Last November I wrote a post about my daughter and her teacher, you can read it here if you haven’t already.
Last week my daughter had a few assignments that she brought home to work on. She had a packet of worksheets that she was supposed to complete and return to school. While she was working on her homework she asked for help. She said she didn’t know what she was supposed to do. I looked at the work sheet and couldn’t make out what she was supposed to do either. From the work sheet I gathered there was a book involved but she didn’t have the book, it was a school book to be used in class.
Instead of trying to explain the situation I’ll just show you.
The work sheet first came home with “Do all pages marked do” in red and underlined. The second sheet had nothing written in it when it first came home so don’t let that confuse you.
As you can see there are no directions. And I still don’t know what she is supposed to do.
When school began this fall both her dad and I went to the open house and met the teacher. We got a large folder of what was expected of us and our daughter over the course of the school year. We were expected to spend half an hour with her each day on homework.
You all know how I feel about first graders getting homework and how that just means homework for me. You know I kinda resent this a little bit.
But I try to do my part without doing her work.
I still don’t know what the fuck she is supposed to do with her homework.
Last night she had this work sheet.
Most of it I get but the last one I have no idea. It’s been a while since I took first grade math. I’m pretty sure the math they do in first grade is the stuff I was doing in third grade which is when my brain decided math was not a necessity and ignored it.
My daughter also didn’t know what to do with the | and . so she guessed. Not a bad guess but I am sure she will get hell for it today.
She also suggested that we call the teacher and ask her what she is supposed to do.
No way.
After getting a response like I did the last two times I am not going to ask her for help. We’ll make up our own assignments before we do that again.
Is it too much to expect to have directions with the homework? Seriously, I want to help her, and I suspect had she been paying attention in class she might actually know what to do, but by homework time she would have forgotten anyway.
When I cook something that I don’t usually cook I read the recipe. Even if I have cooked it several times I don’t remember all the ingredients or how much of them I need to use.
I know my daughter will pay for my writing about all of this. I really tried not to post about this. I couldn’t help it. Do you guys and gals have any idea how this homework is to be completed?
I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to the end of first grade. Again.
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for a small fee, im available for eating homework
Good grief, this is 1st grade work? I don’t remember these type of assignments for myself or for my children at that grade level. Nor do I remember a teacher excising such control over a 1st grader – she should pick on someone her own size.
Better luck next year!
.-= MadMadMargo´s last blog ..More Than You Probably Wanted To Know! =-.
Math in first grade? Crap, I was still counting on my toes. Good luck with that.
.-= injaynesworld´s last blog ..injaynesworld "Gratitude Is The Attitude…" =-.
I don’t know Jen, I think that last one looks WAY wrong… LOL…. Yup, I have problems sometimes figuring out my second grader’s math. This teacher though is an IDIOT – all the red marks… she can’t write a proper sentence! She needs to take English class! She is simply a DOO DOO. (get it )
.-= Katherine´s last blog ..P.S. =-.
I think we have already had this discussion but I hate the first grade homework. My first grader has more homework than my 5th grader and it all requires my participation (my 5th grader just goes off and does her homework the way it should be done).
.-= Anne´s last blog ..The Family Stays Home, but Not Me =-.
Nooter: Thank you I will keep that in mind. I assume doggie treats are what you mean when you are talking money?
Margo: I’m all for firm handed teachers, especially in 1st grade, but if she won’t tell me how the homework should be done how can a child possibly know what is expected?
Jayne: We had math in first grade but it was simple. I get that kids are learning faster these days. My beef is that when I asked the teacher how to do the assignment she refused to tell me, and she inferred that my daughter lied to me when she said she did know how to do it. My daughter is scared of this teacher, I don’t think she would willfully not do the assignment if she really understood what was expected.
Katherine: I know the last one is wrong, way wrong. I have looked at it over and over and the only thing I can come up with is to make a domino for 52 using the | and the dots to do it. It’d be an awfully big domino to get all those dots on it but I can’t figure out how else it might work. Hopefully I’ll find out tonight.
Anne:I think we have but it is worth repeating. Homework tonight will cut into Biggest Loser and or Idol. This teacher expects a lot.
Ugh what a lame teacher! She is teaching 1st grade for heavens sake! There should be better directions for the parents who don’t sit in on class. That or there is always the option of attending class to see what the freak she wants your kid to do!! ICK!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Super Bowl Sunday =-.
My 10 yr. old just told me that the answer is 50 lines and two dots. It looks like crazy talk to me.
.-= Tracie´s last blog ..Guess What The F in February Stands For? =-.
I hate read-my-mind questions. Even for first graders.
Presumably, the kid was told how to do this at school, but the information never translates correctly.
.-= The Mother´s last blog ..What Time? =-.
Wowza! I’ve never heard of the line/dot method either and I paid attention to math all the way through college! Is this her first year teaching? Or maybe she has no children of her own, that must be it. Either way, she clearly doesn’t get it.
OH I hate the Everyday Math!! I have gone online so many times to figure out the new fangled way that they teach them now.
Wait until you get to division – it is CRAZY!!!!!!
.-= Laura´s last blog ..Love is in the Air; The Final Edition =-.
That teacher sounds like a real winner. Your right on the math. Dakota is in 2nd grade and I am like he is learning line segments already? I swear they are rushing these kids through school expecting them to know to much so young.
Now I get the whole, “the kids supposed to be learning responsibility and to remember to bring the book home and to remember what she learned 7 hours ago, (before lunch, playtime, everything afterschool and then dinner) but for Christ sakes!!! This shit your showing here didnt start for my kid until at LEAST 3rd grade. 1st grade was all about fun shit. Yeah, they were learning, but it was fun learning.
I want to slap the bitch. I HATE when some nasty ass bitch feels its her job to make a 6 year old feel like shit.
I would be up in that overbearing assholes face tomorrow morning, throwing the book that she gave me at the beginning of the school year in her face. And then asking, “How the fuck do you want me to help her if I wasnt there listening to you???”. They’d probably throw me out of the school.
If she is reading…..I say, “Get a grip woman, you dont have to be an assmunch to teach 6 year olds. The world is not gonna be a better place because you made a 6 year old cry (If thats your goal)”
Sorry Jen. I hate it when people are mean to those younger/weaker just cause they can be. Can ya tell?? lol I bet she looks like Matilda’s teacher. 😉
.-= peedee´s last blog ..schitzo =-.
That is so unfair that the teacher won’t help her. My son’s teachers have told us several times if we don’t understand the homework to just send it in with a note. They will work with him to show him what needs to be done. Mean teacher!
.-= AmyLK´s last blog ..Disconnect Day =-.
I’m with peedee
This is how a 1st Grade teacher communicates with a child and a parent? I really can’t believe the rudeness. I think the issue is beyond not knowing what it’s about or doing it wrong, but the attitude of the teacher.
Just so I am clear; you wrote – “I don’t understand what Maddie is to do” and she has then circled what you wrote and written back SHE (also circled) knows what to do! in that obnoxious red scrawl? Instead of just explaining what needs doing? How arrogant can you get?
If Maddie really feels any repercussions from you writing about this you need to go see the principal. This woman really does sound like a bitch.
.-= Robyn´s last blog ..7 Things: I Bet You Didn’t Know About Credit Cards =-.
Stephanie: My knees won’t allow me to sit in on class. Sitting in those little chairs was tough enough for the parent/teacher conference.
Tracie: Your ten year old might be right. I wouldn’t know. I’ll find out friday when I get all of the weeks corrected homework home.
Mother: I am sure she was told exactly how to do it but she has the attention span and memory of a gnat. And here ability to describe the instructions to me are pretty limited. A few words about how to do it would have been nice, especially after I asked.
Bee: This is not her first year teaching, not by a long shot. I don’t want to get personal on the teacher. She may have had a bad day for all I know and teaching 35 kids would make me a little short tempered in my responses as well, but that is why I don’t teach 35 kids.
Sometimes I regret that I do have any children until I read a post like yours. My 6th grade niece that lives with us left an English book behind today opened up to a page that reads “Asking Questions with Appropriate Interrogatives.” HUH? And I graduated with “National Honor Society” awards (many decades ago.) Good luck, Jen. You need it.
.-= Dave DeWall´s last blog ..The "Swish" Girl! The Bonehead’s First Solo Trip to Iloilo City! =-.
Laura: Division scares me no matter what. That was when I stopped paying attention in math. I get math as a matter of principle and even abstractly but I never memorized all my tables so I still spend a lot of time trying to figure things out on my fingers or on a piece of paper if I don’t have a calculator handy.
Stacie: They have a lot more to learn than when we were kids. Maddie was playing a game online the other day. It might have been Noggin. Anyway the game was really a tool for kids to learn how to type. I didn’t take typing until 7th grade.
Peedee: Whoa girl! Take a breath. The teacher has not been mean to my daughter. She was rude to me in her response to my question but I haven’t heard that she was mean. I understand the assumption but to be fair she just hasn’t explained to me what the hell is going on. I’m sure she has to my child but as I have stated before she has a mind like a sieve.
Amy: I assume that the teacher will help her in class. In fact I know she will, I am not concerned about that at all. I think she is a decent teacher but poor parent skills.
Robyn: You have it clear and I agree it is more about attitude than anything else. A smiley face would have gone a long way.
Dave: It reminds me of what my driver’s ed teacher told me so many moons ago. He said that as drivers we develop bad habits and if we had to take the behind the wheel test each time we renewed our license none of us would pass the test. If I had to do school over again I would have to actually learn it all over again. So many things like what you describe from your niece have left my brain. I joke that things like that had to go to make room for the Sponge bob theme song and other trivial stuff but I am serious about it.
If she has the bawls to be that rude to you Jen, I can only imagine the power she feels over a 6 year old.
.-= peedee´s last blog ..schitzo =-.
I’ve had to deal with quite a few bimbo teachers. You gotta ride them. Send the homework back with a note that says –
Dear Bitch,
You stupid, mother-f***ing moron – PLEASE (you have to remember your manners) do not send me homework without instructions. I know you do this because you are a miserable, lonely old hag who isn’t happy unless you are making others miserable.
Very respectfully,
(you may want to add your own twist to this note, just tell the dingbat to send instructions – maybe she’ll get a clue, you probably aren’t the only one having issues)
.-= Sheila Sultani´s last blog ..Want Some Poop Pals? Try I-Poo =-.
I was married to a first grade teacher. She was a real wack job. She didn’t have a good grasp on reality. Good Luck with yours. I got rid of mine.
We can take her out Jen. Just say the word. I’m glad it’s you and not me because I’m lost. I think the ten yearolds answer of 50 lines and 2 dots makes perfect sense.
.-= Buggys´s last blog ..No Toilet Paper! =-.
I checked with my 1st grader and he agrees with Tracie’s kid. 10 groups of fives (the four marks with a horizontal thru it) and 2 dots. I then asked him if he’s had similar problems and he said “no”. I know they are practicing counting that way and looking at the sheet it would make sense. Sucks you don’t have a better relationship with the teacher though. I sent my kid’s teach an e-mail this morning saying he was out sick and asked her to send home his homework and classwork with the neighbor. I won’t get stuck with 5 days worth of class and homework ever again.
.-= Shelly´s last blog ..What the Hell Wednesday~ Commercials =-.
Peedee: 35 6 year olds.
Sheila: I wish I knew you when I was getting divorced. I would have had you compose the response letters to opposing council.
Grampy: I wonder if this is the same lady.
Buggys: That seems to be the consensus but if she wanted the tally marks they would have said to tally it don’t you think?
Shelly: At first I thought your 1st grader was right but the dots don’t go with the tally marks. It would be 20 four lines with a slash line through each group and then two lines extra. The dots don’t work.
What’s morse code for 52?
Um. I really think the teachers response in the red writing on the first photo when she said, “She knows what to do. Stay on task in class.” was TOTALLY and COMPLETELY FUCKING RUDE.
These are just FIRST graders here!
I would report her to the principal. Seriously.
.-= meleah rebeccah´s last blog ..On Books, On DTD, And, On Snow =-.
Dear God! Why are they doing this to 1st Graders? I mean, 2nd grade, sure, the age of reason and all, but these babies should be learning to play together and sing their alphabet and learning to count to 100. My granddaughter was held back a year after 1st grade. Quite the trauma for her, but it worked out fine. Their motor and concentration skills are better after the one year. Stupidity, in my opine, to push them beyond what makes sense for their age.
.-= Linda Medrano´s last blog ..Crime Scene Clean Up =-.
I guess they are just writing it 2x then. The fifty two slashes and then 52 dots. It makes more sense looking at the rest of the page.
I’d have a problem with the teacher’s attitude, too.
.-= Shelly´s last blog ..What the Hell Wednesday~ Commercials =-.
This is SOO not fair! One thing I learned with my first kid, my son, (now 22) is that when he didn’t know what was going on, he was NEVER the only one.
This teacher needs a reality check.
.-= Maureen@IslandRoar´s last blog ..Spin Cycle: Valentine’s Day =-.
Why do you redheads hate America? Just because your daughter isn’t intellectually unchallenged enough to see what the problem is and do what needs to be done doesn’t mean we need to cut up the entire social fabric of the NOMF and run and let the terrorists win.
Terrorism, even more than charity, begins at home, according to the Homeland Security guidelines for Texas teachers that I’ve been reading.
If life was meant to be easy enough even for kids to do it right the first time, God would not have created educational institutions to prove His point. If your kid is not up to jumping through the hoops necessary to eventually join the National Guard, I’m thinking you should be on some list of known or suspected ones that is obviously not for us, which is not a particularly patriotic position to take with the heightened alert status concerning suspected panty and thong bombers.
I say it’s about time you get your mind right woman and start tending to that little one before Dr. Dobson’s Poke Us In the Fanny group drags your ungrateful buttocks off for extraordinary rendition and sells the girl to some rally team.
You want your youngun to wind up like me?
I have to tell you that, as a Big Sister, I was completely appalled when I saw my Little Sister’s packet of homework. She was not nearly as lucky as your daughter is to have 1) a parent who can read/speak English and 2) to have someone who commit to 30 minutes of homework a day.
These homework packets are ridiculous and I can’t believe they’re still in circulation. They should be banned, along with whomever decided these are helping kids.
I know there are good teachers and educators out there and hope they can help influence schools to foster creativity and learning in ways that all kids can participate in.
Interesting to see what kids are doing these days. I’m not sure that the new ways of teaching math help anyone do math.
I have a somewhat similar problem, but I think it is just that I literally forgot the Third grade…too bad for my son. I now get to see his homework come home that I assisted on and checked to find out I really am an idiot 🙂
And what is it with books now? They are barely used, and yes! Can’t take them home! sheesh
From my experience with my neice’s homework, it just gets worse as the years go on and still without any instuctions. I’m with you on first grade work being the same as third grade was for us. For me, more like forth grade!
Jen, my 7 year old second-grader comes home with stuff that takes me all night just to figure out what he is supposed to do.
When I finally figure out what it is and I also give a few good guesses, the teacher sends the work home the next day with a big red letter incorrect mark.
During a recent parent-teacher conference, I asked her if she wouldn’t mind that in addition to the red fail letter mark she is so fond of-to please include the correct answer so that I can go back and show (me and) my son what we (I) did wrong. Explaining once again that it has been quite a few decades since I’ve even seen this type of elementary school homework.
Do you know what she said?
‘Yeah, sometimes I don’t even know the answers to those homework questions’
uh yeah. Then she said.
‘I think it’s good to let the kids know that teachers don’t know everything’
Can you imagine?
J- sorry for the post-long comment but I had to let it out (-:
.-= mrsblogalot´s last blog ..The 9 to 5 Lesbian =-.
Meleah: It was rude and I’m waiting to see what the answers are when I get them back tomorrow.
Linda: These kids couldn’t get into Kindergarten without already knowing their ABC and all the stuff we learned in 1st grade.
Shelly: It makes sense but it’s such a large number and would take up more space than given.
Maureen: I’m sure there are other kids who are confused as well. I really need to talk to some other parents.
Doctor Faustroll: Once again I just have no idea how to respond in kind. Thank you however for your kind comment and Dr. Dobson scares the hell out of me, which is what he is supposed to do however not in the way he actually does it, to me at least.
Sasha: I do think there are good teachers out there but they all have to follow the same curriculum and then after a few years of not being able to teach the way they want to teach they just cower to the system, which they have to if they want to continue earning their paltry wages.
Sharkbytes: I didn’t understand new math when I was a kid, I certainly don’t understand this new new math.
JLancaster: Yeah, It was bad enough the first time around, I don’t appreciate failing all over again. At least it can’t hurt my permanent record anymore.
Heather: I’m not looking forward to the coming years in school. I couldn’t help my son after third grade, it probably helped him since he is in calculus now.
mrsblogalot: So she is giving them homework that she doesn’t know the answer to? And then grading them on the wrong answer that she never taught? This reminds me of my anatomy teacher in college, he was sick for most of the quarter but still gave us a massive exam which we all failed. He said even though he didn’t give any lectures on the subject it was all in the book and we should have figured it out. On some level they may as well learn that life isn’t fair early on. As well they should learn that there is usually a test and often we never got the lecture (in life).
Wow – things have changed since my kids were in Kindergarten!! Sorry! Also – LOL!!! Grampy’s response was hilarious!! You go Gramps! 🙂
Nancy: They have changed since my son was in kindergarten. I like Grampy’s solution but it isn’t very practical in this situation.
Jen, this is all too familiar. I know I’ve written about this before, but I went through this with my oldest for 2 years in a row before getting to a doctor.
Our problem though, was us. She and I would fight, rather than her teacher fighting with me. We were lucky enough to have great and very helpful and very understanding teachers.
Now that she’s on meds for adhd, she’s acing math – and all her other classes. BUT, it took a long time for me to be okay with the meds.
Is there anyone else at school that you can ask? Another teacher, the school councelor? surely there is someone who is sympathetic?
And, school is on the last quarter, right? I’d keep track of all this stuff (like you already are) and at the end of the year, send in a packet of your own to the school board or principal or whoever you think can help you. Maybe even the PTA. It isn’t just about getting even (but redheads get even), it is also about helping keep this cranky ass woman from doing this to someone else!
Jenn: You offer a lot of great tips and I will certainly keep them in mind if this continues. I am of the belief that my kids need to learn their audience. I am not always going to be able to rescue them so they need to learn now how to deal with different people.
Wow, I actually remember this math worksheet specifically. wow.
My DD is currently in 3rd grade. Can you say ISTEP?
This was one of the sheets that made us go “?????!!!!”
It is the tally marks and the dots. 50 of the tally marks and 2 dots. Or 40 of the tall marks and 12 dots or……
Her second grade teacher was the best teacher in the entire world, so I had no difficulties in the second grade. However, this year when we had the open house, I found the Math Resource Guide on the teacher’s desk, made sure that was what I wanted (from her teacher) and bought it on Ebay.
It has saved my sanity on more than one occasion.
My son will start 1st grade this fall. What do you want to bet they change the books they will be using?
I think I’m scared of when my kids go to school! But wait I have a back up plan… Hubby is a teacher, he can come home from teaching and get right back to work! See how he feels about not getting paid, just like I am.
And for Grandma (Hubby’s mom) is a teacher too. Who just retired. I think I can just send my kids to her to do homework and I will relax and read a book in quietness. Score I can’t wait for them to go to school now!
.-= Alison´s last blog ..My Kids Drive Me Nuts =-.
Wait until 4th grade…it gets better. I applaude you for not going back to the teacher a third time, what a waste that would have been given the response on the second sheet (which is totally unaccecptable)