We are nearing the end of the school year, and if you are like me, you are pretty darn sick and tired of the nightly homework routine. To make matters worse, the end of the year typically results in a barrage of "projects" and "reports," all designed to ensure that the school year has been a complete success. Well a few years back, I had an idea..............
Remember back in high school when the rumor went
around someone had a copy of the “big science test” - Well I have come up
with an idea that will take that science test to a whole new level, for
parents!! Today's problem is
that a lot of this homework is, in reality, parent homework.
Whether we are talking about the book report
on poster board, the shadowbox for social studies, or the dreaded science
project, these assignments more and more require parental involvement.
For example, my fifth grader
once had to do a book report and type two paragraphs about the book with these instructions from the teacher: “no
mistakes!” The assignment was to relate the message in the book to the concept of “curiosity” Yes, I myself was curious as to how my son
would type two paragraphs without any mistakes and at the same time make a
literary analogy that I wouldn’t have tackled until high school. And by the way, the assignment said “This
should be the student’s work!”
Seriously. No mistakes, student
work - LOL!.
My second grader had a homework
notebook I was required to use to chart his daily reading and math study
time. I had to keep track of what he
read and for how long. I also had to
record what math concepts he studied and for how long. This chore became a small part time job. The
notebook had to be returned to school every Tuesday morning. If I forgot to put the notebook in my son’s
book bag, he would get his name written in the teacher's book. I don't know what the teacher did with all of those names in her book, but frankly, several times it should have been my name. I would have enjoyed an hour of peace and quiet in detention:)
Now here’s the idea. I’m thinking I could sell my homework
notebook to the mom of a 1st grader for a small fortune. Think of how much time would be saved if mom
#2 could just copy my notes. She isn’t
really making stuff up - this is real work that was done by a real
student. At the same time, she is still
reading with her child, practicing math, and going over spelling words. The only difference is when the time
comes for the homework notebook, she doesn’t have to think back through the
week trying to figure out which days she practiced math and which she did
reading. She can just copy from the book
knowing she actually did the work and meanwhile, SAVE SOME TIME! The progression of books from easy readers to
chapter books is all in my homework notebook - no one will ever know. More importantly, this will allow mom #2 to
take 50% of the stress from 2nd grade and toss it out the
window.
Take this idea a step farther and
every mom can be in business. Need a
book report on George Washington, no problem.
That’ll be $9.99. Matching
costume is extra. How about a Styrofoam
solar system, $12.99. If you want a
science project detailing which fertilizer makes grass grow faster, complete
with the tri-fold board, $29.99. I know
I would gladly pay!
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to cheapen the value of
education for our children, nor am I trying to water down the importance of
parental involvement in a child’s education.
It is just that I already went to school and I believe any project that
requires my involvement counts as me going back to school.
If we can’t get this concept off the ground then I
have one simple request. If I have to do so much homework, can I please come in for birthday snacks.
Jenny
Antonini
Football4moms
written 2007
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