want it required or for her to be tested on it. They have them and work them to death for over 9 months out of the year. Let them be kids and enjoy summer with no thoughts of school for a bit!!
No assignments here. Public school. They do send home suggest reading and break it down by grades. It is also posted at the library. My kids are all avid readers though so they'd read regardless of it being required or not..
My sisters kids are in public school in Orlando, FL. They had a huge packet of math and reading assignments for the summer.
I think AR tests are great. They are a easy way to gauge reading comprehension. Most schools list AR books on their websites. You can also just pull up AR lists by grade online. If your child is not getting books they like you can print a list and take them to your local library. The school can test them with a library book. The lists are literally hundreds per level so there is no reason a child cannot find a book they will enjoy reading.
I homeschool but my children do take AR tests. Reading comprehension is vital in every aspect of school.
My kids go to Wisconsin public schools.
We had *suggested* summer reading when mine were in school. Which was really *mandatory*, because the first week of school, they had to write a review on the book they had read. Geesh!
Many of the private/catholic schools in my area (LA) had summer reading and math assignments. And I know several parents who, even if their kids don't have these, buy grade-appropriate workbooks for math, and insist on summer reading.
Pamt, I agree with you 100% on this: My kids get the minimum points required and then DH and I DON'T ALLOW them to take any more AR tests. I think it takes the pleasure out of reading and I want my kids to enjoy reading simply for reading's sake---not to get points on a test to ultimately win cheap crap from Oriental Trading because they got the most AS points.
Public school...yes, mandatory reading. DD (soph.) had to read two novels and answer questions/write essays about them. They are to be turned in to eng. teacher first day of school and will be counted as part of her grade! This seems to be common in the schools around here. (Cincy area.) DS, in middle school, did not have mandatory reading.
When my kids were younger, I was always buying workbooks and stuff for them. It really didnt' matter what time of year it was. They went through them fast and thought of them as fun, not homework. I don't think my kids wouldn't be thrilled with having to do summertime book reports. They really should dig out and dust off their instruments! LOL! They haven't touched them all summer!
Public school-CA.
Our boys (3rd and 4th grade) did not have any required math or reading. I am glad they didn't. Both boys have been reading the Lemony Snickets series and our oldest is now reading Harry Potter. I am glad they were able to read simply for the pleasure of it instead of because it was required.
Public school - AR
Nothing required over the summer. But, we did have them read every day on their own. They thoroughly enjoyed it.
Public school-FL
No assigned work here. I wouldn't want them to have any either. Summer break is a time off from school; for the kids and myself!
I like our AR program. It requires my two none- readers to read. They receive a Reading grade for their efforts. Our school library has a huge range of books and our local library has a list of AR book titles, as well.
The only problem I had, so far, is I believe each student should have the SAME point requirements as each other. Last year when my avid-reader DD was in fifth her points requirement was much higher than many classmates. I was told it would challenge her to read. However she didn't need the challenge. She reads constantly, even when walking through the grocery store. LOL That's why her reading level was higher than others.
If Math, Science and other courses have a certain standard then so should the Reading course. This year my 4th and 3rd graders have the same point requirement as their classmates but their range of the level for the books they can choose is based on their reading skill.
My 16 yo is upstairs reading for fun, as I type!
I'm in the middle of reading Harry Potter, but I reserved a book from the library and it came very quickly. We get charged 50 cents, if we don't pick up our reserved books, so I picked it up. It looked like an easy enough read, so I'm reading the new book, only because it's a 14-day book and has a time factor. Of the 300 pages, I already read about a 100 of them. Parts of it have made me giggle, and then everyone around asks what's so funny, but you really have to have read the book to understand! (The Language of Sycamores by Lisa Wingate) Sorry to ramble. Just wanted to say, we are all reading stuff.
I'm an avid reader. My kids see me and dh read ALL the time. 2 out of our 4 kids read the same way. However two of my kids regard reading as a chore. Same enviroment, same mommytime reading to them as toddlers but they do not have the love of reading as my other two.
This is why I like their school's AR program. It makes them have to read when otherwise they wouldn't want to on their own.
Private dyslexia school
5th grader - had to choose 2 books of a list of 40. For one of the books he had to write a book report and the other he had to stand up in class and tell about it.
He was also *required* to attend 54 hours of 1 on 1 reading therapy over the summer at the school. (He went 3 hours a day for 18 days in the middle of the summer.)
Public School-GA
Dd gets a suggested reading list, but nothing mandatory for reading or math.
Pam, I agree 100% with you about AR.
My DD is very smart and things come very easily to her, plus she loves to read. So the mandatory stuff hasn't been an issue until now, two weeks before school. She announced she is tired of HAVING to read and HAVING to record it and I don't blame her. I do agree that FORCING kids to read (especially on their BREAK) can end up ruining reading for kids, especially those who don't love it to begin with.
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