scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,760
Jun 25, 2014 23:21:30 GMT
|
Post by scrapngranny on Dec 6, 2019 22:38:51 GMT
This is a great time to teach middle schoolers the world is not going to conform to your needs. Be proactive and set yourself up to succeed.
If you need different lunch options, make it happen, bring your own. If you need a way to study for a vocabulary test, buy the book or make flash cards. The real success here is to learn the meaning of all the words not just the ones on test.
|
|
The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,913
Jun 25, 2014 21:50:33 GMT
|
Post by The Great Carpezio on Dec 6, 2019 22:55:58 GMT
This is a great time to teach middle schoolers the world is not going to conform to your needs. Be proactive and set yourself up to succeed. If you need different lunch options, make it happen, bring your own. If you need a way to study for a vocabulary test, buy the book or make flash cards. The real success here is to learn the meaning of all the words not just the ones on test. Did you bother to read the thread? Pretty sure I know the answer.
|
|
|
Post by bc2ca on Dec 6, 2019 23:52:27 GMT
At least once a week, and lately at least twice a week, by the time your child gets to the last lunch shift, the two main hot lunch lines are out of the main entree and there is only pizza as a choice (fruit and vegetable sides are usually still there but sometimes one of those is absent as well). This has gone on since the start of the school year. Your child has chosen to skip eating those days because he does not like the pizza. A la carte is junk food. Earlier lunches will have wrapped sandwiches at a la carte, but those are gone by that time too. I didn’t contact just because of my kid. This school really does have many kids where that meal is their main meal of the day. I also think when it happens over and over again, it communicates to those kids who are affected that they don’t really matter. My one son eats an earlier shift and gets to choose from two entrees, pizza and a fully stocked a la carte all year. His twin brother get little to no choice most days. That isn’t equal access. IME, the last group of kids through the lunch line is shortchanged all year long but to be completely out of at least one of the main hot lunch choices is unacceptable. If no one points this out, the assumption is the last class through is fine with the pizza only option, so I think you did the right thing bringing it up with the principal. They should be able to analyze and see exactly where each entree runs out and adjust the number offered next time.
|
|
|
Post by cmpeter on Dec 7, 2019 1:49:58 GMT
I would call about the lunches.
I would buy my kid their own copy of the book.
|
|
|
Post by jmad122 on Dec 7, 2019 2:36:05 GMT
Props to you for wanting to do something to help others! There may not be anything that can be done immediately about the lunches. It could be a supply, or ordering issue. However, by speaking up, you may be helping to draw attention to an issue that will be fixed for next year. The teacher is harder. I’m a teacher, too. If it were me, I may contact the teacher to let her know he was struggling and what advice did she have for studying? (Or, something along those lines so that she realizes what she is offering isn’t enough).
Good luck!
|
|
paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,742
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
|
Post by paget on Dec 7, 2019 2:38:12 GMT
I would definitely bring the lunch situation to the principals attention. For a lot of the reasons already stated earlier, this should be addressed. While I wouldn't be thrilled with the vocab situation, it's a good opportunity to teach your ds to find better methods to study that work for him. Crossword vocab does not sound like a great learning tool, but you could turn those into flashcards. Not every method works for every kid so you have a great opportunity to teach him how to help himself come up with better ways to learn. This is the response that most matches my thoughts and I’m feeling lazy about typing. I definately would not be pleased about the lunch and would bring it to someone’s attention in case it’s an easy fix. The vocabulary would bug me, too, but having three dds navigate school I saw a lot of things... I agree helping your kids find another solution that works for them is probably the best choice.
|
|
seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,403
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
|
Post by seaexplore on Dec 7, 2019 3:00:26 GMT
I’m on the bag lunch and buy book bench, Right, but what about the point that a lot of kids at this school can’t do that? Bag lunch? Then the school needs to figure out how to ensure everyone gets lunch who needs it. We highlight who is getting lunch off a class list daily. If they’re not on the list, they get last choice.
|
|
seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,403
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
|
Post by seaexplore on Dec 7, 2019 3:07:35 GMT
I’m shocked at the “hot lunch optionS” - the school I teach at has ONE hot lunch option. Eat it or don’t. They have unlimited salad and fruit bar.
My school is 70+% free/reduced, title 1, 30+% EL.
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Dec 7, 2019 4:20:06 GMT
I would ask the teacher if she has some other strategies to study for the vocab test. Maybe if he/she realizes that kids are struggling with the current offering, he/she will realize that he/she needs to come up with different ways of learning.
|
|
|
Post by freecharlie on Dec 7, 2019 5:03:52 GMT
I wonder contact on the lunch. In addition to the school I would contact the district department of food and nutrition. Then I would take it to the school board.
The vocabulary? Just going off the OP, i would say it us excessive and not an effective way to teach vocabulary. It sounds like the teacher picked the words some time ago and doesn't actually teach them. In 9th grade our students do maybe 12 a week and I don't like the way we do it.
I would not contact the teacher about vocabulary and keep working on it.
I might question why the kids can't bring it home
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 7, 2019 5:46:57 GMT
The lunch thing would annoy me a lot more than the vocabulary words. My kid takes hot lunch almost every day because DH didn’t want to deal with one more thing in the mornings (our kid is not a morning person and it takes both of us to keep her on task so she gets out the door on time as it is). If she was continually getting shortchanged because of something completely beyond her control, such as which lunch period she is slotted into, I would take issue with that not only because of my kid but also because of all the other kids in that lunch period not getting a choice. It gets really old eating the same thing day after day, especially when it’s public school lunch which is usually subpar to begin with.
They absolutely should be doing better to make sure that ALL of the students in every lunch period have suitable options. It would be one thing if all the kids in every lunch only had one hot lunch choice, but that isn’t the case. If some of the kids get multiple choices, then ALL of the kids should be offered those same choices. If this is a food service budget issue, then perhaps they should cut down the hot options from three to two and then make sure that all kids have access to both options in an effort to cut down food waste and expense.
|
|
|
Post by snugglebutter on Dec 7, 2019 6:40:07 GMT
I would definitely speak up about the lunch issue. Are the other options usually really good? Or is their pizza not great? I am kind of surprised that pizza doesn't run out sometimes too.
Asking for additional strategies to study the vocab is a really great suggestion. Her response will probably tell you a lot as a fellow LA teacher.
|
|
|
Post by prapea on Dec 7, 2019 7:13:32 GMT
I didn’t read all the responses so apologies ahead if I am repeating something. Lunch issue - If I were in your shoes, I would call the school and ask them about it.
Vocab issue- Would you have had the same concern/issue with it if you were not a teacher yourself? The part that struck me was in one of the responses you said, “so WE can study”...May be I am going off tangent but it bugs the heck out of me when parents say things like, “WE have homework”, “WE have to study for test”, ...I always find myself muttering with “no you don’t. Your KID has homework. Your KID has a test to study”. He needs to figure that shit out in middle school.
And before you think I am being a bitch, I have this same talk/argument/fight with the husband of mine too. May be because my parents never told me how to and what to study or may be because I think we do our kids no good when we butt in to “study together”.
My kid used to do the, “mom, we have a biology test tomorrow “ and I would always find myself responding with, “hmmm no I do not have a bio test tomorrow. I finished my 7th grade several years ago. YOU have a bio test and YOU will figure that shit out. If you need my gelp then you will come talk to me about it and then I will see what I can do”
|
|
The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,913
Jun 25, 2014 21:50:33 GMT
|
Post by The Great Carpezio on Dec 7, 2019 12:43:49 GMT
I didn’t read all the responses so apologies ahead if I am repeating something. Lunch issue - If I were in your shoes, I would call the school and ask them about it. Vocab issue- Would you have had the same concern/issue with it if you were not a teacher yourself? The part that struck me was in one of the responses you said, “so WE can study”...May be I am going off tangent but it bugs the heck out of me when parents say things like, “WE have homework”, “WE have to study for test”, ...I always find myself muttering with “no you don’t. Your KID has homework. Your KID has a test to study”. He needs to figure that shit out in middle school. And before you think I am being a bitch, I have this same talk/argument/fight with the husband of mine too. May be because my parents never told me how to and what to study or may be because I think we do our kids no good when we butt in to “study together”. My kid used to do the, “mom, we have a biology test tomorrow “ and I would always find myself responding with, “hmmm no I do not have a bio test tomorrow. I finished my 7th grade several years ago. YOU have a bio test and YOU will figure that shit out. If you need my gelp then you will come talk to me about it and then I will see what I can do” Yeah, reading the entire thread would clarify. My kid is a 6th grader who, other than spelling, never was expected to study and didn’t have much homework in elementary. I absolutely do not plan on studying/doing homework WITH them most of the time in the future (but I might for a little while if they ask me). However, they have to learn somehow. Teaching them good habits and skills now will hopefully prepare them for high school. I hope to back off more and more each year, but every kid is different. Some kids figure this stuff out almost innately and some kids need a lot more monitoring and modeling. My kids have been late bloomers on pretty much everything so far. They need some management. I’d prefer they didn’t, but they do. My goal is to get them to be good adults. It isn’t going to happen without guidance from me. I also wanted them to have good grades and figure out study habits here in sixth grade to set the expectations that I know they can do it. I didn’t intervene much. I helped this son a couple times a week and the other about once a week. I helped the one select books. I contacted a teacher and case manager about a test situation (the other son has an iep and I needed clarification on his policy and how it related to his disability). This ela teacher I contacted once to tell her we would be at conferences right at the start so we could talk to her and we talked at conferences. I check their grades daily to stay on top of them. I’ve gone to two PTA meetings and sent two emails to the principal. Again, once for the lunch and once for an early issue (‘my son didn’t get an iPad. Another long story). I’d rather not do any of this. That is sixth grade. That isn’t how I see things being in tenth. But to get them too functioning well by then, I need to guide them now.
|
|
ddly
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,947
Jul 10, 2014 19:36:28 GMT
|
Post by ddly on Dec 7, 2019 12:59:23 GMT
I would reach out about the lunch. Yes, your child can bring a lunch, but if they are providing it to some kids, they need to provide it to all. It's not okay for me and I would want my child to have the option of a hot lunch.
As a 9-12 special educator, I look at the number of words and think "Good god, way too many!", but I think my lens may be skewed. I agree that you should buy the book and then he can reread at home. While I love to listen to audiobooks, if I were to be tested, I'd probably fail. I like to listen, but I miss a lot of I don't actually read. Having someone read while I read, also is a no go for me. I can't believe they aren't allowed to have a copy of the book. Is it a financial thing? Again, I'd buy a copy to have at home.
|
|
|
Post by jeremysgirl on Dec 7, 2019 13:00:43 GMT
I agree with you The Great Carpezio 6th grade is usually a huge transition. Middle school is when we ride the fine line between teaching kids to advocate for themselves and advocating for them. By high school things should be pretty solid. And it's the age at which study skills are developed. Elementary kids are babied and led as they should be. But middle school is a huge transition. I don't think you are over invested in this situation.
|
|
ddly
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,947
Jul 10, 2014 19:36:28 GMT
|
Post by ddly on Dec 7, 2019 13:01:30 GMT
The OP's kids might be able to do so, but chances are there are a lot of kids in this district that don't have the ability to do so and count on that meal for their nutrition. By speaking out, the OP might be helping a lot of kids less fortunate. And that was part of my motivation in encouraging her to do so. That is why I decided to email the principal. I actually did mention it at the last PTA-type meeting. This school hasn’t had an active group, so they only meet three times a year. We are trying to build it back up. The last meeting there were no admin there. I mentioned it at the end of the meeting, but I didn’t hear back. I wanted to make sure he knew and was at least looking into it or wanted to know his perspective. My kids go to a very diverse school with many first generation and immigrant students and a pretty high poverty rate. Even more reason to speak up!
|
|
|
Post by annie on Dec 7, 2019 15:18:51 GMT
I'm super confused by the people saying to just "pack a lunch" those days. The issue is only happening some days. How in the world is the kid supposed to know which days he's gonna need a lunch because they're going to run out? Makes no sense. So he should pack one every day?? Never take hot then?? Because this issue is affecting low income students who can't just "pack a lunch" certain days. By all means should you speak up about the lunches. That's BS.
|
|
|
Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 7, 2019 15:21:24 GMT
Yeah, reading the entire thread would clarify. My kid is a 6th grader who, other than spelling, never was expected to study and didn’t have much homework in elementary. I absolutely do not plan on studying/doing homework WITH them most of the time in the future (but I might for a little while if they ask me). However, they have to learn somehow. Teaching them good habits and skills now will hopefully prepare them for high school. I hope to back off more and more each year, but every kid is different. Some kids figure this stuff out almost innately and some kids need a lot more monitoring and modeling. My kids have been late bloomers on pretty much everything so far. They need some management. I’d prefer they didn’t, but they do. My goal is to get them to be good adults. It isn’t going to happen without guidance from me. I also wanted them to have good grades and figure out study habits here in sixth grade to set the expectations that I know they can do it. I didn’t intervene much. I helped this son a couple times a week and the other about once a week. I helped the one select books. I contacted a teacher and case manager about a test situation (the other son has an iep and I needed clarification on his policy and how it related to his disability). This ela teacher I contacted once to tell her we would be at conferences right at the start so we could talk to her and we talked at conferences. I check their grades daily to stay on top of them. I’ve gone to two PTA meetings and sent two emails to the principal. Again, once for the lunch and once for an early issue (‘my son didn’t get an iPad. Another long story). I’d rather not do any of this. That is sixth grade. That isn’t how I see things being in tenth. But to get them too functioning well by then, I need to guide them now. I totally agree. These kids don’t pick this stuff up by osmosis, they have to be taught how to study independently and it’s a process. My kid is in 4th this year and has had virtually no homework so far this year other than needing to read for about 20-30 minutes a day which we do together at bedtime. She prefers books that are just above her actual reading level so she reads to me and I help out with any words she may not know or correct pronunciations. Last year she would typically have a sheet of math homework daily that reinforced what they worked on that day in class. It would normally take no more than 10-15 minutes at most, but she needed some prompting almost every day to get her to get to it right away and just knock it out so it wouldn’t be hanging over her head. These are definitely skills that many kids will need help learning, and the sooner they understand that concept the better off they will be going forward when the work is more challenging and takes longer to do.
|
|
|
Post by cristelina on Dec 7, 2019 16:46:22 GMT
Thank you @the Great Carpezio for advocating for all the students that can't. I am a newly retired teacher. I have always taught very low income students because I am an EL teacher. For those of you that say "well just buy the book, learn at home and pack a lunch" let me clarify some things. First, thank God, or write in your gratitude journal that you have the income and education to do these things. You are very fortunate. But here is what it can look like if you are one of the 70% of poor students attending this school.
1. You may have to go home and do the cooking, cleaning, and taking care of your little siblings including helping them with their homework. . Back in the 80s I had a 2nd grader who also did the ironing. Yeah. Hot iron. Not much time or energy left to do homework. 2. Your parents may rarely be home. My student's parents all had at least 2 jobs. 3. Your parents don't speak the language. Think of yourself having to live in Hungary for example. You don't speak the language. Because you don't speak the language you obviously can't read or write it. You are poor. You have to work 3 jobs to put food on the table. There is no way you would be able to help your child learn 200 Hungarian words. Or even 10. 4. You may go home to violence or drug addicts or alcoholics. And you live in a tiny apartment so you can't go hide in your room. 5. You may have to go work with your mom or dad. Yes, this happens a lot. Sometimes because there is no one at home to watch them, sometimes because the parent needs help to get their quota done on time. 6. You may not have ANY food to eat at home. Literally. If you are starving, learning 200 words that are absolutely meaningless to you is not on the top of your mind of things to worry about. Oh, and you didn't even get a lunch that day. 7. Your family may not have a car. Unless you live in a city with public transportation, getting to the library is not an option. 8. Your parents will never or rarely advocate for you because of the above.
I could go on but I will stop. I am appalled that this school with such a high poverty rate has not tried to solve the lunch problem.
And that teacher needs to stop working now!
|
|