[It'sallgood]

Hi there,
Just wondering, after term one, how other parents of Qld kids in years 1-3 feel the implementation of the new curriculum is going?
Any comments from your teachers and what about your kids?

Frankly, I'm finding it not great.

Our teachers said at the beginning, that they were going to need to really "push the kids hard" (esp those in years 1-3) in several areas to meet the standards by the end of the year and implement it.

I think they are doing this AND I do think it's one of the reasons why we are getting so much homework, getting "pushed" with it AND in the last few weeks, my year 2 DD was really starting to resist and the last 2 weeks, my usually loving school kid.....well, almost every morning we had to do battle to get her out the door

The constant "I don't want to go to school" thing. No social issues, on questioning, she just said that she was sick of working SO hard every day, that she "never got any time to play any more" and I know that the school has been rotating kids to the library during lunchtimes to do extra work (as in each kid gets 1-2 days a week where instead of getting their lunchbreak, they are going to the library to do more work )

she's sick of doing so much writing, she says her hand gets sore

She's not a whingy kid, she really isn't and she writes well by my assessment. She's never resisted before and now that they are on holidays, she is writing lots for enjoyment. This arvo, she spent ages writing easter letters / cards to her aunty and grandma to send tomorrow

I'm getting quite fed up with it all.

I don't want my 7 yr old hating school and I'm very annoyed that they are in effect "keeping in" kids and not allowing them the lunch breaks they are entitled to.

our school was NEVER "behind" anyway! It does well according to the Naplan results and MySchool.

I just think they are pushing it all just TOO hard and it's not fair on the kids. It's not the poor kids fault that the curriculum was changed.

The teachers told us at the beginning of the year that it's grades 1-3 who are going to be the hardest to get implemented into the new curriculum, becuase Qlds was quite different in those years before.

What to do when school break is over and all this starts again...I dont' think I can do many more weeks of mornings with constant tears, distress and reluctance to go to school I HATE forcing my DD to go to school all the time when she is in such distress. It breaks my heart.

Anyone else? discussion?

Tamm

[howdo]

Are they implementing more than Maths and Science this year in QLD?

That's very full on ...

[mumto4boys]

Maths, Science and English in most schools, although my school has chosen to implement History too.

It's not so much that it's harder, it's just so time consuming and yes, there is no time for the 'fun' stuff any more. We've actually found the maths easier than before ( upper grades) but there's still a lot to cover, even if it's not as hard.


No going off on a tangent and following the interests of the children, just sticking rigidly to the curriculum to get it all done.


For example, we have not been out for a game once all term aside from actual PE lessons.

[It'sallgood]

I don't know...I don't understand a lot of what it's all about, primary education is not my forte, that's for sure
I do know, from talking to one of the teachers that I really like casually one afternoon (and I think she just let it slip and then tried to not say anymore.... ) that she is frustrated adn believes it's just TOO much and her comment was "they are dreaming if they think we can continue to push the kids this hard, they are just too little and even this early in the year, are getting exhausted)

I know my 2 are coming home stuffed many days. I have impressed upon them (as is my basic attitude and always has been, even for myself) that they MUST concentrate and do their work at school. School is not time to muck around and "we" don't waste time at school during school hours and then have to make it all up by doing endless homework and "catch-up" at home.

I was/ am like that. Much preferred to do my work at school, listen, take it in, same at uni, I'd never skip lectures and I'd put in 100% DURING the lectures etc...so I didn't have to do endless work at home and so I caught onto it the first time if at all possible.

My girls teachers DO tell me (cause I ask!) that my girls ARE good like this during the lessons. They rarely play up, they diligently do what is required etc.

WE have parent-teachers in teh next weeks, but informally (and during the homework discussions) I have been told that both my girls are up to par, performing just fine and neither teacher is concerned about them reaching benchmarks and above.

BUT...

esp DD1 in grade 2, if finding "school" a haul this year. She even LOOKS tired and weary most days after school. She no longer wants to write things at home for "fun" like she did before. Mind you, today, after not doing anything for a few days, she suddenly decided she was going to write cards and letters to grandma and her Aunty M and she got stuck in and as far as I'm concerned, written them both wonderful letters Some spelling mistakes, of course, but on the whole, she's written easily a page of text each, telling tehm what she's doing, about our chooks, her favourite movie and what she's going to do on easter holidays "mummy is taking XXX and I to the museum next week" and "next weekend we will get easter eggs on Sunday"

From what I can work out, it's very logical, and of a good standard for a 7 yr old. It's not mumbo jumbo, it's a true letter of information and hb and I didn't help her at all, she decided to do it and wrote it all herself.

Her comprehension (cause I hear a lot in here about kids reading but not comprehending??) is fine to me. we've never had an issue with that. Tongiht we read a Dr Suess we hadn't read before and she and DD2 in Grade one laughed about teh story, commented very appropriately on the actual story and so on, obviously comprehended the themes as well as the actual story...kwim? As in "he was showing him a lesson about why it's best to not be mean mummy cause if you are a mean and nasty, then people won't like you very much will they?" taht sort of thing...I consider insightful comments on story lines and themes comprehension...right?

Anyway - yes - I digress (as usual!! LOL) but I'm worried that my kids won't like going to school and that to me is NOT a good thing at all.

My aim is not for my kids to be top of the class,but to enjoy school, enjoy learning and being part of a "knowledge" environment. I don't want them burned out by grade 6

Tamm

[It'sallgood]

For example, we have not been out for a game once all term aside from actual PE lessons.

Yep - exactly....that's what's happening here too

Both of them have made comments that school has "no fun" anymore

I think that's sad and seemingly, counterproductive.

Tamm

[mumto4boys]

Our preps have always been play based. They covered the curriculum but mainly through play.

This year the admin has banned them from going outdoors during school time at all (no more large motor activities) and minimal play.

Our NAPLAN results have always been good but the pressure is on right from the beginning to increase these marks so that the school looks good.


Of course children have to learn at school but it's not all about grades on a test once a year. School should be about the whole child and working to develop all of their talents.

I know that parents may use the My School site and NAPLAN results as a guide but is focussing on test scores alone really what parents want? I don't think so

We're so short of time that the preps were the only year level allowed to have an Easter Hat Parade.

It's sad that because of the focus on a set of scores, everything else that we value about the whole school experience is being lost.

[mumto4boys]

Wait until they pay teachers by results like the Lis/Nats will want to do.

This sounds fine from the outside but how hard will kids be pushed by some teachers then if their pay depends on it?

Who will want the child who needs extra care and attention in their class if they will end up on less pay because of it? The child may be happy, well rounded and achieving their best but that can't be measured by the tests that will rank teachers and affect their pay.

I do my absolute best for every child in my class. I am happy to work with children with special needs/those that need more time/those that need more attention etc. but I also have a mortgage to pay. Many teachers will only want to work with the bright/high achievers so that their pay level doesn't drop.

[2bundles]

Dd is yr 2 at a private school. I haven't noticed any difference, and she is not getting much homework.

DS is in a 3/4 in a state school. We did an info session at the beginning of the year and the teachers were saying it was a lot of work for them, but honestly I haven't seen any signs the kids are struggling. The school has added more sport too!

[barrington]

DS is in Year 2 at a private school in Qld. I believe they started implementing the national curriculum last year, as their Prep year was very play based. They didn't do any sight words until term 4 of prep.

Having said that, I haven't noticed any difference in how tired DS is. Nor any difference in the work they are expected to complete.

[Bek+3]

My son is in grade 1 at a state school in QLD.

His school is wonderful, his teacher is wonderful and so far I am very happy with the curriculum. The only home work he has are his nightly readers.

I couldn't be happier with the whole thing actually.