Dawn Boyle
With just a few weeks left of summer vacation I feel the grip tighten around me and the pressure mount of getting Summer Reading and reports done. They are not due the first day of school, but shortly after. I am very lucky, my girls are readers, but they have not completed their books yet for the project.
I really have grown to hate this yearly ritual of the arguing about getting it done. Last year the teacher didn't even take the beautifully typed and covered report handing in on day one of school. It stayed in her folder the entire year. I continuely asked why it wasn't turned it, and was told "the teacher didn't want it".
I think that reading is very important. Both of my girls spend at least an hour reading just about every day. Why is it that it has to be implemented with a deadline. Why can't we just worry about enjoying the summer. Why is it that we have homework during vacation?
Tell me what ya think?
Not a fan of this ritual myself. If it makes you feel better - school starts here tomorrow & we will be finishing the reading of one of the books tonight! I pushed for a reading log at our school - but it was not embraced for this summer. To me it is more important to foster a love and interest of reading in the younger grades then to read specific books. We have tried to do both without either side having to wage war... LOL I am in your corner however, even as an educator - summer work makes me crazy!
ReplyDeleteI really believe reading and understanig what you're reading is the key to all learning and sometimes these books they send home that are a mandatory read are so old and uninteresting. Ours was Tolivers Secret, then came the three page questionaire for each book read (mandatatory 2) the second ws a free choice, still there was that question sheet. I am totally for at lleast one , the rest should really just be a log w/ maybe a one expalantion of a why I liked this book. But, then there are those parents that just don't stay on top of their kids to read and I believe the saying "one bad apple" now we all have to suffer.
ReplyDeleteI see what you are saying Natalie about the "bad apple", just seems silly.
ReplyDeleteI remember growing up and going back to school with a report of what I did on my summer vacation. Those were so much more fun then a random book report on a book the entire grade MUST READ!
I also grew up getting magazines from a young age and have done the same with my kids...they love getting stuff in the mail and it opens their eyes to things outside of the box. Highlights and Kids National Geographic arrive within days of each other here at my house and they share them. Both point out their favorite articles and kindly do the puzzles in pencil so the other can as well.
Reading is great!!! Infact I myself am on a roll this year reading more then normal (some of this i blame is trying to spend less time in the mall..lol) I agree Dawn teachers use to be interested in what you did, where you went during the summer . That way it made it interesting for those kiddos who could not travel or do much. My Sophmore hates mandatory summer reading , he always feels he does it and it gets forgotten within moments he returns to school because of the academic time crunch. This year he is approaching his professors and saying who picked this book? Rape, violence, drugs were main topics in his mandatory books. Yes he knows this happens in real life but to read it for summer reading was a totall downer. :(
ReplyDeleteAs a parent, and a teacher I have to say I think summer reading is important, but it should be meaningful. Kids should choose what they want to read (within paramaters such as "on your reading level"). I always had kids jot down notes and when they got back we did a fun project on the books. On the first day we always shared what we did during the summer in our circle discussion. Kids were given the chance to present travels by making a powerpoint during our computer time. I agree with Barb - we need to foster a love of reading at an early age and standard book reports in assigned books DON'T do it!
ReplyDeletespeaking with a friend yesterday about SUMMER HOMEWORK..she told me a VERY funny story!
ReplyDeleteAt back to school night a mother raised her hand after the teacher had given information out about the year and asked "how many reports will I have to do this year?" I laughed out loud at that and how true it is.
I have a number of friends that are teachers...they agree that sometimes "reports/projects" become parents homework. They both have said that 99% of the time the parent is doing the work....I asked why continue???? Still haven't gotten an answer on that one!!!