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quasi3
LIF Adult
Member since 7/07 1764 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
As a teacher, I wanted to add that reading level is determined on more than the words your child can read.
My school uses the F&P prgram to level the kids. Each book allows the child to make errors on a certain number of words plus there is a comprehension piece.
Questions are based on text and beyond the text questions.
What level do you think your child is at?
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Posted 3/9/13 3:05 PM  |
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quasi3
LIF Adult
Member since 7/07 1764 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by itsbabytime
Posted by BargainMama
The Scholastic site has a book finder based on your child's reading level. Put in the level you think he is at, then see which books come up.
http://www.scholastic.com/bookwizard/
My daughter can read Green Egg's and Ham, but she is not a level J, no way. I don't think these things are entirely accurate to be honest.
Yes I totally agree...I've done the scholastic club and I'm pretty good at finding books in the library that are at his level...he loves mo willems and loves the dr. suess books - currently those are his favorite. We also do have work books as suggested above. I guess I was just looking to see if there was some way I could find out his level and then find books at that level that included the questions at the end etc. I do have a pretty good sense that he is probably at an f or g level so even assuming that - is there a work book series that would help me figure out what types of questions he should be answering with respect to these books? It seems this is the main thing most K classes seem to be doing that his class is missing. I want to give him the practice so he gets in the habit of reading for comprehension...
FM me. I might have some resources for you.
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| Posted 3/9/13 3:11 PM |
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Teachergal
We made a snowman!
Member since 1/08 3239 total posts
Name:
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
These are the common core standards:
ELA
Math .
Every school must now be implementing these standards. So kindergartens across the country should be teaching the same thing. Starting this year, testing from third grade and up are going to follow these standards. Eventually, testing is going to trickle down to the lower grades as well. In most Long Island school districts, you will not be left back for failing to meet the standards for the grade level. You will pass onto the next grade, but your child will then be eligible for Academic Intervention Services (AIS). I have never heard of a child being left back and then mid-year moving up to the next grade level.
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| Posted 3/9/13 4:36 PM |
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Teachergal
We made a snowman!
Member since 1/08 3239 total posts
Name:
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by itsbabytime
Posted by BargainMama
The Scholastic site has a book finder based on your child's reading level. Put in the level you think he is at, then see which books come up.
http://www.scholastic.com/bookwizard/
My daughter can read Green Egg's and Ham, but she is not a level J, no way. I don't think these things are entirely accurate to be honest.
Yes I totally agree...I've done the scholastic club and I'm pretty good at finding books in the library that are at his level...he loves mo willems and loves the dr. suess books - currently those are his favorite. We also do have work books as suggested above. I guess I was just looking to see if there was some way I could find out his level and then find books at that level that included the questions at the end etc. I do have a pretty good sense that he is probably at an f or g level so even assuming that - is there a work book series that would help me figure out what types of questions he should be answering with respect to these books? It seems this is the main thing most K classes seem to be doing that his class is missing. I want to give him the practice so he gets in the habit of reading for comprehension...
At an f or a g, your son should be able to retell the story to you beginning to end, tell you who the characters are and the setting as well as recognize the problem in the story and the solution. He should also be able to recognize how the character is feeling. You could work with him at home on making predictions on what he thinks will happen and ask him who his favorite character is and why.
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| Posted 3/9/13 4:43 PM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by itsbabytime
Posted by Janice
Posted by LSP2005
I read it as state standards have increased so last year in kindergarten to pass they needed to read at a level b to move on to first grade, but this year all students need to be at a level d to move to first grade. If a child is under the level they will remain in kindergarten until they can get to level d and will be moved up mid year when they can read at level d.
I'm curious about how this works...if these kids are in K class and move up mid year - haven't they missed out on all the first grade work that was done up to that point? If they are in K for even Sept-Oct how can they start in 1st grade in November when they have missed everything the other 1st graders have done from Sept through Nov?
Not sure what is happening in first when they get there.
One kid left our class end of October, the other after Christmas.
My sister teaches in NC, they are starting next year to have teachers start with group if kids in 2nd grade, then same teacher keeps same kids in third.
Then when they take the third grade test, hopefully they pass. If not, they are in third again until they hit the point when they can be promoted...mid year.
I think the crackdown in happening in K to try and avoid it happening in 3rd.
So many schools here are going year round...to try and keep minds fresh and not need a new intro period to refresh after summer break.
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| Posted 3/9/13 6:39 PM |
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itsbabytime
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 9644 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Thank you all for responding this has been a very insightful thread for me!
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| Posted 3/9/13 7:58 PM |
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
My only real complaint is what someone touched on, which is that there is a lot more focus on reading (I mean that in a broad way to include reading, writing, comprehension) than on math type skills. I have heard that it remains that way until after the kids take ELA exams. I was a college English major so you would think that I like this but I feel that my son is ready for more math. I may hire a tutor to reinforce what they do in school and to keep pushing him more with math. DH and I try to do as much as we can with workbooks & such but we work a lot, so a tutor is the next best thing.
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| Posted 3/10/13 12:13 AM |
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Karen
Just chillin'!!
Member since 1/06 9690 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by Kerie-is-so-very
My only real complaint is what someone touched on, which is that there is a lot more focus on reading (I mean that in a broad way to include reading, writing, comprehension) than on math type skills. I have heard that it remains that way until after the kids take ELA exams. I was a college English major so you would think that I like this but I feel that my son is ready for more math. I may hire a tutor to reinforce what they do in school and to keep pushing him more with math. DH and I try to do as much as we can with workbooks & such but we work a lot, so a tutor is the next best thing.
I agree - while I am absolutely thrilled with DD's reading, I would like to see more math.
They are also tackling coins and time, which I guess is considered math, but the basic math (addition, subtraction) seems to be lacking to me.
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| Posted 3/10/13 9:29 AM |
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twicethefun
Loving life
Member since 7/06 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
I have a different point of view as a teacher and mother.
My own children work and play in kindergarten. My daughter and son both learned the alphabet by december and then started to read A books shortly after. My daughter is doing it right now and reads on A.
My son is now in third grade and reads on a P which is beginning of fourth. Yet at the start of kindergarten many of my friends considered my son behind (even though we worked on story struture, problem solving, creative story telling, listening and critical thinking skills since birth.) He now reads above most of my friends children, even those who knew the alphabet at 18 months.
SO my son is just one example....but now to my teaching experience
I teach in a struggling school in nyc. I see what they learn in k because one of my best friends teaches it. We push them there and at the end of kindergarten they all must read on a c or higher. Many of these nyc kindergarteners read and write better than my daughter does now in k because this is whats expected. However they are not spending much time on critical thinking skills, content area vocabulary building, or creative story telling. Its all about memorization, sounding out and proving they can read. Understanding is also expected but they are working on ONLY leveled books which sometimes as we all know are extremetly boring with no higher thinking skills.
Yet at the end of kindergarten nearly all of those kindergarten students will read, write and complete math computation on a higher level than my daughter (as they did my son) So why is it, that by fourth grade (the grade I teach) Only a few of them will meet the standards.?...and my daughter has a much better chance ( as my son does presently)
SOmething is given up in my school for the calling out of words and numbers. And since I have a degree in reading, I know exactly what we are giving up....but many don't.
Message edited 3/10/2013 9:49:30 AM.
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| Posted 3/10/13 9:46 AM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by twicethefun
However they are not spending much time on critical thinking skills, content area vocabulary building, or creative story telling. Its all about memorization, sounding out and proving they can read. Understanding is also expected but they are working on ONLY leveled books which sometimes as we all know are extremetly boring with no higher thinking skills.
This is very interesting - my son's class has yet to start leveled readers individually, however, when they listen to stories in class they are expected to do critical thinking. They have monthly book reports and the question asked this month was who is your favorite character and why. The second question was to describe the setting. In the monthly read at home work sheet the questions asked the child to put themselves into the story and whether they would want to deal with the issue presented in the story, and would it be similar or different than what the main character did. The other question was to be asked before the story was read - do you think the story has a happy or sad ending. If you could write the ending to the story how would you change it.
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| Posted 3/10/13 8:26 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19458 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by itsbabytime
Thank you all for responding this has been a very insightful thread for me!
Thank you for starting the thread. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone's responses.
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| Posted 3/10/13 8:29 PM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
I am never around for their math lesson, I know they do adding and subtracting...a lot of work with patterns.
What I love though is how much history he is learning. I recently took him to a plantation, he knew so much.
I don't know about critical thinking...they seem to just be starting that know. Where would a leprechaun hide his gold, how would you catch one...
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| Posted 3/10/13 9:24 PM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Now
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| Posted 3/10/13 9:24 PM |
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my3bugs
Mom of 2 Boys
Member since 5/05 4381 total posts
Name:
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by Karen
Posted by Kerie-is-so-very
My only real complaint is what someone touched on, which is that there is a lot more focus on reading (I mean that in a broad way to include reading, writing, comprehension) than on math type skills. I have heard that it remains that way until after the kids take ELA exams. I was a college English major so you would think that I like this but I feel that my son is ready for more math. I may hire a tutor to reinforce what they do in school and to keep pushing him more with math. DH and I try to do as much as we can with workbooks & such but we work a lot, so a tutor is the next best thing.
I agree - while I am absolutely thrilled with DD's reading, I would like to see more math.
They are also tackling coins and time, which I guess is considered math, but the basic math (addition, subtraction) seems to be lacking to me.
I think the math totally changes come 1st grade and there is a strong math focus in school. My older son is a math whiz. He's teacher this year (2nd grade) said it is quite amazing (his math skills). But in 1st grade - his teacher would say he had to work on his math (he was scoring 98-100 on all tests). The jump was big from K to 1st grade. They start timing math facts. They start doing word problems and use a lot of logic to get there. In 1st grade a sample challenge question was (not sure exact wording)...
If you have 18 wheels, how many tricyles would you have. My son was the only one who got it that year. I feel bad for the kids who struggle because I can't believe by 1st grade this is appropriate!!! Maybe because my older son is stronger in math..I felt like the focus was more there than anything else. I wanted more homework and focus on writing and reading comprehension.
Kindergarten is building the building blocks...counting by 2, 5, 10. Simple adding and subtracting, graphing, tally marks, simple money.
To original postter - have you talked to the teacher about his reading skills and ask for additional work at home or ideas or maybe even skill level appropriate books to borrow? I'd think most teachers would lend out books at minimum. My older son had a boy in K reading well above grade level and his K teacher gave him some extra projects and books to read. They also pulled him out of class to read with a boy in another class who was at his level. If he is around level F (my K son is about there too) - I can try to give you examples of what my son brings home. He is in a reading group with only one other boy - so I assume it is above most kids. I had the other boy over for a playdate and felt he could read better than my son (the kids was reading everything in site in my house).
Message edited 3/11/2013 7:06:06 AM.
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| Posted 3/11/13 6:56 AM |
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Erica
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 11767 total posts
Name:
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Singapore math is a GREAT program. The country Singapore collected data on all the best producing math programs and took from each and developed a top notch program.
DS#2 is doing math facts - addition up to 10 and subtraction up to 5. They have been doing primarily math facts this entire year, but we are only half day. For language, he has his sight words and has activities based of word groups (-ug, -at, etc)
As others have said, reading is more than reading the words. Comprehension, fluency, etc are considered when evaluating level. There aren't many authors of common books that write below an H (Mo Willems and Tedd Arnold are two, but evn some pigeon books are Ks). Most books under H are written by educational publishers for the specific reason of teaching reading. Puppy Mudge books (Cynthia Rylant) are D-ish.
For the OP, it sounds like your child needs enrichment activities and the teacher should be differentiating. It is not absurd to have a high level Kindergartner reading Magic Tree House, etc (M-O), the teachers should be differentiating your child's work. You might just want to drop an email asking what you can both do together to differentiate.
I also wanted to clear up - in NYS a school cannot hold an elementary student back. They can suggest it, but the parent makes the ultimate decision.
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| Posted 3/11/13 8:52 PM |
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Chai77
Brighter days ahead
Member since 4/07 7364 total posts
Name:
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by Erica
I also wanted to clear up - in NYS a school cannot hold an elementary student back. They can suggest it, but the parent makes the ultimate decision.
Yes. I have never heard of such a thing as systematically retaining students. If there was an issue, why wouldn't the school give AIS to that child?
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| Posted 3/13/13 11:01 PM |
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InShock
life is good
Member since 10/06 9258 total posts
Name:
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K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
I've never heard of a child being left back due to not reaching a certain reading benchmark level. I am a first grade teacher (and mother of a kindergartener!).
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| Posted 3/14/13 10:40 AM |
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jgl
Love my little boys!!!
Member since 8/07 7060 total posts
Name:
g
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by Janice
They have to read and answer questions for homework. Mine is level d. Some are above, some are at c, two are still at b.
In class, I read a long book, they had to answer questions.
She needs to get everyone to a d or they get retained.
Once they hit d, then she wants concentration on comprehension. We have to read a lot of non fiction at home.
Level d -retained????? 
First off they shouldnt be moving up levels if they arent comprehending what they read. Ive never heard of working on comp once they get to level D. But regardless...
I teach 1st grade and D is a level 3 for the November report card.
Half my class would have been retained in kindergarten based on their reading level! 
I also do not understand how they can retain a kid until he reaches D however it is okay they missed half a year of first grade when they are thrown in when they meet a reading level milestone.....
Message edited 3/18/2013 4:43:45 PM.
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| Posted 3/18/13 4:35 PM |
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Teachergal
We made a snowman!
Member since 1/08 3239 total posts
Name:
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by jgl
Posted by Janice
They have to read and answer questions for homework. Mine is level d. Some are above, some are at c, two are still at b.
In class, I read a long book, they had to answer questions.
She needs to get everyone to a d or they get retained.
Once they hit d, then she wants concentration on comprehension. We have to read a lot of non fiction at home.
I teach 1st grade and D is a level 3 for the November report card.
The new reading levels actually say that as of June of K and Sept of 1st, kids should be a D/E. Crazy, but true.
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| Posted 3/18/13 8:00 PM |
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jgl
Love my little boys!!!
Member since 8/07 7060 total posts
Name:
g
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by Teachergal
Posted by jgl
Posted by Janice
They have to read and answer questions for homework. Mine is level d. Some are above, some are at c, two are still at b.
In class, I read a long book, they had to answer questions.
She needs to get everyone to a d or they get retained.
Once they hit d, then she wants concentration on comprehension. We have to read a lot of non fiction at home.
I teach 1st grade and D is a level 3 for the November report card.
The new reading levels actually say that as of June of K and Sept of 1st, kids should be a D/E. Crazy, but true.
Yes but i was more shocked over retaining (nyc would never) and then to just throw jnto 1st grade when they finally do reach that level
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| Posted 3/18/13 8:13 PM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
The handbook we were given says the K teacher is responsible to make sure retained student is up to date with first grade work like math.
One of the kids it happened to this year, Dante, I was so happy to see him go to first mid year because during recess football, my kid was getting tackled a million times by this old kid.
The two retained kids had different morning worksheets.
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| Posted 3/18/13 8:40 PM |
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twicethefun
Loving life
Member since 7/06 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by jgl
Posted by Teachergal
Posted by jgl
Posted by Janice
They have to read and answer questions for homework. Mine is level d. Some are above, some are at c, two are still at b.
In class, I read a long book, they had to answer questions.
She needs to get everyone to a d or they get retained.
Once they hit d, then she wants concentration on comprehension. We have to read a lot of non fiction at home.
I teach 1st grade and D is a level 3 for the November report card.
The new reading levels actually say that as of June of K and Sept of 1st, kids should be a D/E. Crazy, but true.
Yes but i was more shocked over retaining (nyc would never) and then to just throw jnto 1st grade when they finally do reach that level
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| Posted 3/18/13 9:54 PM |
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twicethefun
Loving life
Member since 7/06 4088 total posts
Name:
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by twicethefun
Posted by jgl
Posted by Teachergal
Posted by jgl
Posted by Janice
They have to read and answer questions for homework. Mine is level d. Some are above, some are at c, two are still at b.
In class, I read a long book, they had to answer questions.
She needs to get everyone to a d or they get retained.
Once they hit d, then she wants concentration on comprehension. We have to read a lot of non fiction at home.
I teach 1st grade and D is a level 3 for the November report card.
The new reading levels actually say that as of June of K and Sept of 1st, kids should be a D/E. Crazy, but true.
Yes but i was more shocked over retaining (nyc would never) and then to just throw jnto 1st grade when they finally do reach that level
I work in a nyc public school and we retain students more often than any school I know on long island....
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| Posted 3/18/13 9:55 PM |
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jgl
Love my little boys!!!
Member since 8/07 7060 total posts
Name:
g
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
Posted by twicethefun
Posted by twicethefun
Posted by jgl
Posted by Teachergal
Posted by jgl
Posted by Janice
They have to read and answer questions for homework. Mine is level d. Some are above, some are at c, two are still at b.
In class, I read a long book, they had to answer questions.
She needs to get everyone to a d or they get retained.
Once they hit d, then she wants concentration on comprehension. We have to read a lot of non fiction at home.
I teach 1st grade and D is a level 3 for the November report card.
The new reading levels actually say that as of June of K and Sept of 1st, kids should be a D/E. Crazy, but true.
Yes but i was more shocked over retaining (nyc would never) and then to just throw jnto 1st grade when they finally do reach that level
I work in a nyc public school and we retain students more often than any school I know on long island....
We retain just never soley based on not reading at a certain level. We also have a huge ELL population. I have 1st graders still reading on a C level now.
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| Posted 3/18/13 10:51 PM |
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Palebride
I am an amazing bakist
Member since 5/05 13673 total posts
Name:
Lori
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Re: K moms - what are your kids currently learning in the classroom...
I am beyond satisfied with what my daughter is learning in Kindergarten....since September, she has learned to read, has mastered writing all of her letters uppercase and lowercase, she has learned to add and subtract, how to count by 5's and 10's, the difference between fiction and non fiction, main ideas, main characters, etc...I could go on and on.
She LOVES learning. She LOVES school.
I know it's not going to last, so I'm enjoying it now!
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| Posted 3/27/13 6:25 PM |
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