Post by wvhsparent on Jul 31, 2008 9:00:27 GMT -5
Summer learning -- and no homework
July 31, 2008Recommend
Summer Learning is the name of an interesting program being held at McCarthy Elementary School this summer. When I heard the name, my first thought was that it was an oxymoron similar to terms like "paid volunteer," "government organization" or "jumbo shrimp."
Pairing "summer," the break away from school, with "learning," the main activity of school, seemed to contradict. I agree that children should not stop learning just because school is not in session.
At one time, I was one of those mothers determined that my elementary children would not forget the multiplication tables over the summer. After drilling them for weeks so they could pass the timed tests during the school year, I was not going to let them forget that 7 times 6 is 42. I bought colorful math skill books and planned to make them do one page every day.
I was also going to have them practice their handwriting and read one chapter every day and write a letter to someone once a week and -- I was not very successful. All my determination was not enough to overpower their will to go play with friends, finish a LEGO space station or go swimming. All it would take for my resolve to crumble was a simple, "Please mom, can I go to Zach's house? I will do this stuff tonight. I promise. Please, please, please."
It is a challenge to be both a mom and a teacher. Home is not always the best place for quiet concentration either. Michelle Johnson, LMC director at McCarty Elementary School, recognized both the challenge and the benefits of reinforcing skills over the school break and came up with Summer Learning. She organized three one-hour sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays over the summer. Students could sign up to attend one to three sessions each week.
"The students are not really learning as much as reinforcing the skills they already have," said Michelle. Students are broken into small groups according to age and visit three different centers during a one-hour session. For 20 minutes, the students work on a computer math program appropriate for their age level. During another 20-minute session, the students write. Younger students write exercises together while third- to sixth-graders write in journals. The final 20-minute session is spent in independent reading.
The beauty of the program is that all pressure is removed. There are no grades or skill charts. Students are simply practicing skills.
"When some of the kids came in the first day, they looked very unhappy," recalled Michelle. "They didn't want to have to come to school in the summer. But after a few sessions, they began to like coming. They couldn't believe how fast the one hour goes. They also liked not having homework or grades."
"The feedback has been phenomenal," Michelle said. "We had a huge number of students who wanted to attend all three days. We had to ask some students to come fewer times so that more could have a chance to attend. We have had families from other schools calling us asking if their kids could come but we had all we could handle," she explained.
There are 140 children attending the sessions. Each session has about 30 students. Michelle and three classroom teachers lead the program. Some parents are volunteering to help also.
"The parents like the program too because they know their children are focusing on keeping up their skills and appreciate that there is no pressure on them," said Michelle. "Last week, there was a boy in here reading a book on hockey. When it came time for him to write, he complained that he couldn't think of anything to write about. I suggested that he write about trying to play hockey in the summer. He told me that you can't play hockey in the summer, and I told him to write about why you can't play hockey in the summer. He sat down and wrote two pages without stopping. We offer to read the student's journals but it is their choice whether we read them."
The seven-week program was funded through a $5,000 grant from the city of Aurora. Hopefully, funding for future programs at McCarty and other schools can be found. It seems that summer and learning do fit together quite nicely after all.
buchenot@comcast.net
Comment at www.foxvalleyvillagessun.com
July 31, 2008Recommend
Summer Learning is the name of an interesting program being held at McCarthy Elementary School this summer. When I heard the name, my first thought was that it was an oxymoron similar to terms like "paid volunteer," "government organization" or "jumbo shrimp."
Pairing "summer," the break away from school, with "learning," the main activity of school, seemed to contradict. I agree that children should not stop learning just because school is not in session.
At one time, I was one of those mothers determined that my elementary children would not forget the multiplication tables over the summer. After drilling them for weeks so they could pass the timed tests during the school year, I was not going to let them forget that 7 times 6 is 42. I bought colorful math skill books and planned to make them do one page every day.
I was also going to have them practice their handwriting and read one chapter every day and write a letter to someone once a week and -- I was not very successful. All my determination was not enough to overpower their will to go play with friends, finish a LEGO space station or go swimming. All it would take for my resolve to crumble was a simple, "Please mom, can I go to Zach's house? I will do this stuff tonight. I promise. Please, please, please."
It is a challenge to be both a mom and a teacher. Home is not always the best place for quiet concentration either. Michelle Johnson, LMC director at McCarty Elementary School, recognized both the challenge and the benefits of reinforcing skills over the school break and came up with Summer Learning. She organized three one-hour sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays over the summer. Students could sign up to attend one to three sessions each week.
"The students are not really learning as much as reinforcing the skills they already have," said Michelle. Students are broken into small groups according to age and visit three different centers during a one-hour session. For 20 minutes, the students work on a computer math program appropriate for their age level. During another 20-minute session, the students write. Younger students write exercises together while third- to sixth-graders write in journals. The final 20-minute session is spent in independent reading.
The beauty of the program is that all pressure is removed. There are no grades or skill charts. Students are simply practicing skills.
"When some of the kids came in the first day, they looked very unhappy," recalled Michelle. "They didn't want to have to come to school in the summer. But after a few sessions, they began to like coming. They couldn't believe how fast the one hour goes. They also liked not having homework or grades."
"The feedback has been phenomenal," Michelle said. "We had a huge number of students who wanted to attend all three days. We had to ask some students to come fewer times so that more could have a chance to attend. We have had families from other schools calling us asking if their kids could come but we had all we could handle," she explained.
There are 140 children attending the sessions. Each session has about 30 students. Michelle and three classroom teachers lead the program. Some parents are volunteering to help also.
"The parents like the program too because they know their children are focusing on keeping up their skills and appreciate that there is no pressure on them," said Michelle. "Last week, there was a boy in here reading a book on hockey. When it came time for him to write, he complained that he couldn't think of anything to write about. I suggested that he write about trying to play hockey in the summer. He told me that you can't play hockey in the summer, and I told him to write about why you can't play hockey in the summer. He sat down and wrote two pages without stopping. We offer to read the student's journals but it is their choice whether we read them."
The seven-week program was funded through a $5,000 grant from the city of Aurora. Hopefully, funding for future programs at McCarty and other schools can be found. It seems that summer and learning do fit together quite nicely after all.
buchenot@comcast.net
Comment at www.foxvalleyvillagessun.com